LETTER FROM JERUSALEM


Posturing, not reality, characterizes Mideast peace search

By Ira Sharkansky

JERUSALEM—Pardon my cynicism, but the continued, new, or renewed insistence of the United States, European governments, some Israelis, and other hangers-on to pursue negotiations with Palestinians, Syrians, and Iranians strike me as the playthings of children. Think of the performances that elementary school children give for their parents. Aren't they all cute?

Lip service is another appropriate metaphor.

One must aspire to peace, and go through appropriate motions. Correct political aspirations demand it.

Don't hold your breath waiting for positive results.

Why these damning predictions about the efforts of numerous worthies from credible countries, who otherwise do much good for their own citizens and the world at large?

Consider the ideological, religious, and political constraints in all those Muslim countries. They must show unity against us infidels despite internal differences that produce chronic violence among them. And there is no better way to demonstrate unity than to demand all the rights due to Palestinians, and insist that Israel be confined to old boundaries or be made to disappear altogether. Palestinian rights must prevail in Muslim politics despite the civil war now cool, now intense, between Palestinian factions that adds to the inability of Palestinians or other Muslims to think of anything other than proposals that no Israeli government can accept.

When the Egyptian head of the International Atomic Energy Agency finds no indication that Iran is doing anything to develop nuclear weapons, cynics like me are not surprised.

Where is the room for compromise or significant concession on the part of all those believers?

If someone out there sees it, please let me know.

The playacting has gone on for the better part of a century, and will not be any more productive once the new Israeli government takes office. The likely prime minister, Benyamin Netanyahu, is saying that he is tired of the idea of a Palestinian state, long at the focus of hopeless negotiations. His comments have brought tough words from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is sticking with the sanctity of Palestinian statehood. Before long, assuming Bibi does become prime minister, she and others will accuse him of being unreliable. Numerous Israelis already feel that way. He may be leading the country, but it will be difficult listening to him against the history of bluster, back peddling, and denial. And some accusations of unreliability will be no more than expressions of "we don't like what he is saying." All politicians dissemble. It is part of governing in the midst of conflicting demands.

Also interesting will be the scenarios developing if Avigdor Lieberman achieves his aspiration of becoming Foreign Minister. The liberal crowd views him as an uncivilized racist. He looks and sounds like a Russian Mafioso. He is also a settler, proud of living beyond Israel's 1967 boundaries. Imagine him speaking to the General Assembly of the United Nations, and expecting to be received by peers in European capitals. Remind yourselves that criticizing one's looks or manner of speech is not acceptable in polite company. He would be willing to move from his family home in exchange for true peace, but one doubts that he is any more optimistic than the rest of the Israeli majority that tilted right of center in the recent election.

The world is not all bad. Somewhere under the level of political posturing are technocrats and bureaucrats cooperating quietly to make life better for all sides. Israelis, Palestinians, and others meet in one place or another to manage things like sewage, water, crop and animal diseases. Much of this happens with the encouragement and finance of bureaucrats in American and European governments. Arab PhDs and researchers trained in Israeli universities, including one of my own students, are teaching in Palestinian universities. Physicians and patients cross borders to give and receive care. At times the middle- and lower-level Middle Easterners have to stop the good they are doing when the news reaches the media.

Peace is not on the horizon. There will continue to be individual tragedies suffered by people in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Israel will survive. Jews have been polishing their coping skills since biblical times. Arabs will suffer, due largely to their own follies. Westerners will continue to weep, and insist on trying yet again for comprehensive agreements.

Remember Sisyphus, and the rock that would never reach the top of the hill? He was a neighbor.

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






UNITED JEWISH FEDERATION SAN DIEGO JEWISH ACADEMY



To visit the United Jewish Federation or San Diego Jewish Academy websites, please click the respective ad above

2009 UJF Women’s Division Options event raises over
$200,000 for the local and global Jewish community

SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– On February 24, the Marriott San Diego La Jolla served as both the venue and one of the corporate partners for the 2009 Options Event, which raised over $200,000.  Keynote speaker Brigitte Gabriel, one of the world’s leading experts on Global Islamic Terrorism, addressed 600 Jewish women in our community.

