| |
|
MONDAY, JUNE 30
Friday, July 11 Congregation Beth El Kabbalat Shabbat Services
FRIDAY, JULY 18 Temple Solel Shabbat at Beach
MON., SEPT. 29-THURS., OCT. 9
THE HISTORY MAN
Politics in jolly, and not-so-jolly, England
By Lloyd Levy
 HENLEY-ON-THAMES, England—There was a by-election this week in this little English town. It is as middle class and English as it sounds. The opposition Conservative Party came first, which was not a surprise. What was a surprise was the collapse of the Labour Government Party to fifth place. They did so badly that they only received 3 percent of the vote.
Of some concern, however, was the fact that the far-right British National Party achieved nearly 4 percent of the vote. This follows similar electoral “successes” in recent polls throughout the UK, and in the London mayoral elections. It seems that “the worm has begun to turn,” in that the native English are beginning to push back against the decades of unrestricted immigration and “multiculturalism.”
This must be bad for the Jews. Any increase of racism, even against the huge number of Muslims now living in the UK, must inevitably adversely affect the situation of the Jews.
Yet England remains a uniquely eccentric and loveable country. These same elections invariably attract candidates with ridiculous programmes, and the Henley election was no exception.
A character called Bananaman Owen stood for the Loony Party, and Harry Bear stood for the Fur Play Party!
In another upcoming election in Yorkshire, indeed in the very area where I was born and lived most of my life, there are 26 assorted candidates, most of which are arguably barmy. One believes that the world is threatened by alien lizards; another is called Mad Cow-Girl; and another leads the “Church of the Militant Elvis” Party.
Thus England retains its uniquely eccentric character, but under the surface serious trouble is brewing.
AMAZING STORIES OF JUDAISM
Why the soldier decided to wear his kippah
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman
 SAN DIEGO—In parshas Korach we see the important lesson that G-d runs the world and it is not for us to deride or complain. In fact we should be happy that G-d runs the world and protects us, the Jewish people, as the following amazing true story illustrates:
In 1974, Rabbi Asher Wade, a US Army chaplain, befriended a Jewish American officer named Stuart. Stuart did not strike him as being a religious man and so Rabbi Wade was surprised one day to see Stuart wearing a yarmulke (skullcap). Upon questioning Stuart's reasons for donning this unconventional attire, Stuart told Rabbi Wade the fascinating story behind it.
As part of their first year studies, cadets were enrolled in a course called "History of Military Tactics & Field Strategies," taught be a Three-Star Lieutenant General with a Ph.D.
in military strategy. The course surveyed the major battles in history, including those of the Ptolemies, the Romans, the Middle Ages, and down to the latest battles of our modern era.
 During the final two weeks of the course, which were devoted to reviewing the material, Cadet Stuart raised his hand with a question, "Why did we not survey any of the battles fought by the Jews, either of ancient times (i.e. Roman-Jewish wars) or of modern times (i.e. Arab-Israeli wars)?"
"The normally friendly general snapped back with an order for me to see him in his office after class," remembered Stuart. Upon entering the general's office, Stuart was ordered to close and lock the door. "The general then told me that he would only answer my question in the privacy of his office," said Stuart.
"Do not think that the staff here at West Point has left the Jewish wars unnoticed," began the general, "We have examined and analyzed them and we do not teach them at West Point. According to military strategy and textbook tactics, the Jews should have lost them. You should have been swept into the dustbin of history long ago. But you were not. You won those wars against all odds and against all military strategies and logic."
"This past year, we hired a new junior instructor. During a private staff meeting and discussion, the Arab-Israeli wars came under discussion. We puzzled at how you won those wars. Suddenly, this junior instructor chirped up and jokingly said, 'honorable gentlemen. It seems to be quite obvious how they are winning their wars: G-d is winning their wars!'
"
Nobody laughed. The reason is, soldier, that it seems to be an unwritten rule around here at West Point that G-d is winning your wars, but G-d does not fit into military textbooks! You are dismissed," concluded the general.
"I left the general's office," continued Stuart, "I had never been so humiliated in my life. I felt about two inches tall." "Wouldn't you know it," I said to myself, "that I would have to come to West Point and find our how great my G-d is from a non-practicing Presbyterian three-star general."
