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INTERNATIONAL Haredi papers keep women out of the picture ... by Rabbi Dow Marmur in Jerusalem Many years ago I heard George Steiner, the acclaimed literary critic and writer, speak about a visit he made to the Museum of the Revolution in Moscow when the Soviets were still in power. It made a great impression on me and I’ve cited it often.READ MORE
How can childen cope with the murder of another child? ... by Yarden Frankl in Neve Daniel, Israel
A question without an answer: a terrorist with an axe murdered a kid and left another in the hospital with serious axe wounds...... why does god let this happen?!?? READ MORE
Trying to dictate peace in Middle East is sign of hubris ... by Shoshana Bryen in Washington D.C.
With the Netanyahu government installed, the State Department has made its first pronouncement. "We're going to pursue that two-state solution, because we believe it's in the best interests of all the parties in the region," said spokesman Robert Wood. READ MORE
JUDAISM
206 x 28=years since Creation by Jewish calendar ... by Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal in San Diego As has been well documented and often observed, I am not a morning person. This coming Wednesday, however, I have no choice but to greet the dawning of the new day with eager anticipation. In addition to being Erev Pesach, the morning of the Passover Seder, it is also the day upon which the sun is in exactly the same position it was when God created the world. READ MORE
'She wondered if she would ever see the light of the sun...' by Rabbi Baruch Lederman in San Diego Svetlana Moscovitz* (*name changed) grew up in the USSR in the height of the Cold War. The Soviet government oppressively treated the Jews. They wished to break them of any "treasonous" religious beliefs. READ MORE
ARTS PBS documentary on intermarriage probes a family's love ... by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego You can meet the Welbel family on San Diego’s public broadcasting station (KPBS) at 11 p.m. Tuesday night, April 7, when it broadcasts Out of Faith. The grandparents Leah and Lazer are Holocaust survivors. Leah gives speeches about the Shoah. On the other hand, for Lazer, the Holocaust is just too painful to remember. READ MORE
Rigoletto—another of Verdi's many masterpieces—well presented by San Diego Opera at the Civic Theatre ... by Carol Davis in San Diego How do I love you Verdi (to quote or not to quote Elizabeth Barrett Browning)? Let me count the ways.La Travatia, il Trovatore,Aida, Rigoletto, Ernani, I Lombardi, Otello, Falstaff and a host of other epic operas including Jerusalem and Nabucco.READ MORE
Composer praises Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra ... by Eileen Wingard in San Diego
The upper strings played with confidence and secure intonation as they scurried through the exciting scale passages of Glinka’s "Russlan and Ludmilla Overture" and projected the stately Farandole theme from Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2, opening works on TICO’s March 31 concert at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. READ MORE
ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH
HISTORY
December 26, 1952; Southwestern Jewish Press UJF Meeting Called “Most successful’; Jan. 'C' Month READ MORE
Letter (from M.D. Goodrich) READ MORE
“No Secret Meetings”READ MORE
Historic Ad, Santa Fe Chief READ MORE
Community Currents by Albert Hutler READ MORE
JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES We continue our examination of Jewish entertainers
Judy Holliday in "Born Yesterday" plays gin with Broderick Crawford. VIEW VIDEO
Laurence Harvey as Raymond in "The Manchurian Candidate" with Angela Lansbury VIEW VIDEO
Miriam Karlin as shop steward in "The Rag Trade"VIEW VIDEO
Werner Klemperer (at Colonel Klink) and other members of the Hogan's Heroes cast drop in on Bing Crosby on Hollywood Palace;
VIEW VIDEO
SPORTS A bissel sports triva ... with Bruce Lowitt in Oldsmar, Florida Q: Which catcher-first baseman was part of the Curt Flood trade that ultimately wound up in court and changed baseball forever? READ MORE
COMMUNITY WATCH/ ADVERTISERS' NEWS
United Jewish Federation Presents: San Diego Celebrates Israel Festival (61st Yom Ha’atzmaut) READ MORE
STAFF BOX
Shahar Masori, who contributes in many ways to San Diego Jewish World, spotted a video about the exponential growth of information technology. The numbers are pretty amazing.
JERUSALEM—Many years ago I heard George Steiner, the acclaimed literary critic and writer, speak about a visit he made to the Museum of the Revolution in Moscow when the Soviets were still in power. It made a great impression on me and I’ve cited it often. He stood in front of a photograph from which Trotsky – Stalin’s main adversary and his victim - had obviously been removed. When Steiner asked a guide why he couldn’t find Trotsky in the picture, the guide told him that he was away at the time plotting against Stalin. Doctoring the truth is a function of doctoring photographs.
I thought again of the story when I read about that certain haredi (ultra-Orthodox) newspapers, when publishing the formal picture of the new Netanyahu cabinet, removed the images of its two women members in order not to corrupt the male readers. As Arthur Koestler taught a long time ago, all totalitarian regimes are of the same ilk, even if their ideologies are totally opposed to each other.
The haredim are troubled by the visibility of women. In certain stores in Meah Shearim, the haredi neighborhood in Jerusalem, there are separate tills for female and male customers. As the official bus companies no longer arrange segregated seating to please haredim, efforts are being made to run a private bus service that relegates women to the back, or excludes them altogether, in order not to corrupt male passengers, especially on their way to the Western Wall for prayer.