“The impact of seeing so women in one room who care about our community is truly magnificent,” said co-chairs Judy Lilienthal and Laura Tauber. “A gathering of this magnitude is incredibly inspiring, especially during these times of economic crisis.”

Keynote speaker Gabriel shared her personal story as a Lebanese Christian growing up during the Lebanese Civil War; how her home was destroyed by radical Islamic extremists, and how she and her parents lived in a bomb shelter for seven years.  She motivated and inspired the women to take a stand to make a difference in this country so that we will not fall to militant Islam.  The topic was most timely and relevant and a most important issue of our times.  

Corporate Partners of Options 2009 included: Lake Elsinore Storm Baseball; San Diego Jewish Journal; Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP; Tuttleman Family Foundation; Marriott San Diego La Jolla; Geppetto’s; Kosher Wines by Gershon & Associates; Photos by Solange; Shindy Media; Sally Williams Fine Foods; and Initial Impression.

The Women’s Division of the UJF raises over 38 percent of UJF’s annual campaign. The annual Options event is one of the key outreach and fundraising events of the year organized by the Women’s Division of the United Jewish Federation of San Diego County, which supports and enhances Jewish community life through fundraising, educational and outreach programs.  Its mission is to inspire women to devote their time and financial resources to the needs of Jews locally, globally, and in Israel.

Funds raised through UJF go towards helping those in need in San Diego and 60 countries throughout the world.  To learn more about UJF’s work, visit www.jewishinsandiego.org.

CROSSING THE YARDEN

Western world is wasting its money rebuilding Gaza

By Yarden Frankl


NEVE DANIEL, Israel—The world's leaders met recently and decided to give billions of dollars to rebuild IDF targets in the Gaza Strip. Now I don't want to be unappreciative. Any assistance to our state, especially our military, is very much welcomed. Yet I feel uneasy about this "gift." Somehow I think when we end up using the gift, we will once again be accused of all sorts of terrible things.

I worry about the sanity of the world's political leaders. At a time when the global economy has fallen off a cliff, these folks havedecided that pouring billions of dollars into Gaza is a "wise" investment. Is there really nothing that these countries, includingthe (United States) have left to spend money on? Are there no more banks, insurance companies, and automobile manufacturers to be bailed out?

Make no mistake about it, the war is far from over. We went to war because of the actions of the Palestinians. (I am tired of referring
to our enemy as "Hamas." The Palestinian people in Gaza could get rid of Hamas if they wanted. Far bloodier dictatorships and ideologies
have fallen.)

We went to war because the Palestinians had been shooting rockets at Israeli Kindergartens. We went to war because the Palestinians were
holding Gilad Shalit hostage. We went to war because the Palestinians had been smuggling all sorts of nasty weapons into Gaza.

Did I miss the news? Last time I checked the Kindergartners were still in bomb shelters and Gilad was still in Gaza. Does anyone in the world
have any doubt that the new Israeli government will have no choice but to go back in and finish the job that was left undone?

So if everyone knows that we need to flatten Gaza, why the rush to take what little cash is left in the world and throw it away?

Don't believe all the assurances that "mechanisms" will be in place to make sure that the money doesn't get to Hamas. Every time we have
heard this, in a matter of days Hamas ends up getting the money. Where they don't get the cash, they certainly get the credit.

Why not? Israel withdrew weeks ago and the Palestinians still terrorize Israel every day. Palestinian homes and offices and mosques
will be rebuilt. Soon after they will be restocked with rockets and mortars. Meanwhile Israeli families in Sderot continue to live in
fear. Now they are joined by families in Ashkelon and Beer Sheva. If you were a Palestinian, who would you think had won the war?

When Lord Olmert finally leaves office after securing the Guinness Book of World Records for "Lame Duck," we hopefully will have a
government that knows what needs to be done. We hopefully will have leadership that realizes that while anyone is allowed to attack
Israeli children with impunity, there can be no thought of peace.