"I went back to my dorm room," continued Stuart, and dug down in my sock drawer to find that 'flap of cloth' that I threw on my head once a year. I said to myself: "This thing is going on my head, because I found, in essence, who I was and where I came from."
Dedicated by Michael & Rivka Spiegel in honor of their children. Dedicated by Linda Cohen in memory of her parents Albert & Julia Cohen.
TORAH ON ONE FOOT
The qualifications for being 'a good Jew'
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
 SAN DIEGO—In the parasha read yesterday, we find one of the most infamous disputes of all Jewish history: that of Korach and his followers. Korach led an uprising against Moses and Aaron. He wanted to remove them from leadership and make himself the leader of Israel instead.
Moses challenged Korach to a "duel." Korach and Aaron would each offer incense to God. Whoever's incense God accepted would be proven the true leader of Israel. The loser would die an unnatural death.
God accepted Aaron's offering but the earth opened up and swallowed Korach and his followers. It became abundantly clear that Moses and Aaron were the legitimate leaders of Israel.
Korach lusted for power and stopped at nothing to attain it. One of the ways he convinced the Israelites to turn against Moses was by using Moses' words against him. Moses had previously told the Israelites: "Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord put His spirit upon them!" (Num. 11:29) Korach echoed his words when he said to the Moses and Aaron in the presence of the community: "You have gone too far! For all the community are holy, all of them, and the Lord is in their midst. Why then do you raise yourselves above the Lord's congregation?" (Num. 16:3)
Korach correctly told the Israelites that they were all capable of attaining holiness. He also correctly told them that any of them had the potential to be a leader. What he left out was that Moses and Aaron had become the leaders of Israel not through their own desire or choosing but because God had elected them.
The author who went by the name of Divrei Eliezer interpreted Korach's words midrashically. Divrei Eliezer said that when Jews are questioned about their religious observance and ethical behavior they often respond: "I may not go the synagogue or celebrate Shabbat or holidays, I make mistakes and am not perfect, but I know that I am a good Jew at heart." Divrei Eliezer said Korach was making the same claim. He told the Israelites that they should not worry too much about their moral behavior and ritual observance. Their actions did not matter. They were good Jews at heart and a holy people by definition. Korach implied that if it were up to Moses, all of them would need to wear tzitzit, pray three times a day, and eat only Kosher food. But none of this was necessary, said Korach, because God had already told them that they were a kingdom of priests and a holy people.
When I was growing up my rabbi used to call those who defined themselves as good Jews at heart as "cardiac Jews." These Jews reduce Judaism to nebulous and nostalgic emotions they feel inside rather than an all encompassing tradition of ethics, morals, and Godly behaviors. "Feeling Jewish" may serve to give one a sense of well being and connectedness, but severed from behavior, it will not help transmit Judaism to future generations nor help perfect the world.
I am hesitant to define what makes one a "good" or "bad" Jew. There are many definitions and aspects to the question of Jewish identity. I am, nevertheless, still prepared to say that unless inward belief and emotion are reflected in external action, to be a Jew at heart without acting like a Jew makes one not much of a Jew at all.
THE JEWISH CITIZEN
A lesson in being true to one's real self
By Donald H. Harrison
 SAN DIEGO—There is a well-known Hassidic story about the famous and pious Rabbi Zusia who one day was profoundly moved by a vision in which he was asked by the heavenly court to account for his life. His inquisitors did not ask about the times he had sought to emulate Moses, nor did they inquire about the times he had modeled himself after Joshua.
“What did they ask?” his astonished Hassidim demanded.
“They wanted to know why I was not Zusia.”
 Bob Bernreuter (pictured at right) , a friend from Key West, Florida, whom I recently re-encountered after losing touch a decade ago, wrote during the interim a children’s story—The Gift—about a princess named Audrey who did not attend to her royal studies, which included languages, the military arts, the law, the arts and, of course, royal protocol. Her father the king had decreed that there should be a competition among his three daughters after his death, and that the people would judge who should be ruler after seeing the princesses demonstrate their prowess in these skills.
Instead, Audrey, known far and wide for her long, red, curly hair, traveled around the countryside, learning the ways of the common people. She learned about the lives of the farmers, and about the needs of the villagers. And one day, she saw a bald youth crying for the lack of friends. “I’m ugly,” declared the lonely child. The princess tried to offer comfort, saying that the youth really was a fine looking boy. But the bald child ran away in even greater distress because she was not a boy, but a girl. The princess’s well-intentioned comment had made her feel even worse.
