Compiled by Gail Umeham
Jewish Center News
Southwestern Jewish Press March 5, 1954 Page 6
Junior News–In addition to the Puppet Show and Dance presentation on Wednesday, March 17th, 4 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, juniors will be treated to a magic show by Larry Lessner, local teen-age magician. The members of the Arts and Crafts and Ballet and Creative dance classes are having fun and are busy at work organizing their program. Games and refreshments will complete the program.
Special activities for the spring vacation week beginning Monday, April 13th, will be organized at the Jewish Community Center. The center will be open from morning to evening for all ages, and special trips are scheduled. Details of the program will be announced in the next issue of the Jewish Press.
It is not too early to plan to attend the 8th season of Camp Jaycee, beginning Monday, June 28th and continuing for 8 weeks. Efforts are being made to reduce fees for those members who pay in advance and so we suggest that you start saving for a summer of less expensive fun. Emphasis will be place on more outdoor activities such as nature study and crafts, pioneer camping and hikes; with all activities geared to the needs and abilities of each age group.
Teen-Age–At a Teen-age Committee meeting held at the Jewish Community Center on Thursday, February 26th, the following proposals were presented:
- A special party for all Jewish Youth on Saturday, March 27th in honor of National Jewish Youth Week…March 19th-27th.
- A one-act play contest to be held in May.
- A committee appointed to plan special summer activities for the older teen-agers.
- A suggestion box for program ideas—to be installed at the Center.
Teen-age members of the committee are: Bob Beck, Chuck Fagelson, Donna Godes, Gail Kahn, Beverly Kitaen, Leon Leichtag, Lois Liff, Natalie Veitzer and Mike Witte. Adults were represented by Mr. and Mrs. Ruben Aved, Mr. and Mrs. William Breitbard and Dr. and Mrs. Harry Kaufman.
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Y.J.C. Club Dances
Southwestern Jewish Press March 5, 1954 Page 6
Dan Delaney of the City Recreation Department will again conduct a square dancing lesson at the Young Jewish Couples Club on Saturday, March 20, at the Tifereth Israel Synagogue, as requested by enthusiastic “students” at their last “class.”
The dancing will be part of an exciting evening that will also contain its serious counterpart when Dr. Edward Abrams will discuss The New Frontiers in Medicine.
Please note that the night will be Saturday instead of Sunday.
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J.C.C. Women’s League To Honor Board
Southwestern Jewish Press March 5, 1954 Page 6
The Women’s League of the Jewish Community Center are planning a get-acquainted tea for the women board members and the wives of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Center. Tea will be served from 1-3 o’clock, Thursday, March 25, at the Center, 3227 El Cajon Blvd. A general Open House Tea is planned for May 6 where the general public will be invited.
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Temple Men’s Club Elects New Officers
Southwestern Jewish Press March 5, 1954 Page 6
The newly-organized Men’s Club of Temple Beth Israel held its election of officers at its first meeting. Elected were Richard Lustig, Pres.; Charles Silverman, V.P.; Herb Blakesman, Rec. Sec.; Harley Babbitz, Corr. Sec.; Ben Carnot, Treas.
Board members are Al Brooks, Morris Douglas, Hugh Wolff, Mack Esterson, Don Pogrell and Richard Silberman. Rabbi Morton J. Cohn is Advisor to the group. The next dinner meeting will be held March 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Temple Center.
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A New American Friend (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press March 5, 1954 Page 7
We have remarked on many past occasions in these columns about the resurgence of Nazi sentiment to the young West German Republic. We have more than once called to task our own government for failing to put the brakes on this development when responsible U.S. leadership seemed to us to be in a position to express its dissatisfaction to Bonn in the matter.
Some time ago, we came to the sad realization that if we were to editorialize on the general Neo-Nazi trend, confining ourselves to its major manifestations only, we would be incapable of commenting upon any other significant situation in the news-national, international or local.
This, perhaps, gives some indication of the rapidity with which former Third Reich personalities, many of them condemned to death and imprisonment, are now reassuming positions of importance on the West German and Austrian governments. Having evaded justice, they are prepared to start where they left off at the end of World War II.
In fact, there is really little reason for us to take the occasion again to comment on the returning Nazi fashion—except that in this case we are dealing with one of Hitler’s aces, a man convicted as a war criminal by a British court for acts which included slaughter of many hundreds of Jews in the Ardeatine Cave massacres in Rome.
Field Marshal Albert Kesselring is known to all. As we understand it, he sat in the cockpit of an American jet fighter last week and beamed while an American flying officer explained to him its controls, instrument panel and other technical equipment. Kesselring has been invited to lunch by Col. Donald W. Armstrong, along with twenty other German veteran pilots. Half were Goering’s former Luftwaffe generals.
We really don’t believe this situation requires more comment. It needs only to be brought to light. It seems to us that editorializing in this case had best be highly personal—and above all silent.