And to all the taxpayers around the world whose political leaders are giving away their money to reconstruct the soon to be demolished GazaStrip, we're sorry. Maybe there's a nice bank you can go bailout instead.

Columnist Frankl may be contacted via franklsinisrael@gmail.com

CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL SAN DIEGO JEWISH CHAMBER







FROM THE SIDELINES


Can Israel's counter-cyclical economy profit Netanyahu?

By Rabbi Dow Marmur

SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGES

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THE VIEW FROM JINSA


To whom will U.S.-trained Palestinian fighters be loyal?

By Shoshana Bryen

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Last week, Egypt invited Fatah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and others - a total of 12 groups - to Cairo with the intention of forging Palestinian "unity," something never previously achieved. Israel, the United States and the other members of the Quartet were supportive of the Egyptian effort in advance of the donors' conference this week.

Secretary of State Clinton in Jerusalem said "During the conference, I emphasized President Obama's and my commitment to working to achieve a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and our support for the Palestinian Authority." In Ramallah on Wednesday she announced support for Fatah as the only legitimate government of the Palestinian people.

That may come as news to those Palestinian people who voted for Hamas in an election considered "fair and democratic" by the United States government, and who didn't appear to be in rebellion during the Gaza war - or after it.

The Secretary is standing on an impasse. The donors want a single channel to funnel money to Gaza and thus need the fiction of a Palestinian government headed by Abu Mazen's Palestinian Authority. But Hamas does not agree - and why should it? Hamas, with its pet poodle UNRWA, remains in physical control of Gaza. Worse, the donors, plus Egypt, Fatah and Israel have ensured that Hamas remains the center of political attention by dangling aid and begging. Why should Hamas concede its deeply held belief in violent Islamic radicalism and the destruction of Israel to get in bed with Fatah - which it considers a traitor and whose supporters it has been busy arresting and executing? (Hamas added the dead Fatah members to the "civilian" list of casualties they claim Israel killed in Gaza.)

So, although the Palestinian people rejected Fatah at the ballot box, Secretary of State Clinton rejects Hamas as a political partner and demands that it surrender to Fatah. In its determination to see Fatah rule, the United States has been training Palestinian "security forces" so they can fight Hamas. Yes, that's what the American government says. But what happens if Secretary Clinton gets her way, Hamas joins a "unity government" and demands a say in the management of those troops? What if "unity" is temporary and Hamas takes over the government - making it much more unified - and assumes control of the security forces? To whom would the troops be loyal? A deposed Abu Mazen who was using them to fight their Hamas cousins who are now in control? To Hamas? What would Hamas want with American-trained security forces?

Oh.

Hamas and Fatah have unity on one issue - the belief that Israel is a mistake created by the international community that needs to be reversed. Their difference on this point is tactical: Fatah is willing to take negotiated stages; Hamas - and the other 10 parties in Cairo - believe only in violence.

The donors, Fatah and Israel should stop demanding a unity government, announce that Hamas is organization non-grata and accept that Israel will control the border with Gaza. No one will starve - no one ever has because Israel won't permit it (yes, we are repeating ourselves, but it's worth it) and Israel is entitled to ensure its security from enemies who remain openly sworn to its destruction and pursue the death of Israeli civilians every day from behind their own people.

No one should want unity with that.

Bryen is special projects director for the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. (JINSA). He column is sponsored by Waxie Sanitary Supply in memory of Morris Wax, longtime JINSA supporter and national board member


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TIFERETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE LAWRENCE FAMILY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER




Please click on the respective ad to visit the websites of Tifereth Israel Synagogue or the Lawrence Family JCC

Middle Eastern peace works On San Diego Jewish Music Festival stage

LA JOLLA, California (Press Release) – The 10th Annual San Diego Jewish Music Festival, presented by the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture, continues with COMMON CHORDS III, THE NEXT GENERATION: A Celebration of Jewish and Muslim Music, on Wednesday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Jacobs Family Campus.