There have even been suggestions that one reason why Tzipi Livni couldn’t get together a coalition was because she’s a
woman and the ultra-Orthodox couldn’t see themselves serving under her. (The fact that only 2 out of 30 of the current cabinet members are women is characteristic of the political landscape here.)
At the Wall, the segregation is strictly enforced. Immediately after the picture of the Netanyahu cabinet was taken, the Prime Minister went there, if not to pray then at least to place a note. Imagine if Livni had been the Prime Minister. Needless to say, she’d have to go to the women’s section. But then what would have happened to the male security officers who always accompany a Prime Minister in office? And the camera crews that make sure that the gesture is seen on earth, whether or not it’s acknowledged in heaven?
One morning, during the convention of the World Union for Progressive Judaism last month, a group of women went to the Wall to pray. Several wore tallitot, some may have even donned tefillin. The haredim were outraged. Though I’m among those who haven’t been able to find any religious significance in praying at the Wall, I was glad that some women tried to challenge haredi misogyny masquerading as piety and fidelity to the will of God.
Of course, it was a futile gesture, despite its good intentions. The haredim are there to stay - and to win. Because they can muster voters (at least as many women as men), they continue to be a political force in the land. Netanyahu has rewarded them by promising more funds for their institutions. Despite her protestations to the contrary, Livni would probably have done the same.
Obscurantism is alive and well in the democratic State of Israel; the enlightened ones pay the price to appease its abusers.
Marmur is rabbi emeritus of the Holy Blossom Congregation in Toronto. He divides his time between Canada and Israel email:marmurd@sandiegojewishworld.com
Crossing the Yarden
How can childen cope with the murder of another child?
By Yarden Frankl NEVE DANIEL, ISRAEL—A question without an answer: a terrorist with an axe murdered a kid and left another in the hospital with serious axe wounds...... why does god let this happen?!??
Above is a Facebook entry from a young person in Neve Daniel. There are many others from kids who live here and are trying to make sense of Thursday's terrible news. While I have discussed (along with almost everyone I know) the answer to the question why does G-D allow horrible things to happen togood people, it is simply not possible to sound rational when you live down the road from terror. If I can't answer the question for myself satisfactorily, how can a young person who grows believing that G-D is there to protect him, find an answer that gives comfort?
Besides the obvious horrible consequence of terrorism, one child murdered and another who will carry the memory of the attack all his life, there is a deeper, insidious result. A whole generation of kids feel that their value systems have been upended. They are angry and not content to accept the only
answers we grown-ups can give. So many find themselves with just two choices.
One is to grow up scared. This is a terrible option because the whole point of the State of Israel is that there should finally be a place where Jews do not have to live in fear. The image of the Jew hiding in his home shaking with fear of the next pogrom was supposed to go down when the flag of the State of Israel went up. Thankfully, few of the young people here embrace that option.
The other alternative is to grow up angry. By the look of other Facebook posts, this is the choice that many embrace. I cringe
when I see posts wishing ill on all Arabs, yet I understand the emotions that can push a young person to feel that way. In fact, haven't all of us at one time or another said or thought similar things upon receiving
news of terror?
How else can a human being react when he hears that a friend has been murdered by an axe wielding terrorist to the support of many Palestinian"leaders?" So how does one living here raise his children to be proud of their homeland yet not let that pride cross over into racism?
Perhaps this is the greatest challenge of life in Israel. We have returned to our ancestral homeland and will make no apologies to anyone for rebuilding our nation here. Yet we must do everything possible to not give up the moral foundation that must always be at the center of what we do. Despite what you may read in the media, we do not indiscriminately kill
those who mean us no harm. What we do to protect ourselves, we do because we must, not because we enjoy it.
I believe that life in Israel is a wonderful and satisfying life, but it'snot always easy. Whether we know the victims personally or not, we all know those who are affected by a terror attack. Let's listen to our kids this Pesach and try and help them navigate through their emotions so they do not feel they are alone is trying to make sense out of acts that are as
senseless and they are horrifying.
After an act of terror, our kids may ask "why does G-d let this happen." But as a nation, maybe we should be asking "Why do we?"
Shabbat Shalom from our blessed nation
In memory of Shlomo Nativ, another young Jewish man murdered for living in the Land of Israel.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—With the Netanyahu government installed, the State Department has made its first pronouncement. "We're going to pursue that two-state solution, because we believe it's in the best interests of all the parties in the region," said spokesman Robert Wood. Note to Mr. Wood: Please take account of what the parties in the region say is in their best interest; they're closer to the problem than you. It further appears that the administration is inclined toward the January letter of 10 former public officials - most of them notably unfavorably disposed toward Israel. Akiva Eldar of Ha'aretz neatly summarized the key points of the letter:
[They] recommended to the president that he replace "the conditions of the Quartet" with a readiness to recognize a Palestinian unity government, on condition that that government would agree to a cease-fire with Israel, authorize Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to conduct negotiations on a final-status solution, and bring the agreement to a referendum.
An Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders, with the exception of large settlement blocs; Jerusalem being the capital of both Israel and Palestine, and divided on a demographic basis; adoption of a special regime in the Old City; the rehabilitation of refugees within the Palestinian state, with Israel accepting a degree of responsibility for the problem; and the stationing of a multinational force in the territories during an interim period.
