Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff
All Military Personnel Afforded Passover Sedorim
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 13
All Jewish military personnel and their dependents stationed in the San Diego and Camp Pendleton areas are assured attendance at traditional Passover sedorim on Wednesday, April 6th, it was announced today by Morris W. Douglas, Chairman of the San Diego Armed Services Committee of the National Jewish Welfare Board.
A large military seder will be held in the State Ballroom of the San Diego Hotel, conducted by Chaplain E. H. Rickel. This seder was prepared in the kitchens of Congregation Beth Jacob and Temple Beth Israel by a large group of women under the chairmanship of Mrs. Rose Neumann.
As in the past, all Jewish houses of worship in San Diego will play host to men and women in the military at tier community sedorim. In Oceanside, the Jewish Community Center of North County will be host to military personnel at their community seder on April 7th.
Special provision has been made for recruits at the U.S. Naval Training Center and Marine Corps Recruit Depot for special liberty and transportation to the military seder. In keeping with the memorandum of the Secretary of the Navy, which provides special Passover leave for all military personnel, many servicemen will depart for their homes to spend Passover with their families. A number of servicemen who have requested Kashruth L’Pesach have been provided with special JWB foods as well as eight days accommodations in Orthodox homes in San Diego for that purpose. The United Jewish Fund of San Diego will play a large role in subventing the costs of the military seder.
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Deceased
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 13
Fanny Chemnick passed away at the age of 68 years on Mach 19th. Services were conducted on March 21st by Rabbi Morton J. Cohn at the Lewis Colonial Mortuary; interment at Greenwood Mausoleum.
Mrs. Chemnick resided in San Diego for 30 years. She is survived by her husband, Hyman Chemnick, two daughters, Mrs. Lawrence Cantor and Mrs. Herman Sarfan; two sons, Sidney of San Diego and Eugene of Solano (sic) Solana Beach; seven brothers, Meyer, Ralph, Sydney, and Edward Goldstein, all of San Diego, and Sam, Isadore and Herman Goldstein of New York; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
One of the founders of the Birdie Stodel B’nai B’rith, Mrs. Chemnick was also a member of the Tifereth Israel Congregation and Sisterhood, the City of Hope and the Hebrew Home for the Aged.
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City of Hope Aux
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 13
The City of Hope Medical Center will present four scientific papers at the American Association of Cancer Research Convention at San Francisco in April. This group comprises the most prominent research groups in the country, such as the Sloan Kettering Institute. Their recognition of the work done at the City of Hope is proof positive of its maturity and stature in the field of cancer research. Other papers will be read at the American Association of Clinical Research in Atlantic City in May. At present time over 125 research projects are being conducted in the City of Hope laboratories.
Many thanks to those of you who have contributed to the Research Program in honor of birthdays, Bar Mitzvahs, anniversaries and other happy events of your friends and families. Thanks also to those who gave in memory of those who passed away – our condolence card reads: “Through this remembrance your sorrow is translated into compassion for the less fortunate.”
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(Kissing)
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 13
When some men get a kiss they try to make a meal out of it.
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A.Z. A. News
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 13
The combined forces of A.Z.A. and B.B.G. will hold a model Seder at the Jewish Community Center on Sunday, June 10th, at 7:30 p.m. The Unitarian youth group and Reverend Peter Samson will attend as guests.
Participating in the Passover ceremonies will be members of the two B’nai B’rith youth organizations. A social will follow the model Seder.
With the help of Sid Posin, former director, Jewish Community Center; Cantor Cysner of Temple Tifereth Israel, and many others, the Alephs and the B’nai B’rith Girls are making preparations for the coming festivities and are eagerly looking forward to them.
An A.Z.A. bowling team has been planned for the very near future. In order to “get the last ball rolling,” the March 22nd of A.Z.A. was held at Cedar Lanes Bowling Alley where, despite some low scores, all the alephs had a very good time. More such meetings have been planned in the coming weeks.
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Evenson Backs Tenth Avenue Pier Construction
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 13
Justin C. Evenson, Council nominee from the 6th District, yesterday (March 30) endorsed Proposition D on the April 19 ballot providing for construction of the 10th Ave. pier.
He told the San Diego Realty Board at its Wednesday luncheon meeting at the U.S. Grant Hotel that the shipping terminal is and would be a great step toward making San Diego one of the world’s great seaports.
“Our present harbor facilities are wholly inadequate for San Diego’s economic position,” Evenson said, “and expansion will be impossible without new construction.
“We have in many instances had to refuse cargo shipments and direct them to other ports. While the proposed bond issue for the pier will cost us about $560,000 annually, “Evenson added, “the facilities provided by it will bring in more than $7 million a year.”
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Passover –The Feast of Freedom (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 14
The story of the deliverance of the ancient Israelites from Egyptian bondage will be rehearsed in Jewish homes and synagogues throughout the world, as the holiday of Passover is ushered in at sunset, Wednesday, April 6.
Jewish families will gather around the festive boards on Passover Eve for the holiday service meal, known as the Seder. Along with prayers and songs of thanksgiving, the head of the household will retell how the Jews toiled for Pharaoh, how Moses grew up in the palace but could not brook the serfdom of his people and how he led the revolt against Egypt and ultimately liberated his people.
In honor of history’s first mass protest against human slavery, Jews will repai9r to their sanctuaries and recite special supplications and take party in a special liturgy glorifying man’s right to be free.
But –not all Jews and not all people enjoy freedom today. There are hundreds of thousands of Jews in North Africa and elsewhere who yearn to escape from discrimination and degradation. When we sit around the Seder table with our loved ones this month we ought to remember that.