Salman Ahmad, Muslim rock star and peace ambassador, founder of Junoon, “South Asia’s answer to Santana,” and renowned Indian tabla player Samir Chatterjee will join Yale Strom, world’s leading ethnographer/klezmer artist and his band Hot Pstromi for a unique production celebrating the common roots of Muslim and Jewish music. The concert will feature original works exploring tolerance, diversity and the ties that bind. These compositions are created and performed by the award winning stars of tomorrow.

Salman Ahmad is an artist, humanitarian and social activist. He grew up as a teenager in New York and later trained as a medical doctor in Lahore, Pakistan. A U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS, Salman founded South Asia’s biggest rock band Junoon. The band’s sweeping melodies, bhangra rock rhythms and driving guitars have often led it to be called “the U2 of South Asia.” Known for blending a powerful, arena rock sound with the epic tranquility of Sufi love poetry, it has sold over 25 million albums worldwide, and has shared the stage with artists such as Melissa Ethridge, Alicia Keys, Sting, Earth Wind and Fire, and Wyclef Jean.

Ahmad has led Junoon to perform at diverse venues like the U.N. General Assembly Hall – the first performance of its kind. In December 2007, Junoon performed at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo. In May 2008 Junoon defied death threats from militants to perform in the ethereal valley of Kashmir, the first rock concert to be held in Srinagar.

Jon Pareles of the New York Times describes Junoon as “South Asia’s answer to Santana,” and the Wall Street Journal called Junoon’s eclectic music “a powerful combination of Led Zeppelin and traditional South Asian percussion.”

Yale Strom, the world’s leading klezmer artist, has been hailed as “a commanding bandleader and composer” (Pulse!), “one of the best klezmer musicians in the country” (Houston Public News), and “an all-around musical visionary” (Seth Rogovoy). Time Magazine wrote “Through his art, Strom has brought back his spiritual klezmer ancestors.”

Strom is known for composing “New Jewish” music, which combines klezmer with Hasidic nigunim, Rom, jazz, classical, Balkan and Sephardic motifs. These compositions range from quartets to a symphony, which premiered with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. He composed original music for the Denver Center production of Tony Kushner’s The Dybbuk, and composed all the New Jewish music for the National Public Radio series “Fiddlers, Philosophers & Fools: Jewish Short Stories From the Old World to the New,” hosted by Leonard Nimoy, as well as numerous film scores.

Strom is a pioneer among klezmer revivalists. He has spent more than two decades conducting extensive field research in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans among the Jewish and Rom communities. Initially his work focused on the use and performance of klezmer music by these two groups. Gradually, his interest broadened to include all aspects of their culture, from post-World War II to the present.

In addition to his work as a musician and composer, Strom is the author of ten books, and an accomplished film director, playwright and photographer. He has directed five award-winning documentary films, one of which was short-listed for an Academy Award, and has composed music for countless others. He has lectured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and taught at NYU for four years. He is currently Artist in Residence in the Jewish Studies Program at San Diego State University.

Samir Chatterjee is a virtuoso tabla player of India. He travels widely throughout the year performing in numerous festivals as a soloist or with other outstanding musicians from both Indian and Western traditions. His compositions are widely acclaimed. All of Chatterjee’s teachers have been from the Farrukhabad Gharana (school) of tabla playing, which he now represents.

All India Radio maintains Chatterjee as an A-rated artist. He can be heard on numerous recordings featured as soloist, accompanying many of India’s greatest musicians, and in collaboration with Western musicians of outstanding caliber. Among the many great Indian musicians Chatterjee has accompanied is Ravi Shankar.

Chatterjee lives in New York, where he has become a catalyst in the fusion of Indian and Western music, performing with Pauline Oliveros, Ravi Coltrane, Dave Douglas, Myra Melford, Steve Gorn, Glen Velez, Boby Sanabria, Ben Verdery, William Parker, Dance Theater of Harlem, Ethos Percussion, Da Capo Chamber Orchestra, Boston Musica Viva and other jazz and avant guard musicians. He is a member of jazz trios SYNC with Ned Rothenberg and Jerome Harris and MANODHARMA with Rudresh Mahanthappa and Vijay Iyer. He is the composer and director of Nacho Nacho – Gypsy Storyteller and Chhand-Anand, World Percussion Ensemble. He performs with Sanjay Mishra on his CD “Blue Incantation” featuring Jerry Garcia as guest artist.