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Hop, Skip and Protocol (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press March 5, 1954 Page 7
The notorious forgery, Protocols of Zion, crops up all over the world, and it seems to us that the dim-witted persons who fall for its principles must be regarded with something more than a vague sense of humor.
The forgery was published in the Mexican press less than two months ago and created enough of a stir there to cause Henry Ford II several days later to deny his late father’s hand in the Protocols in a New York writer’s syndicated column.
Members of the Colorado State Legislature received copies of the forgery from Conde McGinley, publisher of the hate sheet, Common Sense, sometime early this week as part of McGinley’s campaign to circulate the Protocols among legislators throughout the country.
Perhaps the strangest fate of the Protocols was reported Monday from Nairobi, capital of the British colony of Kenya. A local newspaper there is printing the forgery as “evidence” of Jewish support of the native revolutionary Mau Mau movement.
More and more, we feel that education above everything else is needed in this world of ours—and that the ability to read by no means proves that we have acquired the ability to understand. Mau Mau, indeed.
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Community Currents
Southwestern Jewish Press March 5, 1954 Page 7
By Albert Hutler, Exec. Director United Jewish Fund
Don’t Underestimate Our Teen-Agers
The Hutlers have a daughter who is going to be confirmed in June. Last Sunday, we sat through a meeting of the confirmation class and parents of the Confirmants. Part of the discussion included the question of what the young people had learned during their tenures of Sunday School. I received the impression that they suddenly found that in the eighth, ninth grades, the things they studied in previous grades and which bored them immensely, came to life and they began to understand. Evidently, one of the things for which they were most thankful was the course in contemporary religion where they were able to find out how other worship.
These teen-age youngsters show that they have good heads on their little shoulders. In the discussion relating to the confirmation party, every one of them preferred a party in someone’s home to a party in a night club or a private club with an orchestra. At times, they show better judgment than their parents.
At the meeting, it struck me that there is a danger point as far as Judaism is concerned and that is the period between confirmation and the time these youngsters reach their adulthood. What happens to them as far as their religion is concerned during this period greatly depends on their home and their parents.
The Jewish Social Service Agency
Last Sunday, the Chest announced its allocations to our local agencies. The Jewish Social Service Agency received an increase of 40 percent to a total of about $14,500.
When we consider that in 1947, the agency, after being one of the founders of the Chest and having been in existence over 25 years, was receiving $2,400, we realize the kind of gain that has been made by those of us who are interested in Jewish family welfare. By 1951, because we professionalized the agency, we were able to secure an increase up to $5,500. In 1951, Mrs. Rubenstein was added to the staff and because of the continued prestige and effort on her part, as well as the excellent work of the officers of the agency and its board, the Jewish Social Service Agency has taken its rightful place in the community. It is recognized as having one of the outstanding staffs in field of family welfare, and its recognition is highlighted by the amount of money it now receives from the Community Chest.
Community Center—Synagogues
There are areas of cooperation between the synagogues and the Community Center. This has been the theme of the Federation, the Fund and the Community Center for several years. There are areas in which the synagogue is now working with young people in which Center staff and programming can be of great assistance. On the other hand, there are areas in which the Center is now working in which the synagogue can be of great assistance. If this type of thing can be worked out our community will be much better for it and our young people will be much happier. Along this line, there have been discussions between the presidents and rabbis of our various synagogues and a committee of the Center. They are studying the areas of cooperation and the areas of need under the very excellent chairmanship of Maury Novak and Henry Price. These two men are seriously interested in this problem and the challenge that it offers and if good hard work can accomplish anything, they will see that it is achieved.
UJA – Loan
I ran into Leo Gallin the other evening in Los Angeles at a wedding reception. We spent a few minutes talking about the $75,000,000 loan that the United Jewish Appeal is attempting to raise from American Jewish communities in order to help Israel take care of its short-term financing problems. He tells me that about $63,000,000 has already been committed, of which a very high percentage has already been received. The response from American Jewish communities has been excellent and it is anticipated that the loan will be completed within the next thirty days. San Diego is going to be part of this loan in order to help Israel stabilize its economy.
1954 Campaign
Campaign plans are shaping up very well. The response to the recent request for workers sent out by Sol Price, chairman, is the best in any campaign and it is anticipated that well over 200 workers will be dedicated to the 1954 Combined Jewish Appeal.
The Women’s Division again has strong leadership and it is expected that it will do the same fine job that it has always done in the past. One thing about the Women’s Division is that those who have served as chairmen continue to retain their interest and act as an advisory committee in assisting the chairman for the present campaign.
The campaign is receiving complete cooperation from all facets of the Jewish community. It is expected that even the children in our religious schools will contribute more this year than ever before. The drive will also include an effort to secure more than 1800 contributors and to make for much greater coverage.
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“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.