 Princess Audrey followed her, apologized and befriended her. And, because a royal princess continuously paid attention to the girl, so too did other youngsters start to notice how very fine the girl was. Audrey’s compassion was boundless and one day she went to a wig maker, and donated her own hair so that the girl could thereafter travel about without embarrassment.
Audrey missed several rounds of the royal competition with her sisters, but when the time came for the dancing contest, a superb dancer appeared, whom everyone recognized as Princess Audrey because of her bright red hair. Perhaps they thought the veil on her face was just for effect. But at the end of the dance, the girl revealed her true identity and the story of Princess Audrey’s kindness to her burst from her lips. Moved by Audrey’s compassion, the people voted her to be their queen. Rabbi Zusia would have been proud. Audrey did not try to be as great a diplomat as Talleyrand, nor as great a poet as Milton. Audrey did her best to be Audrey.
The author Robert Fulghum taught us in All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten that some of the greatest truths are those that we learn as juveniles. Bob J. Bernreuter, through Key West Publishing, LLC, has added to the sources that children may tap.
He told me that the story had been inspired by that of Kellie Lightbourn, who represented Virginia in the Miss USA content in 1999. Like Princess Audrey, she had long beautiful hair, and she donated it to a girl named Amber Marrs who suffered from alopecia areata, a disease that leaves children unable to grow hair. At the back of Bernreuter’s book is more information about an organization called “Locks of Love,” through which children with hair can donate to children without hair.
*
I met Bernreuter in 1989. At the time, through my public relations agency, I was serving as the executive director of the San Diego Cruise Industry Consortium, the group chaired by the late, beloved San Diego City Councilman Bill Cleator. I went to Miami, Florida, to a cruise industry convention, where the executives of various cruise lines participated in a panel about the future of the industry. From the floor, I gave my name and affiliation, and then asked about the prospects of increased cruising on the West Coast.
After the session, Bernreuter was amid a group of people who made a point of seeking me out. They explained that they owned a company in Key West that operated the Old Town Trolley Tours. Would I be willing to accompany them down to Key West to see the operation and to give my opinion whether it could be adapted to San Diego? I was happy to do so. After riding the Old Town Trolley in Key West, I told my hosts that although San Diego then had a company called the Molly Trolley, it simply took people from place to place without offering a narrated tour such as the Old Town Trolley’s.
Encouraged, Bernreuter and the two major owners of the company—Ed Swift and Chris Belland—decided San Diego was worthy of further investigation. A delegation came out to San Diego for a visit. Bernreuter was and is a very devout Catholic, and I remember taking him to see Mission San Diego de Alcala, the mother mission of the California mission chain. Inside the church’s sanctuary, Bernreuter noted on a lectern a carving of a pineapple—the international symbol of hospitality. Bernreuter exclaimed that there could be no greater confirmation than that pineapple that San Diego was the place where Old Town Trolley—a company specializing in hospitality to visitors—should set up a new operation.
It made me feel wonderful that I, a Jew, could lead a Catholic to a place in which he so exulted.
After further investigations, we made arrangements for my public relations agency to do the preliminary work for the trolley—laying out the route, writing the script, securing the necessary permits, and hiring the employees—and thus Old Town Trolley, now a fixture that is part of San Diego’s tourism fabric, came to San Diego, where it continues to flourish.
Bernreuter left Historic Tours of America a few years later to take over his family-owned restaurant in Key West. It was after he left Old Town Trolley—which specializes in telling the stories of the cities in which it operates—that Bernreuter started writing other kinds of stories, including The Gift, which he also illustrated. After his children became involved in other careers—and hurricanes had decreased tourism to Key West—Bobby decided to close the family restaurant and respond positively to the entreaties of Belland and Swift that he rejoin the company. Now he is in charge of training the sales force for Old Town Trolley operations throughout the United States. Besides Key West and Florida, the company also operates tour in Savannah, Georgia; Washington D.C., and in Boston.
How delighted I was that we had the opportunity to renew acquaintances earlier this month.
.