The authors are Paul Volcker, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Brent Scowcroft, Chuck Hagel, Nancy Kassebaum Baker, Lee Hamilton, James Wolfensohn, Thomas Pickering, Carla Hills and Theodore Sorensen. Eldar had to identify each out-of-
power former somebody to provide context for this generation of readers - Sorenson's last public position was held 45 years ago (but he did publicly endorse President Obama).
By fiat, the wise men say, the President will produce Palestinian unity by forcing Hamas to cede power to Abu Mazen; then empower Abu Mazen to cede parts of historic "Palestine" to Israel (beginning with, but not limited to, the land on which the "large settlement blocs" sit) and empower him to waive the "right of return" - neither of which even Arafat the Master was empowered to do; restore Jerusalem to its 1948 status of corpus separatum and have it "divided on a demographic basis." Restoration of the Mandelbaum Gate would be a nice, historical touch.
The authors and the State Department appear to believe the United States can - and should - orchestrate the Palestinians, Israelis and life into a package of their liking. For people who were almost unanimous in the belief that the Bush administration was arrogant in its treatment of foreign countries and people, this is hubris writ large.
But the greatest arrogance is their belief that "2009 constitutes the last opportunity for a partition solution." We strongly suggest they read Dennis Ross at the end of the Clinton Administration and Condoleezza Rice at the end of the Bush Administration. A real, viable solution will arise only after the Arab states meet their obligation under UN Resolution 242 to terminate their states of war with and accept the legitimacy of the State of Israel. After that, the Palestinians won't be far behind.
Until then, Israel should be reassured that its need to defend itself from those who seek - or pay for - its destruction will be understood in Washington.
Bryen is special projects director for the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. (JINSA). Her column is sponsored by Waxie Sanitary Supply in memory of Morris Wax, longtime JINSAsupporter and national board member
SAN DIEGO--As has been well documented and often observed, I am not a morning person. This coming Wednesday, however, I have no choice but to greet the dawning of the new day with eager anticipation. In addition to being Erev Pesach, the morning of the Passover Seder, it is also the day upon which the sun is in exactly the same position it was when God created the world.
How do we know? We have to trust an extremely complicated mathematical formula that was developed by the Rabbis around 2,000 years ago. According to rabbinic calculation, on Wednesday we complete the 206th twenty-eight year solar cycle since creation and begin the 207th. This momentous event calls for...not a celebration...but, a bracha, a blessing. The ritual is called Birkat HaChamah, the "blessing of the sun."
On Wednesday morning we are supposed to wake up early and greet the rising sun with the words: "Praised are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe who makes the Act of Creation." Fortunately for me, if one is "detained," one has until noon to say the bracha. Here at the synagogue we will gather outside the Goodman Chapel at 7:30 a.m., right before morning minyan, to pronounce the bracha. You are invited to join us.
If one reads the bracha above carefully one notes that the blessing does not thank God who made (past tense) the Act of Creation, but rather who makes (present tense) the Act of Creation. Similarly, in the weekday morning service we pray to God: "In your goodness, day after day You renew Creation."
Jews do not believe that creation was a one time unchanging event, but is an ongoing process. As Rabbi Reuven Hammer writes in "Or Hadash," the commentary on the daily siddur: "...this affirms that creation is ongoing. The universe evolves and it is the power of God that sustains and renews it daily." (Or Hadash, p. 30)
We do not live in a static world. Every day brings biological evolution and geological change. God did not create the world and walk away. God breathes new life into it each day. Being mindful of this should not only help us become more grateful for all the blessings we enjoy, but of our responsibility to sustain and enhance the world that God created as well.
Rabbi Rosenthal is the spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. Email: rabbi@tiferethisrael.com
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AMAZING STORIES OF JUDAISMDVAR TORAH: Bircas Hachama
'She wondered if she would ever see the light of the sun...'
SAN DIEGO—
Svetlana Moscovitz* (*name changed) grew up in the USSR in the height of the Cold War. The Soviet government oppressively treated the Jews. They wished to break them of any "treasonous" religious beliefs. In schools they would indoctrinate the children repeatedly with phrases like "Stalin is your father."
Svetlana grew up knowing virtually nothing of her religion and great Jewish heritage. Because of this, being Jewish meant little to her other than being forced to bear the burden of Soviet anti-Semitism.
Svetlana made friends with some people who seemed to share her disdain for the increasingly unbearable conditions. One day she was invited to join them in a meeting to
discuss a plan to 'improve their situation.' Although it wasn't spoken, it was quite clear through numerous hints that the 'improvement' was to escape from Russia. Involving herself
in such a group was very dangerous, but she was curiously compelled.
Svetlana arrived early to the meeting place which was in an abandoned house. Suddenly she saw a KGB officer scouring the premises. She looked around, noticed a crawlspace
under the house and scurried in. She was statue-still for over an hour, but she could hear that the officer was still there. Had he gotten wind of the meeting, or was he there for some
other reason? Her mind was racing with scenarios and possibilities.
Lying in the pitch-black darkness for over two hours, Svetlana wondered if she would ever see the light of the sun again. If the officer would find her; she would be arrested,
probably shipped off to Siberia. Her heart was pounding as she heard the officer's heavy footsteps. Frozen with terror, she couldn't move if she wanted to.
After what seemed like an eternity, the officer left. The meeting was successful and eventually they escaped Russia.