General Information— The 10th Annual San Diego Jewish Music Festival, running through May 12, 2009, features professional musicians playing an eclectic mix of music from around the world. The events include concerts with soloists, ensembles, an exciting blend of Jewish and Muslim music, European instrumental and vocal competition winners, and lectures. The San Diego Jewish Music Festival has earned national recognition and continues to enrich the musical landscape of San Diego. The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Jacobs Family Campus is located at 4126 Executive Drive in La Jolla. Tickets for Common Chords III, The Next Generation are $19-$24. For information or tickets call the JCC box office at 858-362-1348, or visit the web site at www.lfjcc.org. .

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GUEST COLUMN


Obama’s Durban II critics: nattering nabobs of negativism

By Ira N. Forman

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Last week, President Barack Obama opted to boycott the United Nations Conference against racism in Geneva (also know as Durban II) set to take place in April of this year.  The Obama administration made clear to the Islamic nations driving the Durban II agenda that as long as the conference was structured as a bash-Israel fest, the United States would have nothing to do with its proceedings.

This support for Israel by the new administration highlights two important points about Obama and his die-hard, ideological opponents.  First, the President has once again illustrated that he works hard to keep his campaign promises.  Second, it highlights the tenacity of Obama’s ideological opponents to invariably find him to be intensely anti-Israel — even if that evidence runs up against cold hard facts.

During last year’s presidential campaign, candidate Obama promised to reengage in the U.N. and argued that the concept of a conference against racism had value.  However, he also stated on the Simon Wiesenthal Center presidential candidate questionnaire that, “If our efforts to keep the conference on a responsible path are not working, and the conference planning committee is not cooperative, the U.S. will not participate.”

As President, Obama sent a U.S. delegation to mid-February pre-conference proceedings.  The purpose of such a delegation was to explore whether the agenda of the conference could be salvaged from those who merely wished to focus on demonizing Israel, constricting the right of free speech (when it came to attacks on radical Islam) and highlighting the U.S.’s history of racism by calling for reparations for slavery.  When it became clear that there was little hope for refocusing the conference on the world’s very real problems of racism, the President announced that it would serve no constructive purpose for the U.S. to attend.  This announcement, over a month before the conference begins, will undoubtedly lead to a boycott by other democracies.

The administration’s die-hard foes could not wait for last week’s announcement.  As soon as the administration took its first moves to try to salvage the conference, they pounced.  It was not just the knee-jerk Republican organizations who screamed that the President’s actions represented an “extremely disturbing change in American foreign policy regarding Israel.”  One commentator at National Review online stated, “What is new is that the new president of the United States doesn't care about the U.N.'s reincarnation of 'Zionism is racism.'”  At the rabidly right-wing American Thinker web site, we were told, “Well, file this info in the ‘this was predictable’ column.”  The article went on to breathlessly report that the U.S. would attend Durban II.  Richard Heideman, a Republican-leaning Jewish activist, predicted, “the chances that U.S. President Barack Obama will boycott a conference against racism are slim….because that’s his mindset.”

I would like to revive a phrase that William Safire once penned for Vice President Spiro Agnew – “nattering nabobs of negativism.” Many of these new nattering nabobs are made up of those Jewish critics of the President who are intent on proving his bad intentions toward Israel no matter what the facts show.

One would hope that even Obama’s toughest opponents might admit they were wrong about the administration’s policy on Durban II.   The President, as promised, tried to change the direction of this U.N. conference, but when it was clear that he could not, he used his international credibility to discredit the coming disgrace of Geneva.

Sadly, for the nattering nabobs of negativism, ideological rigidity trumps any acknowledgement of reality. Within hours of the administration’s announcement of its boycott of Durban II, one of the “savants” at the American Thinker declared, “Too late, Mr. President. Your imprimatur is all over that draft.”