ARTS IN REVIEW
Golden Boy: New Village Art's golden oldie
By Carol Davis
 CARLSBAD, California —New Village Arts Theatre here is small in size but has big ambitions and heart. Its latest venture into the drama abyss is the classic Golden Boy by Clifford Odets. Odets, who was born to Jewish immigrant parents in Philadelphia in 1906, became one of the original members of the New York City based, avant-garde, left-wing ensemble Group Theatre of which method-acting guru Lee Strasberg was a member.
The group was “committed to radical revolutions in theatre; they would focus on and possibly affect pressing social issues of the day while ridding their original productions of the artificiality that had consumed Broadway.” Golden Boy, which was produced in 1937 became his and Group Theatre's biggest success. His first play, Waiting for Lefty was inspired by the taxi strike of 1934-5 soon after he joined the American Communist Party.
Several years ago I saw what many considered his masterpiece Awake and Sing at the Arena Stage in DC, which also made a revival at the Belasco Theatre where it had originally been mounted (it was 70 years old) with none other than director Bartlett Sher (a San Diegan who recently won this Years Tony for directing the revival of South Pacific). Another Odets play Till The Day I Die mounted in 1935, was one of the first anti-Nazi plays produced on Broadway. Luckily for Odets, he escaped being blacklisted from McCarthy’s House Un American Activities Communist witch-hunt in 1953 although he was an obvious target.
With three acts and a cast of fourteen, Odets’ Golden Boy, at New Village Arts Theatre, takes its own sweet time building its themes before hitting us with the KO punch at the very ending! Protagonist Joe Bonaparte (Michael Zlotnick) is Odets Golden Boy. His virtuoso talent as a violinist is so impressive that his Italian immigrant father (Eric Poppick) secretly buys his son an expensive violin, which he can’t afford. When he shows it to his Jewish neighbor Mr. Carp (Pat Moran) Carp asks: “could a boy make a living playing this instrument in our competitive civilization today?”
That about hits the nail on the head for Joe. Joe who is afraid of being poor and wants to make big bucks, fast; playing the violin will not get him the money he wants nor the satisfaction he seeks to fulfill the mean streak within. And while Joe does have a love affair with his music (he has been classically trained), it’s not strong enough to keep him from boxing. Meanwhile, his father says, “He don’t need it to be a millionaire.” Au contraire. How little he knew his son.
Before the Sr. Bonaparte has a chance to give his son the violin, young Joe has made arrangement with Moody (Manny Fernandes) a small time boxing promoter/manager, to find him some matches. As luck would have it, one of Moody’s fighters had broken his hand and Joe, who happened to be at the gym at this time, bursts into Moody’s office and convinces that he WILL win if put in the ring.
And so begins the rocky boxing career of Joe Bonaparte, the demise of the on-again, off-again romance between Moody and his sexy gal, Lorna (Amanda Sitton), the not-so-on- again, off-again romance between Joe and Lorna, the ruin of Joe’s musical career and a fraught-with-danger road to fame and destruction. The dye is cast when Joe walks into Moody’s office. With a little help from Eddie Fuseli (Joshua Everett Johnson) (another character that intrudes into Joe’s boxing circle claiming a “piece of Joe” and showing him the ‘finer side of life’), Joe’s life will never be the same.
These colorful characters in Joe’s boxing world are juxtaposed with Joe’s ordinary but loving and caring family. His father, brother in law Siggie (Greg Wittman), his sister Anna (Amanda Dane), and his brother Frank (John DeCarlo), a labor union representative (who would rather fight for what he believes rather than going after the money as does his brother) who all come together in this emotionally charged struggle between the Art vs. Materialism conflict during a time this country was witness to and feeling the pain of the Great Depression.
Unfortunately for Odets these same struggles Joe felt were the struggles Odets felt in his personal life when he turned to Hollywood to make the Big Bucks. Instead of writing about the social struggles his group had expected of him he turned to more personal issues to ‘create a good play’. In interviews, he claims his intent was to use the profits from the success of Golden Boy to help support Group Theatre. Lucky for us, he did.
Under the artful and solid direction of Joshua Everett Johnson, Golden Boy simmers with just enough heat under the surface to feel it brush over the audience throughout the evening. Every nuance, every inflection (and the dialect grew on you) of every conversation, every look, every move, and every swagger of Sitton’s Lorna is filled with more meaning than words could say. Yet watching the action unfold, with the stylized and odd sounding dialogue one can only feel the bittersweet humor of it all. Nothing good can come from this.