Years later, Svetlana was married and living in New York. She and her husband Ivan (also a Russian Jew) were living an assimilated life. The classic American dream. On an
April day in 1981 she was walking her baby in a stroller when she came across a large gathering of Jewish people. There was an air of excitement in the crowd which stimulated
Svetlana's curiosity. She inquired what was going on and was told that they were gathering to say a special Jewish blessing that was only said once every 28 years - the blessing
of the sun. According to Talmudic calculations, every 28 years, the sun returns to the precise position, on the same day and time, it was in at the time of creation.
Suddenly, Svetlana was transported back in her mind to that moment when she was cringing in the dark. She specifically remembered how she wondered if she would ever see
the light of the sun again. Now here she was at a gathering of
her people to thank and bless G-d for that very sun. This intense moment of connection made her feel for the first time in her life that this was 'her people.'
Upon hearing the incident, her husband, who was more the intellectual than emotional type, was impressed and intrigued at the precision of the calculations involved in the bircas hachama. One thing led to another and the family was re-JEW-venated. They began a new journey, which was greater and bolder than their trek from Russia to America. They sent their children to yeshivos and now, proud upstanding members of the Jewish community, they have grandchildren in yeshivos.
They are looking forward to saying Bircas Hachama again and reliving the mitzvah that ignited a flame - the flame of Torah - in their hearts.
Dedicated by Eddie & Vicki Rosenberg on the occasion of the Yahrtzeit of his father Gershon ben Leib.
Rabbi Lederman is spiritual leader of Congregation Kehillas Torah in San Diego. Email: rbl613@nethere.com
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United Jewish Federation Presents: San Diego Celebrates Israel Festival (61st Yom Ha’atzmaut)
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– Join us for the Annual Yom Ha’atzmaut Festival, marking Israel's 61st Independence Day. Sponsored by the UJF Israel Center, the event will take place on Sunday, May 3, 2009. Every year this event brings together thousands of people from all over San Diego County for a day of fun, celebration and learning. This year the event will be held at a new and exciting location: the San Diego Jewish Academy at 11860 Carmel Creek Road from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Yom Ha’atzmaut is a special day to commemorate Israel’s independence while enjoying wonderful music and entertainment, listening to outstanding speakers, delicious food, arts and crafts. This year there will also be many Israeli interactive programs specially designed for children, teens and adults, and real-time communications with our sister city, Sha’ar HaNegev. The keynote speaker at this year’s festival will be Shahar Azani, the new Israeli Consul for Culture, Media and Public Affairs, from the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles.
This year’s event will feature A Star Is Born (Kochav Nolad Shelanu), an Israeli version of the popular American Idol television show. Talented San Diego finalists will perform at the event. Contestants can create a YouTube video and submit their act to UJF by April 17th to qualify.
Admission to this event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Israel Center at 858.571.3444 or israelcenter@ujfsd.org
SAN DIEGO—You can meet the Welbel family on San Diego’s public broadcasting station (KPBS) at 11 p.m. Tuesday night, April 7, when it broadcasts Out of Faith. The grandparents Leah and Lazer are Holocaust survivors. Leah gives speeches about the Shoah. On the other hand, for Lazer, the Holocaust is just too painful to remember.
Seeking in each other a family to replace the ones they lost, they were married in a DP camp after the war. They moved to pre-state Israel where they had two sons. Eventually the family moved again— to the Chicago area. One son married a Jewish woman; the other married a Catholic who converted to Judaism and embraced it fully.
The latter couple had two children, a boy Danny, and a girl, Cheryl. It broke Grandma Leah’s heart when Danny married a Catholic girl, Shannon, who didn’t convert. Relations between Grandma and Danny deteriorated to such a point that he declined to attend many family events if she were there.
Alone among the participants in this documentary, Danny refused to be interviewed by filmmaker Lisa Leeman. But we understand his story well enough. His mother’s side of the family was Catholic; he grew up loving his non-Jewish grandparents, uncles and aunts, and cousins. Why should anyone object if he married a girl from a similar background?
The film gets underway when Cheryl also marries “out.” Her husband is a young Marine, a clean-cut, shy fellow. Unlike Danny, she cannot accept the possibility that her grandmother will disapprove of her. She worked on her grandmother day in and day out before the wedding. Grandma Leah must be there; it is unthinkable that she should not be. Although she feels guilt-ridden by her acquiescence, grandma accepts. When Cheryl, in her bridal dress, sees her grandmother, she breaks down into tears—not so much because grandma has accepted her, but because grandma still refuses to accept Danny.
Throughout the film, we wonder whether Danny and Grandma can eventually be reconciled. We follow Cheryl and her grandmother to a gathering of Holocaust survivors and their descendants. We hear participants talk about the large
intermarriage rate, and the high percentage of intermarriages that result in children who are not raised as Jews. A man worries that by intermarrying, Jews are finishing Hitler’s work.
At the same time, we hear from Cheryl. Everyone is pressuring her to get her husband to convert; is that what it is all about –conversion? Or does her happiness come into this at all?
The parents of Cheryl and Danny are trapped in this intergenerational conflict. They want their children to be happy; yet they love Grandma Welbel. You can watch their heart breaking after Shannon has a baby, and now Great-Grandma Welbel tells of another infant for whom she has brought presents, the child of a young woman who was inspired by Leah's Holocaust presentation to keep trying to have a Jewish family.