When we engage in this game of scoring partisan points at all costs, our community loses.  When facts are trumped by ideological combat, our community loses.  When positive policy outcomes take a back seat to scoring partisan points, our community loses.  At a time when Israel and the Jewish people do truly face existential threats, a hardheaded, reality based view of politics surely must overcome the politics of knee-jerk negativism.

Ira N. Forman is the Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE SOILLE SAN DIEGO HEBREW DAY SCHOOL

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Grandpa Geology Visits Hebrew Day’s Second Grade Class

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — “Poppie Stan Kessel," retired Geologist from Texas and grandfather to Jonas Jacobs in second grade and Gabriel in fourth, visited Hebrew Day’s 2nd grade class this week to give a  geology presentation and share with the students some of his most rare rocks. He discussed where they were found, their age and how they were formed.  Since the second grade is studying about dinosaurs, he even presented a piece of dinosaur dung to Ms. Taft for her permanent collection!

 Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School serves children from infants through eighth grade and offers generous financial aid grants to families to make a Jewish day school education affordable to all.  For more information on the school, visit the web site at http://www.hebrewday.org/ or contact Audrey Jacobs, Director of School Advancement at 858-279-3300 ext. 106 or ajacobs@hebrewday.org

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Thursdays with the Songs of Hal Wingard


In this selection, Hal takes a look at some eternal verities. Here is a link to an index of Wingard's songs previously published by San Diego Jewish World. To hear Hal performing a song, click on its title.

#251, The Way The World Is

Water is wet.
Gamblers all bet.
Students hate taking a quiz.
Babies must cry.
Martinis are dry.
That's just the way the world is.

That's just the way the world is.
That's just the way the world is.
I know it seems strange,
But things never change.
That's just the way the world is.

Deadlines are set.
Complainers all fret.
Ginger ale bubbles with fizz.
Time races by
Losers don't try.
That's just the way the world is.

Lovers will pet.
Spending brings debt.
Where there's a hers there's a his.
Birds need to fly.
Politicos lie.
That's just the way the world is.

That's just the way the world is.
That's just the way the world is.
I know it seems strange,
But things never change.
That's just the way the world is.

(c) 2009 Hal Wingard; May 26, 1996. Words completed March 9, 1996, on flight from San Francisco to San Diego

#254, The Game of Life

The game of life is hide and seek,
With rules that never let us peek
Into. . .tomorrow.
Ollie, ollie, oxen free.
Ollie, ollie, oxen free.
Ollie, ollie, ollie oxen free.

We seek a life that's good and kind,
But still can't know if what we'll find
Is joy. . .or sorrow.
Ollie, ollie, oxen free.
Ollie, ollie, oxen free.
Ollie, ollie, ollie oxen free.

Though time can hide in our account,
We still can't find what small amount
Is ours. . .to borrow.
Ollie, ollie, oxen free.
Ollie, ollie, oxen free.
Ollie, ollie, ollie oxen free.

The game of life is hide and seek,
With rules that never let us peek
Into. . .tomorrow.
Ollie, ollie, oxen free.
Ollie, ollie, oxen free.
Ollie, ollie, ollie oxen free.

(c) July 26, 1996; Words completed July 18, 1996, while waiting at LAX, having been in Bakersfield and flying on to San Diego

#257, It's Hard

It's hard to see the picture
When you're within the frame.
It's hard to be an umpire
While playing in the game.

It's hard directing traffic
While driving in your car.
It's hard to give directions
Not knowing where you are.

Oh, it's hard, hard, hard.
It's so hard, hard, hard.
Yes, it's hard, hard, hard.
It's so hard.

It's hard to be a giver,
If you don't own a cent.
It's hard to hammer nails in,
If all your nails are bent.

It's hard to keep on smiling,
When you are feeling glum.
It's hard to play the wise man,
When what you say sounds dumb.

Chorus

It's hard to sweep the kitchen,
If you don't have a broom.
It's hard to weave a blanket,
If you can't work a loom.

It's hard to eat your dinner,
When you're without a plate.
It's hard to be a lover,
If you don't have a mate.