Michael Zlotnick’s Joe was a little difficult to believe at first. Slight of build and with a fine baby face looking not one day older than seventeen one could see him rather as the violin prodigy his father saw than a pro boxer. But like the guts, nerve, steady gaze, inner strength and perseverance he showed in the ring winning one fight after another he grows on you. After a while, you just can’t imagine him doing anything else, let alone playing the fiddle.
Manny Fernandes is ideal as the softhearted, push-over manager, Moody. At first he looks at Joe in astonishment and amusement when even considering taking him on. He too develops a fondness for the boy but is completely unaware of the fact that his girlfriend and his boxing ticket claim to fame are meeting clandestinely. Fernandes, a staple in the smaller threatre’s around town, fits the bill perfectly as Joe’s manager.
Amanda Sitton’s Lorna (think Gloria Graham, if you can remember that far back) gives just about as perfect a performance as one would wish. She not only looks the part in her period costumes (Mary Larson), which are made for her body, but her look is dead-on 1930’s. As Moody’s gal, she is sassy; she pouts and smart-mouths while waiting in the background for Moody’s divorce to become final. As Joe’s gal she is tender, understanding and always on his side as she pushes his promoters to go easy on ‘the boy’.
And in another excellent character performance, Joshua Everett Johnson slithers in as Eddie Fuseli, another ‘big time’ promoter who looks and acts more like a snake than a man. Dressed in his brown pin stripped suit, up-to-the-minute style, wanting for a piece of the action, it is Eddy’s shrewd and cunning way that pushes Joe over the top, ending his relationship with Moody and putting him in his corner.
The technical crew put together one of the most realistic set, lighting, sound and costume designs needed to make this period play the success it turned out to be. Kristianne Kurner and Tim Wallace used the entire stage of the NVA in designing the set. On one side is Bonaparte living room and area on the other is Moody’s office, in the middle is the athletic club or locker room where other boxers may be getting a rub down, or managers, trainers and interested parties meet. Over the top of the stage in the back is a box like platform with mesh covering the front where we can see boxers either working out or in matches. Nate Parde’s lighting design put the spot on lights just where needed and Adam Lansky’s sound design brought it all home.
In all the many years yours truly has been writing about theatre, this is only the second Odets play I’ve seen and the first in San Diego. Hats off the NVA for this huge undertaking. On the whole, the entire casts of 14 deserve kudos.
Golden Boy runs through July 13. It is well worth seeing.
See you at the theatre.
.
A bissel sports trivia with Bruce Lowitt
 Q: Name a Jewish left-harder who pitched two no-hitters but never played for the Dodgers. Is it:
(a) Joe Horlen
(b) Moe Howard
(c) Dave Roberts
(d) Ken Holtzman
Background: He threw two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs, on Aug. 19, 1969, at Wrigley Field against the visiting Atlanta Braves, then on June 3, 1971, against the Reds in Cincinnati. He also was on three consecutive Oakland Athletics World Series champions (1972-74). His 174 career Major League victories are the most ever by a Jewish pitcher. Sandy Koufax, who pitched four no-hitters including one perfect game for the Dodgers, had 165 wins.
He may be contacted at lowittb@sandiegojewishworld.com
Remember your loved ones on-line
Would you like to honor a friend's or relative's special simcha such as a birthday, wedding, anniversary, election or special award? Or would you like to memorialize a loved one? Now you can become a sponsor of one day’s edition of “Adventures in San Diego Jewish History” (see today's edition below) by sending a check for $18 to the Harrison Enterprises, publishers of San Diego Jewish World, P.O. Box 19363, San Diego, CA 92159.
Please indicate what date you would like to reserve, and the occasion that you wish to honor or memorialize, and be sure to include your phone number in case we have questions. In the event that more than one person seeks a particular date, we will run all such submissions at the same time. The editor encourages items of interest to the Jewish community, and reserves te right to reject any that might be deemed inappropriate.
These memorializations and honors will be archived along with the rest of "The Adventures in San Diego Jewish History," providing your family and friends with an internet searchable reference.