A rabbi is invited to visit Leah. He notes that while Leah fiercely identifies as a Jew, she has let her practice of Judaism slide. The way to influence is by actions, not by words, says the rabbi. Light candles on Friday nights. Concerning her battle with Danny, the rabbi sagely asks her what she would do about their tattered relationship is she knew she had only two weeks left to live?
The film makers take no apparent sides in this controversy, but through marvelous, understanding editing help us to feel the anguish that all members of this Jewish family—even Danny—feel. They take us with Leah to Auschwitz, where she remembers how powerlessness she felt when her weakened cousin was beaten by Nazi guards and left in the snow to die. Leah, herself a walking skeleton, didn’t have the strength to drag Leah back into the warm barracks, and has never forgiven herself.
At first I found myself wondering why this documentary didn’t interview the Christian relatives of this family—Shannon’s parents, for example; or Danny’s Christian aunts and uncles. I decided that whereas such interviews would have provided additional perspective— they were not necessary to portray what was happening in Leah’s nuclear family.
You’ll start this documentary thinking you are going to meet the Welbels. I’m willing to bet that a large part of the Jewish audience that tunes in on Tuesday night will also see parts of their own families reflecting back on them from the screen.
RIGOLETTO—Georgian baritone Lado Ataneli is Rigoletto (foreground) and American bass-baritone Scott Sikon is Count
Monterone (background) in San Diego Opera's Rigoletto, March/April, 2009; at left areAtaneli and Slovak soprano L'ubica Vargicová) as Gilda. Photos: Ken Howard.
ARTS IN REVIEW
Rigoletto—another of Verdi's many masterpieces—well presented by San Diego Opera at the Civic Theatre
SAN DIEGO—How do I love you Verdi (to quote or not to quote Elizabeth Barrett Browning)? Let me count the ways.La Travatia, il Trovatore,Aida, Rigoletto, Ernani, I Lombardi, Otello, Falstaff and a host of other epic operas including Jerusalem and Nabucco. That should cover most bases. Verdi lived to be 88 years old and his career is broken down into three periods; the early years, middle years and of course the mature Verdi. His was the gift that kept on giving.
Legend has it that Verdi, twenty-eight years old, writing no music, down on his luck after the success of his first opera, Oberto in 1839, living in Milan and wandering the streets when, on chance he met up with Bartolomeo Merelli (an Italian librettist and manager). Merelli was responsible for suggesting to Verdi the libretto for Nabucco thus helping bring Verdi back into the opera loop.
For those of us living in San Diego during the ‘80’s and lucky enough to have attended the ‘Verdi Festival’ put on by the San Diego Opera Company under the direction of then artistic director Tito Capobianco you might remember the production of Nabucco short for ‘Nebuchadnezzar’ about the Babylon King who, according to the Old Testament of the Bible conquered Judah and enslaved the Israelites.
Nabucco created a sensation when it opened in Milan because the Italian audiences saw the plight of the Israelites equaling their own fate, which was fraught with danger, under Austrian authority. If you missed that production of Nabucco (Nebuchadnazzer) it is in the lineup for next years San Diego Opera’s International Season along with another Verdi favorite La Traviata.
Scholar Charles Osborne in Censorship and Verdi tells us that another opera, Rigoletto, currently on stage at the Civic Theatre through April 8th, caused the same concerns for its citizens because of the censorship in Austria at that time. When Verdi first received the libretto for Rigoletto, based on Victor Hugo’s Le Roi S'Amuse, Hugo had already faced censorship in France, which had banned the productions of his plays twenty years earlier.
After being reassured that the censors would not object to Hugo’s piece, Verdi and Piave, Verdi’s librettist, went on to begin the task of writing an opera. Three months before the due date they were notified through dispatch that the Military Governor would forbid any performances of this ‘revolting immorality and obscene triviality of the libretto of La Maledizione (the early title of Rigoletto) at the Teatro Fenice.
The story was tweaked; the location and the action was moved and the names of some of the characters changed. Triboulet or hunchback became Rigoletto from the French meaning rigolo or funny. With all the changes made it is still considered by many to be of the first of the operatic masterpieces of the composers middle-to-late career and the San Diego Opera Company has done its best to keep it there.
There is no denying that when Verdi speaks, we all listen and this is the case to make for Rigoletto. Verdi relished the human drama and all he could make of it. Forget reason; forget logic, as we know it. Verdi painted with a huge brush blurring any lines between logic, and reason. This is theatre at its finest and Verdi was the master.
Consider a court jester whose only job it is to make members of the court he serves laugh. Imagine again that unbeknownst to any of them he has a life outside the court that includes a beautiful daughter whom he tries to protect. Imagine also that that the young nobles in the court, including the Duke who sees her in church, think she is his mistress.
Now imagine a certain Count Monterone, (American bass-baritone Scott Sikon) forcing his way into the same ballroom where the court jester, Rigoletto (Georgian baritone Lado Ataneli) the Duke (Albanian tenor Giuseppe Gipali) and his court are partying, dancing, frolicking and chaos is everywhere. Angrily he denounces the Duke for seducing his daughter (the Duke is a womanizer) while casting a curse on the court jester for mocking and trivializing his daughter’s predicament. The Count is finally dragged off to jail after being subdued while the partying continues but Rigoletto takes the curse seriously and is frightened for the life of his daughter.