Chorus

(c) 2009 Hal Wingard; September 13, 1996. First half of words completed June 8, 1996, at Annarita Uretsky's in San Jacinto,
second half July 2, 1996, at Ovidio's Italian Restaurant in Fresno.

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CAROL ANN GOLDSTEIN Carol Ann Goldstein provides the following services: Web Developer-information and ecommerce sites Database programmer Math Tutor -- all ages (San Diego, CA.) Call 858 452 0386 or email cag_92122@yahoo.com

Jewish Internet Favorites

To see previous selections, please click here to go to our archive index

Steve Hofstetter does a standup comedy routine on racism:

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Adventures in San Diego Jewish History

Editor's Note: Read in this continuing column how the generations who came before us helped to build San Diego's Jewish community! You may access an index of San Diego Jewish history articles by clicking here. You may also use the Google search program at the top of this page or on the headline index page to search for keywords or names.


Religion In The Schools
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 17, 1952, page 2

Plans to put a strengthened program of moral and spiritual education in the San Diego City Schools into effect in the classrooms during the spring semester beginning in February were approved by the Board of Education.

Dr. Robert E. Jenkins said that the program had been reviewed by representative clergymen of the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faiths in San Diego and that the plan as outlined represented agreements reached with all three groups.

The various groups of clergymen were in agreement, Jenkins said, in supporting the program as outlined, and their principal suggestions were concerned with implementing the section of the report which describes classroom and extracurricular activities for use in teaching about religion and building a reverence for God.

The committee further suggested that after the first phase of the program has been successfully put into action during the spring, “there should then be some careful experimentation in the fall of 1953 with Bible reading and devotional”  as summarized in the plan.  At that time the guidebook would be expanded to include specific non-sectarian activities in that area.
We are disturbed by several questions which naturally arise in connection with such a program.

1. What does the Board of Education mean by “non-sectarian activities”?
   
   
2. Which Bible will be used?
   
   
3. What kind of training will be teachers in the schools have before embarking on the program?
   
   
4. Do the Rabbis (who have always stoutly maintained their belief in the separation of church and state) agree with this program?

It was our impression that at least two of the Rabbis opposed the reading of the Bible in school when the news broke some months ago.
What has happened?

Community Currents
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 17, 1952, page 2


By Albert Hutler, Director. United Jewish Fund

The “Hate America Party”
I guess you have been reading about the Christian nationalists Party, led by Gerald K. Smith, who lists himself as National Chairman.  Their candidates are General Douglas MacArthur for President and Senator Jack B. Tenney for Vice President.  I don’t know if MacArthur is taking this very seriously, but Senator Jack B.Tenney must because he spoke in San Diego a short time ago.  Around Southern California and especially in San Diego the MacArthur-Tenney Committee as well as all of the activities of Gerald K. Smith and Wesley Swift are master-minded by Bertrand Comparet, a local lawyer who has evidently decided that the way to fame and fortune is with Gerald K. Smith, Wesley Swift and his ilk.  

Proposition No. 3

While we are talking alittle bit of politics, if you can call the Christian Nationalist Party a political party, some clarification might be done on Proposition No. 3 on the ballot, which seeks to get church owned schools exempted from taxation.  Opponents of Proposition 3 state that the proposed exemption would give far more than the laws of 28 other states which do exempt such property allowed.  They say that in most cases where there is a tax exemption, there are specific provisos on the amount of property that can be exempted, or the school term is prescribed, or one exemption is allowed per denomination, and in 19 states the law controls the curriculum of denominational schools and teachers’ qualifications.

What is being asked for in California, opponents to the exemption say,is total tax exemption with no restrictive legal strings attached whatsoever.

Those who favor the exemption say that this is just because the parochial or church owned schools in California are easing the public schools’ tax loads.  Opponents answer this by saying that it amounts to providing public funds for private religious education and enlarging the tax burden of the general taxpayer by providing health and relief, not to the church owned schools but to the church which owns them.

There are two Protestant denominations actively interested in securing the exemption – Lutherans and Seventh Day Adventists, but the Roman Catholic Church maintains by far the largest religious school system in the state of California.