A separate opportunity to memorialize a loved one is through the Louis Rose Society for the Preservation of Jewish History, the archives of which are posted on this website as a service. For $36, each member of the Louis Rose Society is entitled to memorialize or honor one member of the San Diego Jewish Community. Additional honorees may be honored for $18 per person. Tax-deductible checks for the Louis Rose Society's program may be mailed to the Jewish Community Foundation/ Louis Rose Fund, 4950 Murphy Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92123.
Please consider honoring someone by sponsoring a daily history edition and by joining the Louis Rose Society. If you have questions about either, please call Don Harrison, San Diego Jewish World editor, at (619) 265-0808, or contact him at editor@sandiegojewishworld.com.
|
ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
Robinson-Rose House
|
Old Temple Beth Israel |
Lawrence Family JCC |
Editor's Note: 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.
Letter to the Editor {from Mike Lustig}
From Southwestern Jewish Press, May 29, 1947, page 2
Dear Ray Solomon:
The manner in which you threw the weight of your newspaper into the fight against the released time plan was most gratifying. You deserve the thanks due any publication that does its duty intelligently on behalf of its readers.
The matter will not end here, however. On this specific subject, I think that those of your readers who may have missed Bishop Buddy’s open letter to the Board of education should have the advantage f a reprint of it in your paper, with our without a thorough-going analysis of its fallacious reasoning. Today’s development—a paid advertisement in The Union signed by John Wiley, president of the Council of Churches concerning the council’s plan for carrying on the fight for released time—should be handled in the same manner. And, all part of the picture, are your comments about the “hush-hush” boys and girls of the community.
The “hush-hush” clan will never understand what this fight or any other fight for basic principles is all about until they develop the courage to back up a principle. But the first thing is, of course, to have a principle and to believe in it enough to back it up.
If it helps any, I’d like to tear aside the veil of obscurity that seems to enwrap the “hush-hush” clique, and state the basic reason—just one, that’s all there is, just one reason—which motivates me, and many others, to speak up at times. It is just this:
There comes a moment in every life when an individual should realize the true gloriousness of our democratic foundations of government. When this moment comes to a Jew, it hits him with an impact of double-strength, for he realizes that while the protection of the government was designed for all, there is only one country on earth left where, amongst the rest, the Jew owes his very life to that protective principle. If he truly realizes this, then his consciousness leads him in an unswerving line to the next realization:
That every slightest attack on that democratic principle leads to a resultant weakening of the very protection to which he owes his life, his happiness and his unobstructed enjoyment of liberty. At this point, the Jew suddenly realizes that in seeking to protect himself as a Jew, he is simultaneously seeking to protect himself as an American citizen. In other words, he realizes that whatever he does to nurture his liberty as a Jew, he does to nurture his liberty as an American citizen.
It shouldn’t be difficult for anyone to follow this reasoning to its logical conclusion: that whatever he does to combat those who would weaken democratic principles he does to combat the destroyers of Judaism. At this point he may or may not decide which will be his arena of activity; the smaller one in which the battle against anti-semitism is being fought or the larger one in which the battles against anti-Americanism is being waged. He already knows that the smaller battle is merely one of the highly important engagements in the general continuing war in which all engagements are equally important.
Whatever he does, this good Jew and American citizen realizes that he can only fight back at his attackers in a positive manner. He may do it by coming boldly into the open, or by going underground. He may do it in his own name, or he may have someone or some group front for him. He may work alone or hand-in-hand with others. He may speak, or write letters; broadcast his views or just talk conversationally; whip up support for this movement or that, or just give his support as an individual to one or another movement.
But above all, however he carried on his own share of the battle, he knows it can be done only in a positive manner. To say, “It is best not to stir up more trouble, let’s keep quiet; let’s not do anything’ is to be negative. Only the person who knowingly wishes to commit suicide, and would condone the ending of the lives of his kind, could truly justify to himself such negativism. I am not one of these, and that is why I am not in agreement with the “hush-hush” gang.
Furthermore, whenever I learn what makes a person a member of the “hush-hush” group, I consider what the motive is. Many people are negative because they are merely unthinking. They haven’t reasoned things out along basic lines. For these there is hope. But there are many who have thought things out and have decided to be “hush-hush” and negative because it will be better for them personally, better for them socially, better for their business.