Rigoletto can think of nothing but the curse put upon him by the Count as he approaches his house that night. Outside the gate, a known assassin, Sparafucile (Armenian bass Arutjun Kotchinia) comes up to him and offers him his services if he ever needs anyone killed. An omen? Once Rigoletto is safely in the courtyard of his home (Carl Toms’ multi level and functional set design works very well) and sees that his daughter Gilda (Slovakian soprano L’ubica Vargicová) is safe he warns her not to speak with anyone even in church.
We can’t help but notice that the Duke has followed him home. When Rigoletto is out of sight Gilda confesses to her nurse, Giovanna (American contralto Martha Jane Howe) that she is in love with a student she sees in church. After bribing Giovanna to let him into the courtyard, the Duke convinces Gilda he is, in fact a student and they declare their love for each other before Rigoletto returns to the courtyard.
Later that night the noblemen of the court kidnap Gilda from her home. They plan to bring her to the Duke for fun and games. They think she is Rigoletto’s mistress. Ironically, they trick Rigoletto into helping them abduct her. When Rigoletto realizes his mistake he is overcome with fear remembering the curse.
And that’s just in the first act. But that’s the set up and what follows defies all reason. Fortunately though, it’s the music, the melodic offerings of Verdi that lure you, captivate you
and make believers of you. The tragic story not withstanding once the curtain goes up and aria after aria under the skillful baton of Edoardo Müller are sung time stands still.
The lineup of outstanding performances is well, almost to the last of the main players right on target. The weakest link, on opening night, was the Duke, tenor Giuseppe Gipali. While he seemed to be singing by the numbers and has a beautiful voice, it lacked depth. In the opening scene of the palace ballroom where there was so much going on and he made his first appearance his voice seemed to be lost in the caverns of the great hall. (Questa o quella). He did, however show us more volume in his famous La donna è mobile
In dazzling contrast, Ataneli’s Rigoletto was bigger than life. His booming voice rang out and there was no misunderstanding as to who was in charge of that scene or any other scene he was in for that matter. His agility and mocking adventures in mimicking the Duke’s court, stood in steep contrast to his overbearing protection and tenderness toward his only daughter. His was a constant contradiction of character, which he played perfectly.
As for the women Ms. Vagicova’s Gilda was to be believable throughout. She was perfectly convincing as the lovelorn and forsaken lover and devoted daughter willing to sacrifice her everything for the Duke while ignoring her father’s pleas. Her voice soared with every note especially in the higher registers and in her duets with Ataneli. Kristin Chávez, Sparafucile’s sister, Maddelena (the whore who entices the Duke in the final scenes) was equally impressive with mezzo-soprano robustness. Martha Jane Howe’s Giovanna rose to the occasion as well in the first scenes.
Honorable mention must go to Bass-baritone Scott Silkon as the Count and bass Artujun Kotchinian as the Darth Vader looking assassin. Both were impressive and well received. Carl Toms elegant and regal costume design added to the beautiful visuals and both men’s and women’s chorus were on top of the game. Director Lofti Mansouri kept the flow and action moving and Keturah Stickann’s choreography in the first act completed a picture perfect evening of drama, romance and intrigue.
SAN DIEGO—The upper strings played with confidence and secure intonation as they scurried through the exciting scale passages of Glinka’s "Russlan and Ludmilla Overture" and projected the stately Farandole theme from Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2, opening works on TICO’s March 31 concert at Tifereth Israel Synagogue.
Concertmaster Juanita Cummings was indisposed due to a recent fall and Assistant Concertmaster Adrian Bubb sat in the first chair, competently leading the section and playing solos in several of the evening’s selections.
"TICO is one of the best amateur orchestras I have ever heard" remarked Dr. Bernard Gilmore, whose "Five Folk Songs for Soprano and Orchestra" were performed on the second half of the program. Gilmore, who recently retired as
Professor of Composition from the Music Department, University of California, Irvine, also conducted the UC Irvine Orchestra for many years. Prior to coming to UC Irvine, he held posts at Cornell University and Oregon State
University.
Soprano soloist for Gilmore’s work, Victoria Robertson, sang with dramatic flair. Her beautiful voice enhanced each song’s unique character: the sad Irish tale "Mrs. McGrath," whose son returns with wooden pegs for legs; the pathos of the American lullaby,"All the Pretty Little Horses," whose pappa has gone; the light-hearted Greek "Yerakina," who falls into the well with jingling bracelets; the doloroso Spanish "El Burro," describing the donkey’s death; and finally, the joyful Yiddish "The Fiddler" with dissonances suggesting an untalented beginner on the violin whose Mama proudly proclaims him "another Jascha Heifetz!" Gilmore set these charming songs for soprano and concert
band.
The talented TICO trumpet player, Abelardo Flores, transcribed them for soprano and orchestra, carrying out the unusual theme of this year’s TICO series, a work on each concert derived from the concert band literature. Gilmore
was pleased with the orchestral adaptation. His original band version was recently performed to critical acclaim in Carnegie Hall.
Another new work completed the first half of the program was the Symphonic Suite, AMARNA. by TICO English horn player, Mark Donnelly. This composition was inspired by the story of Akhenaten, a controversial Egyptian Pharoah who reigned between 1353-1336 B.C. Akhenaten believed in one God, Aten. He ordered the capital, named City of Aten,to be moved to a region called Amarna.
