Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff
Beautiful Swimming Pool at Highland Springs
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 10
In addition to its policy of a complete family vacation, Highland Springs is inaugurating a Camp Plan for children from 8 thru 14 years. It will be in conjunction with the regular accommodations of this beautiful resort, but in a separate part of the grounds. Boys and girls will be housed in separate buildings under supervision of counselors. Meals will be served in separate dining rooms. There will be planned programs and activities as well as crafts. As in the past there will be a competent Play Program Supervisor for children from 4 through 7 years with planned games, swings, sand box and other facilities.
Children are accommodated on the Camp Plan only if accompanied by their parents. This new addition to Highland Springs’ facilities makes it easier than ever for the parents to rest and relax and be assured that their children are properly cared for under expert supervision.
The spacious grounds and ample facilities of Highland Springs makes it possible to cater to all ages. A complete staff including a Social Director, Hostess, Play Program Supervisor and counselors for the older children insure everyone a wonderful vacation at this 100 acre paradise.
Your genial Host, Bob Zilz, will be happy to supply you with additional information and colorful brochure upon request.
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Dogs Chase Elusive Rabbi At Caliente
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 10
CALIENTE, Mexico (Special) – Idle since last fall, the disappearing mechanical rabbit at the Caliente Greyhound Club goes into action again Friday night, April 1, when this internationally famous sport palace launches its 1955 dog racing season.
From then until late in the year, the canine speedsters will be chasing the elusive bunny five nights weekly, Wednesday thru Sundays, with 10 races being presented on each program.
While announcing plans for the 1955 season, General Manager Harry C. Rosen also revealed that another of the popular $5000 free public handicapping contest will be held, strating Wednesday nihgt, April 6. It will last for 10 weeks with the fans trying to win the prize by picking seven successive winners from the third through nineth races.
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Ten Years Ago—Today
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 11
By Ernest W. Michel
April 18, 1945…
We march.
This is the 6th day since we left Buchenwald.
One…two..three…four
March…march
The guards carry guns. They are ready to shoot without warning. We are used to that.
We know what death means. We have seen him day or day in the 6 years of concentration camps, and he is no stranger to us. It is hard to remember that behind the barbed wires of a concentration camp there exists another life. A life with our family—a home, a table, a chair, and even a bed. A life as normal human beings. It’s a long time ago that we knew what those things meant. It happened during another life. At a time when there was no war and Hitler only the leader of another party.
But suddenly that changed. We became numbers. Our hair was cut. We didn’t live anymore – we merely existed. We saw our friends and our family dying. We saw thousands and thousands being killed, hanged, shot and gassed.
And all through these years we kept on hoping. This was the only reason we lived through 6 years of concentration camps. Hope….
Today is April 18, 1945. It is a wonderful Spring day.
And we march. Behind us we can hear the thunder of American cannon fire. And before us the roaring of Russian artillery.
And we march – Destination unknown.
Suddenly the silence is broken. The order of the SS leader cuts sharply through the air.
We are separated. The SS guards get their guns ready and the prisoners are walked deeper into the woods. With me are 2 of my best friends. We have known each other for years. And under the conditions in which we have lived, we have become as close as human beings can be. There is no count as to how often our lives have been in danger. Death” You can die only once. No more. And this seems to be the time.
But we are young. Or rather we were young. Today we feel rather old. Experience can make you that way.
We know that the guards are getting ready to liquidate the entire group. And while we know this, we think about the life we had since we were young. A life that consisted of restrictions, hard work, hunger and concentration camps and perhaps we think, too, how young fellows of our age can live in other countries, in free countries. Fellows who can go to school, live at home, be with their families, go out – things, the meaning of which we have almost forgotten. But there is one thing we haven’t forgotten. That’s the will to live.
We look at each other. Not one word is spoken. We understand each other without words. A few movement s of the eye is the only explanation necessary and that’s how we make the most important decision in our life.
The decision: Escape.
One of us whistles. Then each of us kicks one of the guards in his back. He falls down. In this split second we break out of formation and run into the woods.
Run… run … run for our lives. Behind us we hear shooting. Only one thought runs through my mind. I hope some of the others will make it too. We fall. We get up again. Branches of trees slapping against our faces. Exhausted and hungry as we are we run … run.
Blood streams down our faces. But we run.
We run because we want to live, because we are too young to die.
The sounds of shooting and yelling become quieter. I don’t know for how long we have kept on running. But suddenly we can’t go any further. We fall down. We have given everything we’ve got. We are lying on the ground. The noise from the background have disappeared. We are alone.
Around us we see the trees, the green of the leaves. We can smell freedom.
And suddenly we cannot help but weep. Three young fellows lying on the ground in the woods somewhere in Germany, weeping. Our tears run in the earth. I don’t know why we weep. Is it excitement? Is it mourning for those who didn’t make it? Or maybe they are tears of happiness. Tears of the wonderful feeling to live again – to be free again. I don’t know. Maybe it is a combination of all this which overwhelms me at this moment.
This day means the end of six years of concentration camps. At the same time it is the beginning of a new life.
It is all over. We are free.
We live again…
I found this story while going through some of my old papers a rew days ago. The story, of course, is true. Today, reading over these lines, which I wrote a few weeks after the escape, these events seem incredible, unbelievable—fantastic.
Only ten years ago, yet it seems like it was a whole lifetime ago, or like it never happened at all.
Auschwitz –Buchenwald—Belsen.
Often it seems like I must have dreamed these names, that six years of concentration camps must have been a nightmare.
But happen it id did, and 10 years ago, on April 18, it all came to an end. For me and 2 of my friends and a few weeks later for the few hundred thousand out of over 6 million who – somehow, God only knows how – survived.
Today, we don’t’ talk about these events any more. They are part of our Jewish history and they belong to one of the darkest chapters in that long and rich history. The several hundred thousand survivors of 10 years ago are today responsible citizens of the U.S. or are doing their share I the growth and development of the new State of Israel. That we did survive and were able to pick up our lives again as useful people in a society, either here or in Israel, must go down in history as one of the greatest accomplishments of the American Jewish community in the 300 years of its existence.
Without this help this story could not have been written.
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New York Orchestra to Play Here April 30th
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 12
Tickets go on public sale Monday, April 4, for the April 30 concert of the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.
The famed 10-4 piece orchestra plays here that night at 8:30 in the Russ.
Guido Cantelli, brilliant young Italian, will be on the podium. Cantelli, who has been guest conductor with the orchestra for the last four seasons is sharing the baton on the tour with Music Director Dimitri Mitropoulos.
Program for the orchetra’s local concert opens with Rossini’s Overture to “The Siege of Corinth” followed by Brahms “Symphony No. 1, C Minor, Opus 68.” Concluding portion will offer two nocturnes by Debussy, “Clouds” and “Festivals.” And Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloe,” Suite No. 2.
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Adventures in San Diego Jewish History” is sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg. Our “Adventures in San Diego Jewish History” series will be a regular feature until we run out of history. To find stories on specific individuals or organizations, type their names in our search box.