These I view with exactly the same clinging contempt and hatred that I found within myself for any and all who withdraw from the united strength of democracy for their own personal profit—be they called nazi, fascist, Ku Klux Klan or whatnot. For you cannot compromise with bigotry, and you cannot compromise with greed, and you cannot compromise with ambition, and you cannot compromise with fear.
You must ask yourself one question—just one question: “Am I on the side of the people in this thing, or am I against them?” … You can word it different, it makes no difference as long as you understand the question: “Is this right, or is this wrong, in light of the simple basic principles upon which true democracy is founded in this, our United States of America?”
If the answer is yes, I am on the side of the people, you will act on some way, small or big, to support them. If the answer is well, it would hurt me—socially, financially—if I did anything about it, then the answer is no. If the answer is “Maybe,” or “I don’t know,” or “What’s the difference,” then you are compromising and the answer is still no.
Let us not let this basic principle and this simple reasoning be obscured by the manifold tangents, detail and arguments of any pertinent subject, such as the released time question. Let us not condone the negativism, or fail to recognize the motives behind those of our community who preach negativism. Let us not be surprised by the “hush-hush” gang; let us wake up to what they are.
God forbid the day comes that the strength of the people united is not enough to combat fascism in this country. But if that day comes, I for one will blame not only the Bilbos, the Rankins, the General L. K. Smiths and the Father Coughlins… I will accuse also he ‘hush-hush” boys of San Diego for the murder of my children.
The first reaction of the “hush-hush” people to that statement will be, “He’s a hothead, he’s exaggerating just to stir up trouble; he’s crazy.”
Am I? Study the history of the German republic; remember what happened under the cold-blooded “Mein Kampf” plan. Thin it over. Ask yourself the one basic question. And then decide whether you are ashamed of the outspoken opposition to the released time plan which many in our community supported. Sincerely, Mike Lustig.
We Were There
From Southwestern Jewish Press, May 29, 1947, page 3
By Albert Hutler
There are many good, kind generous people in this world of ours which at times seems so selfish and so hard. Sometimes it seems that too many of us believe in the “survival of the fittest” theory. And then along comes one little human being, who does little kind acts, and you begin to believe in people again.
So it was in Germany. You found hundreds of people who had brutalized other people; who had been inhuman, who had murdered and killed for sadistic reasons. But you also found one or two who had risked their lives so that a Jew could live; who had hidden and fed Jewish children; who had believed in human beings.
So it was in France, in Belgium and in Holland. And so it is in San Diego. One of the grand moments in a campaign of few grand moments is when you open your mail and find a letter from a Christian Friend. “My heart’s deepest sympathy is with your suffering people overseas and I am giving already in three directions for their relief out of my very slender resources. But I would like to give my trifle to your fund and may God grand his blessing on your work of assistance.”
It makes up for all the pettiness, for all the evasions, for all your lost hopes bout people. It sometimes even makes you feel as if you had been reborn.
Beth Jacob Congregation
From Southwestern Jewish Press, May 29, 1947, page 4
At an emergency executive board meeting held Monday evening, the Beth Jacob Congregation decided to postpone the formal installation of Rabbi Abraham L. Rosenblum from June 1st to a later date. As soon as that date is decided upon, the committee will announce it to the public.
This Friday evening will make the last late service at 8 p.m. of the Congregation for the season. Rabbi Rosenblum announced that these services will be resumed in the early fall.
{Return to top}
 Nancy Harrison
cruise & tour specialist
(619) 265-0808
JEWISH SPORTS ANSWER: d) Ken Holtzman
SAN DIEGO JEWISH WORLD THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Middle East
Parallels of German, Iraqi reconstructions by Shoshana Bryen in Washington D. C.