The first movement is subtitled "City of Aten." The second movement is "Nefertiti", the name of Akhenaten’s queen, and the third movement is "Insurrection," what
probably transpired, leading to Akhenaten’s demise.
Donnelly does a commendable job translating these concepts into music. The final movement was especially programmatic with the use of xylophone, syncopation and dissonance to convey battles and upheaval.
The concert concluded with a reading of "Emek," by Marc Lavry. This symphonic poem, which utilizes songs of the early Jewish pioneers, is the most often performed musical work in Israel next to "Hatikvah."
As always, TICO Conductor David Amos delivered informative program notes before each work, indicating his extensive knowledge and breath of information. His pleasing voice is often heard announcing on XLNC1, the classical music station.
OLDSMAR, Florida —Q: Which catcher-first baseman was part of the Curt Flood trade that ultimately wound up in court and changed baseball forever?
(a) Joe Ginsberg
(b) David Newhan
(c) Jim Levey
(d) Greg Goossen
Background: After the 1969 season the St. Louis Cardinals traded Flood to Philadelphia. He refused to report to the Phillies, challenging baseball’s reserve clause that allowed a team to retain a player’s service for life. He sued baseball and the case ultimately went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled against him. After sitting out the 1970 season he was traded by the Phillies to the Senators, with whom he played the last 13 games of his 15-year career. Eventually the reserve clause was ruled unconstitutional and free agency was born.
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History With thanks to Gail Umeham for the transcription
UJF Meeting Called “Most successful’; Jan. 'C' Month Southwestern Jewish Press December 26, 1952, page 1
With the most successful Annual Meeting out of the way the United Jewish Fund is concentrating on collections of 1952 pledges and plans for the 1953 Campaign.
Collection Chairman Mallen reported that $132,000 had been paid in cash on pledges of $211,000. January will be known as “C” month in an effort to bring in most of the cash before the end of the Fund’s fiscal year.
Awards at the Annual Meeting were made by Murray D. Goodrich, fund president, and Ernest Michel, Southern California director for the United Jewish Appeal, at the United Jewish Fund’s 19th annual dinner meeting in Hotel San Diego.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Gross who led the 1952 Campaign in which $211,000 in pledges was raised for overseas, national and local relief, received scrolls in recognition of their self-sacrificing efforts and leadership in support of the development of Israel and the preservation and renewal of Jewish life at home and abroad.
The fifth citation to be awarded locally to a Christian was presented to Jesse L. Haugh “for his outstanding humanitarian efforts” as Chairman of the United Jewish Fund’s Christian Division for 1952.
Scrolls also were presented to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Moorsteen, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Snyder, Sol Price, Mrs. Victor Schulman, Mrs. Robert Strauss and Mrs. Harry Mallen. A special award for “continued support and devotion to the cause” was presented to Mrs. Gabriel Berg.
Mrs. Berg, Price and Irving Friedman were voted the “most outstanding civic and communal workers” in the community.
Members elected to the Key Club for outstanding community service included Sam Addleson, Jack Spatz, William Schwartz, Louis Mogy, Elmer Glaser, Arthur Cohen, Isaac Domnitz, Ruben Umansky, Ben Rubin, Mrs. Joseph Krone, and Mrs. Zel Camiel.
Murray D. Goodrich in his president’s message traced the story of the Fund’s year and thanked all of the workers. He stated that the Fund had always done an outstanding job and that it would continue to do so each year.
In his annual report, Albert A. Hutler, fund executive director, emphasized that “the needs for 1953 although less dramatic, are still as urgently demanded as before,” and said many “local, national and overseas projects must be completed.”
New directors are M.S. Berlin, George Burnett, Zel Camiel, Mrs. Saul Chenkin, Leonard Drogin, Mack Esterson, Al Krasnow, Jerome Niederman, Dr. Joshua Rittoff, Lewis Solomon, Mrs. Bernard Veitzer and Harry Wax.
Re-elected were David Block, M. S. Fisher, Goodrich, Harry Mallen, Moorsteen, Dr. Walter Ornstein, Price, Seymour Rabin and Ben Rubin. Letter (from M.D. Goodrich) Southwestern Jewish Press December 26, 1952, page 1
Mr. Max Kaufman, Editor
Southwestern Jewish Press
333 Plaza
San Diego, Calif.
Dear Max:
Please accept my profuse apologies for omitting to thank the Southwestern Jewish Press at the Annual Meeting of the United Jewish Fund. I assure you that this was done inadvertently in the heat of the meeting.
Without the Southwestern Jewish Press there would be little communication with the community and all of the organizations including the United Jewish Fund would certainly suffer.
At this time I would like to take the opportunity to express the Fund’s appreciation for all the publicity that it has been given in the year 1952 and for the helpful interest and support given to us both personally and through your paper. Without it our job would have been much harder.
With kindest personal regards.
Crossing partisan lines, the Young Democrats of San Diego are supporting GOP Assemblyman Luckel im his proposal to force open all meetings of public bodies.
Dr. Joseph Farber, president of the group, was quoted as saying “There has been too much tendency to secrecy lately on the part of official groups, and we feel these secret meetings threaten the rights of individuals to know what is gong on in their government.”