These are some of the facts:  A no vote on Proposition No. 3 means that you are opposed to tax exemption for church or parochial schools.  A yes vote means that you favor such tax exemption for those bodies.

Public Relations and Israel

The Community Relations Council had a special meeting last Friday to hear Elisha Ben-Horin, Israel Attache at the Israel Embassy in New York City.  Mr. Ben-Horin spoke to Council representatives and Zionist leaders, invited by the Council, on the subject of Israel’s Public Relations in the United States  Out of this meeting came the possibility of having a Round Table on Fridays at least once a month for interested people.  We are going to follow this up so that if you are interested in hearing subjects of importance and of interest once a month on Fridays, will you please let me know so that you can be placed on the list of those who will be invited to become members of the Round Table.

New Citizens
These last two wee
ks have been most interesting and satisfactory.  The first group of Displaced Persons are becoming citizens and I have had the privilege and the honor of appearing as a witness for several of them.  The Schauder boys and their mother; the Mansbacher family; the Jacoby, and the Rabbi Sterns will become citizens in November.  If there are any others we would appreciate knowing it.

Search for Center Facilities

Adult leadership for young Jewish groups is sadly lacking in San Diego.  This activity needs much greater emphasis than we’ve had in the past.  It isn't too often that one finds a George Martin, Esther Weitzman, or Harry Wax, who are willing to give up time for teen-age groups.  Sid Posin, the new Community Center director, whom everyone met last Sunday, is hoping to develop the type of leadership so necessary to the well being of young Jewish groups.  Incidentally, Sid in the short space of time he has been in San Diego, which is approximately one month, has shown that he is capable of doing an excellent job and of getting the cooperation of most of the people in the community, especially those who are interested in the Center.  The search is continuing for a suitable place to carry out Center activities.  Several buildings have been looked at, but in each instance there has been something wrong.  The Center Board is continuing its search and you can be assured that no stone is being left unturned. If you want to help in this project call Sid Posin.


B.B Women Set For Donor Luncheon 
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 17, 1952, page 3

Action for Activity is the theme for the first joing Donor Luncheon sponsored by the Birdie Stodel  and the Bay City Chapters.  “Actions do speak louder than words, and that is why the women of San Diego have selected Action for Activity for this year’s theme,” stated Mrs. Sam Stein, Birdie Stodel chairman and Mrs. Ben Elvove, Bay City chairman.

The luncheon, to be held on Sunday, October 27, 12 noon at Top’s Restaurant, will feature as the entertainment highlight, Robert Nadel, dramatic tenor, who will be here from Los Angeles.  Other acts consist of “A Kats and a Kanary,” a novelty group;  a harmonica act, and a surprise which will be announced at the luncheon.

Proceeds from the Donor event will go towards payment of National, District and local allocations and it is with great emphasis that B’nai B’rith women bring to your attention the fact that their service work is done, to a great extent, locally.

Reservations may still be made with Mrs. Bennett—R-2862 or Mrs. Schwartz—T-91 25. Come to the Donor and help us celebrate not only this event but the 109th anniversary of B’nai B’rith.

Caption: Back Row: Mrs Sanford Sack, President Bay City; Mrs. Ted Brav, President Bridie Stodel. Front row: Mrs. Ben Elvove, Chairman Bay City; Mrs. Sam Stein, Chairman Birdie Stodel.


S. Bassin Wins Speech Award
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 17, 1952, page 3

At the Fifth Annual Speech contest of the Walker’s Toastmasters Club, held at the store October 9, 1952, Solomon Bassin of 3878 Van Dyke Ave. won first prize.  He was awarded an engraved loving cup and a cash prize.

Mr. Bassin’s speech was entitled “The Answer.”  He presented his thoughts in answering Stalin’s recent speech against capitalism.  He felt that he, as one of the 75 million working people in this country, could refute Stalin’s statement that the working people here are on the verge of starvation.

“Adventures in Jewish History” is sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg. Our indexed "Adventures in San Diego Jewish History" series will be a daily feature until we run out of history.


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