High school art project; Sderot twins illustrate Kassams' psychological impact by Ulla Hadar in Sderot, Israel
Lifestyles
Father and daughter both made some new friends on Single Parent Family Weekend by Gary Rotto in Angelus Oaks, California
San Diego County
Astronaut, centenarian address San Diego conference on aging and independence by Gerry Greber in San Diego
San Diego Jewish Trivia: Music by Evelyn Kooperman in San Diego
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History
Remember Your Loved Ones On-line
—May 22, 1947: Pioneer Women by Bess Borushek
—May 22, 1947: Eli Levenson Praises Chairmen In Making Final Welfare Fund Appeal
—May 22, 1947: Hillel Councilorship at State College a Possibility
The Arts
Chapter 14 of Reluctant Martyr, a serialized novel by Sheila Orysiek of San Diego
Middle East
Olmert, every crafty, may survive again by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem
The Arts
Debra Winger's memoir shows she can write as well as she can act by Yvonne Greenberg in La Jolla , California
Star Trek exhibit in San Diego provides Jewish visitors with reasons to kvell by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego
Temple Emanu-El and San Diego Musical Theatre are saying 'Bye, Bye ECPAC' by Carol Davis in El Cajon, California
Thursdays with the songs of Hal Wingard:
—No. 256, Youthful Love
—No. 215, Love Notes
—No. 104, Everything Is Sexual
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History
Remember Your Loved Ones On-line
—May 22, 1947: JWV Auxiliary
—May 22, 1947: Beth Jacob Congregation
—May 22, 1947: Jewish War Vets
—May 22, 1947: Lasker Lodge B.B.
Middle East
Are the French modern-day Delilahs? by Shoshana Bryen in Washington, D.C.
No time for electioneering, Israeli mayors in the Negev tell two Ehuds by Ulla Hadar in Sderot, Israel
Australia
A roundup of Australian stories by Garry Fabian:
—Long-running archives saga ends positively
—US academics travel 'Down Under'
—Refugee Week: time for reflection, action
—Church 'Middle-East statement' draws mixed reactions
—Melbourne Community-Victoria Police Dinner
—The environment and 'the Jewish question'
—Bipartisan politicians visit Jewish Holocaust Centre
—Canberra books a place in Jewish history
—Queensland Opposition Leader at AICC
—Perth Walks for JNF
—Can your boss make you work on Shabbat?
—Pratt steps down from Blues, but AJAX remains firm
—Chabad centre protested by neighbours
The Arts
Remember, a poem by Rebecca Rudin in San Diego
Cantor becomes a conductor—of a tour by Eileen Wingard in La Jolla, California
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History
Remember Your Loved Ones On-line
—May 22, 1947: That's What I Think by Ray Solomon
—May 22, 1947: S.O.S. Wants Books!
—May 22, 1947: Home Camp Registration Now Being Taken
—May 22, 1947: Rabbi Wolf to Speak For Sisterhood
The Arts
What You See Isn't Quite What You Get by Ronit Hakakha in Netanya, Israel
The awful revenge of a mediocre artist by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego
TICO builds reputation as soloist's haven by Eileen Wingard in San Diego
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History
Become a sponsor of the ‘Adventures’
—May 8, 1947: Victor Schulman Heads Allocations, Budget Committee
—May 8, 1947: Hadassah
—May 22, 1947: Flash! {Hillel}
—May 22, 1947: Women Raise Record Sum
Middle East
How Sha'ar Hanegev elementary school protects Israeli kids from the rockets by Ulla Hadar in Kibbutz Ruhama, Israel
Possible attack on Iran, negotiating for hostages prompt many ethical questions by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem
Israel is now appeasing its Arab enemies by Shoshana Bryen in Washington, D.C.
San Diego
Jewish-Catholic dialogue focuses on the crucifixion and on the Holocaust by Donald H. Harrison in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History
Become a sponsor of our ‘Adventures’
—April 24, 1947: Lasker Lodge B.B. {Hillel}
—April 24, 1947: Jewish Labor Com
—April 24, 1947: Birdie Stodel B.B.
—April 24, 1947: Variety Show Saturday Nite
The Arts
My Old Friends a joyful romp of the aged by Cynthia Citron in Burbank, California
A Jewish dancer’s road to freedom by Sheila Orysiek in San Diego
)Middle East
Murtha owes Marines an apology by Shoshana Bryen in Washington, D.C.
Judaism
Conservative movement insists kosher processors treat employees humanely by Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal in San Diego
The importance of a Hebrew name by Rabbi Baruch Lederman in San Diego
San Diego
Garden and square memorialize two favorite professors at San Diego City College by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History
—April 24, 1947: 'And A Little Child Shall Lead Them'
—April 24, 1947: Beth Jacob Congregation
—April 24, 1947: S.O.S. Still Needs Your Support
—April 24, 1947: S.D. To Have Summer Camps
The Arts
S.D. weighs festival of new Jewish plays by Carol Davis in San Diego
Link to previous editions
< BACK TO TOP
|
|