It makes no difference to us which party Luckel belongs to,” Farber asserted, "as a group we intend to support any measure which we feel is in the common interest."
Community Currents Southwestern Jewish Press December 26, 1952, page 2
by Albert Hutler, Director. United Jewish Fund
Another group of “New Americans,” became “New” citizens last Friday as Mrs. Walter Freund, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Freund, and Rabbi Baruch Stern stood before Judge Mundo to receive the highest honor this nation can give to its immigrants. The Jewish Community of San Diego may well feel proud that it has helped to give these people to America. The thousands of dollars spent by the Fund to resettle the New Americans fades into insignificance as we watch them returning it many fold to the country of their adoption.
Dr. Walter Ornstein’s report at the Fund Annual Meeting pointed out that six have joined the service and three have served overseas. That in a way, is repayment.
Community Center On The Way
It is expected that the Center at 3227 El Cajon will soon be completely equipped and opened. Even without the equipment there has already been a great deal of activity.
It's funny how rumors begin over again as soon as a Community Center comes close to becoming a reality. Even Jews have evidently learned that a big falsehood told often enough may become accepted as the truth. The old one that the Fund put aside $50,000 a few years ago in a secret fund for a center building has been brought out of its resting place by people who really know better.
The Center has a capital fund at present of $250 given it by a non-Jew. No money has been set aside by he Fund for a Center. I will give $100 to any charity if anyone can show where $50,000 or any amount near that figure has been set aside for a community center by any organization in San Diego.
It would be nice if ‘rumor mongers’ would first check their facts … or is it intentional with malice aforethought.
Local Needs Being Surveyed
Budget time is rolling around and all our local agencies are busy preparing their requests for submission to the Federation which gets its funds from the United Jewish Fund campaign. Needs will probably be up, with the Jewish Social Service Agency taking on a trained experienced part time worker to do a demonstration program in intensive case work for those clients of the agency who require it. Counseling in family problems, and other matters not connected with financial assistance will be available on a larger scale, and Jewish families who need help in solving difficulties may find it in the Jewish Social Service. All interviews and records are held in the strictest confidence. Jewish Social Service Agency has come a long way in a short period of time.
Calling All Organizations
Organizations are asked to cooperate with the United Jewish Fund Drive by keeping in mind that the Campaign begins about March 15 and runs to May 15. Please don’t plan any special affairs which might conflict with those dates. So many people still need our help.
I do want to express my personal thanks to the hundreds who helped make 1952 a successful year for the Fund. I know they will continue to pitch in 1953.
Thanks also go to the Union and Tribune and Point Magazine for their grand cooperation.
A great deal of gratitude and appreciation goes to the publishers of this paper, the Southwestern Jewish Press, for their grand cooperation and for the free space given to every worthy endeavor in the Jewish Community.
May all of you have a very happy and healthy new year.
“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.
JERUSALEM—Many years ago I heard George Steiner, the acclaimed literary critic and writer, speak about a visit he made to the Museum of the Revolution in Moscow when the Soviets were still in power. It made a great impression on me and I’ve cited it often. He stood in front of a photograph from which Trotsky – Stalin’s main adversary and his victim - had obviously been removed. When Steiner asked a guide why he couldn’t find Trotsky in the picture, the guide told him that he was away at the time plotting against Stalin. Doctoring the truth is a function of doctoring photographs.
NEVE DANIEL, ISRAEL—A question without an answer: a terrorist with an axe murdered a kid and left another in the hospital with serious axe wounds...... why does god let this happen?!??
WASHINGTON, D.C.—With the Netanyahu government installed, the State Department has made its first pronouncement. "We're going to pursue that two-state solution, because we believe it's in the best interests of all the parties in the region," said spokesman Robert Wood. Note to Mr. Wood: Please take account of what the parties in the region say is in their best interest; they're closer to the problem than you. It further appears that the administration is inclined toward the January letter of 10 former public officials - most of them notably unfavorably disposed toward Israel. Akiva Eldar of Ha'aretz neatly summarized the key points of the letter:
SAN DIEGO--As has been well documented and often observed, I am not a morning person. This coming Wednesday, however, I have no choice but to greet the dawning of the new day with eager anticipation. In addition to being Erev Pesach, the morning of the Passover Seder, it is also the day upon which the sun is in exactly the same position it was when God created the world. 
SAN DIEGO—You can meet the Welbel family on San Diego’s public broadcasting station (KPBS) at 11 p.m. Tuesday night, April 7, when it broadcasts Out of Faith. The grandparents Leah and Lazer are Holocaust survivors. Leah gives speeches about the Shoah. On the other hand, for Lazer, the Holocaust is just too painful to remember. 
SAN DIEGO—How do I love you Verdi (to quote or not to quote Elizabeth Barrett Browning)? Let me count the ways.La Travatia, il Trovatore, Aida, Rigoletto, Ernani, I Lombardi, Otello, Falstaff and a host of other epic operas including Jerusalem and Nabucco. That should cover most bases. Verdi lived to be 88 years old and his career is broken down into three periods; the early years, middle years and of course the mature Verdi. His was the gift that kept on giving. 
SAN DIEGO—The upper strings played with confidence and secure intonation as they scurried through the exciting scale passages of Glinka’s "Russlan and Ludmilla Overture" and projected the stately Farandole theme from Bizet’s 