Passover is a very Jewish holiday in that it is intensely particularistic and at the same time universal. We Jews burn with Passion for own freedom but we know it cannot endure while others are not free. Freedom is a state that must be continually re-won and its borders enlarged. Passover thus understood, inspires us for the task.
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Who Was Forced? (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 14
We are getting sick and tired of hearing “ex-Nazis” who are now permitted to visit the United States and earn money here say that they were “forced” to join the Nazi Party as an excuse for their membership in that organization responsible for the death of almost 10,000,000 men, women and children. The fact is that there are o verified instances of ay German being “forced” to join the Nazi Party.
Actually membership in the Party was a much sought-after prize. Hitler and other Nazi viewers always viewed the Party as a select group, not to exceed ten percent of eligible Germans. As a matter of record, the early rush to membership forced the Party to close down on further membership until 1937. General membership was no re-opened until 1939. The true meaning of Nazi Party membership is indicated by the fact that hundreds of thousands of Germans made application and had to prove their eligibility by acts in order to receive the much coveted award. At least one third of these applicants were eventually turned down. In no case was exclusion to be the cause of losing private employment. This is a matter of record in the files of the U.S. Government since 1946.
In the face of these facts , how can anyone accept the excuse of “force” from former Nazi party members? It is true that opportunism, the hope of special awards, promotions, advantages in the assumption of positions and properties formerly held by Jews was surely served by the attainment of Party leadership.
The principle of voluntary membership was constantly repeated and enforced by Nazi Party leaders, who viewed such membership as a privilege only to be enjoyed by the most devoted adherents of Hitler and Nazism. The Communists have the same set up for the “elite” who prove themselves. It is reliably reported that out of 200,000,000 people in Russia, there are only 6,000,000 party members.
Public reception to these former Nazi member should be based on the knowledge of these facts, not on any self assertion of the “I was forced to join the Nazi Party” myth.
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Refugees—A Study in Contrast (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 14
Many people who visit Israel and the Arab countries come away with two distinct impressions. All marvel at what the Jews have done to desert wastelands. They see green fields, bustling, modern communities with people going about the business of living in the 20th Century, developing the resources with all the technical skill available. They see a westernize style of life, large new hotels, resorts and roads, showing an amazing progress I only seven short years. All tnhis in spite of Israel’s doubling of her population with the influx of 800,000 refugees.
Israel opened up her borders to ALL Jews –without any strings attached. They came from all kinds of backgrounds and cultures. The fact that they were refugees because of severe mistreatement in countries all over the world did not preclude their admittance or bar them from making a new life in tiny Israel.
On the other side – the Arab side – visitors see the squalor and filth of 300,000 Arab refugees living in mud camps. Unwanted, uncared for and used as a political football by Arab and Egyptian politicians, they are a cancerous sore on the economy of the backward Arab states. If it were not for the United Nations Relief Agency, they would starve to death. What are the Arab leaders doing to help these refugees? Absolutely nothing.
These poor people are still being told they will return to Israel; and reclaim their land when the Arabs invade and conquer Israel. Meanwhile, they are not being given work or assisted in any way to make a place for themselves in the countries they now find themselves in. Why are they being fooled by talk of “return” Simply because the Arab leaders and politicians find it useful to use them an argument before the world and to distract their own people from the real issues facing their own country.
It is an old political trick. Every dishonest government has employed it in the past. Israel has stated time and again that she is willing to pay reparations for losses sustained by the Arab refugees…. Arabs, who were not driven from their homes, but chose to leave because of lies told to them by their leaders. The Arabs who remained in Israel are enjoying full privileges with the Israelis and are even represented in the Government. The only condition made by Israel was that Peace be made a part of the bargain. This the Arabs have refused for obvious motives.
Of course, the visitor is shocked at the plight of the Arab refugees but let him not forget that Israel’s refugees were in a sadder plight. Fresh from gas chambers, concentration camps and the wreckage of Europe, these refugees became useful citizens through love and understanding. The Jews took care of their own. Let the Arabs show the same mercy and kindness to their refugees and the problem would soon cease to exist, especially since they were responsible for creating the situation by urging them to leave Israel.
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Your Assemblyman Reports
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 14
By Sheridan Hegland
Member, California Legislature
The liquor lobby took a series of stiff jolts last week in the State Assembly. By overwhelming majority, legislators voted to prohibit the transfer of liquor licenses originally granted after January 1, 1954. “Old” license may still be sold for the next ten years.
An Assembly committee okayed another measure to tighten penalties on bars which are hangouts for professional gamblers, prostitutes, narcotic addicts and panderers.
Also the Ways and Means Committee approved a $25,000 grant to continue the liquor license racket investigation.
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A storm of controversy rages over the proposal to make child care centers permanent. I understand the Los Angeles City Council is supporting this move.
I will oppose the measure. Child care centers should not be operated, in my opinion, as part of the school system. Our public schools have a big enough job as it is, instead of taking on new headaches.
Public schools, in my view, are not custodial agencies. Los Angeles has the right to do what it wishes, but the school people in the county areas of San Diego County join me in the belief that permanent child care centers should not be operated, at least by the public schools.
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(Failures)
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 14
Your failures won’t harm you until you start blaming them on the other guy.
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(Fame’s prerequisite)
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 14
Before a man can wake up and find himself famous, he must wake up and find himself!
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As the Psychologist Sees You
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 1, 1955, Page 14
- Irving Stone
By Irving R. Stone, Psychological Consultant
Children’s Questions About Sex
When a child has a problem we like to think that he can and will come to his parents for help in solving it. But there are some questions that some parents prefer not hearing. The fact that they do not have to face these questions gives them a false security that all is well and there is no problem.
Children’s questions about sex are a good example of this. Parents believe that because the child does not bring his or her questions to be discussed and answered means that the child is not concerned or interested in sex. Often, this is far from the truth. It may mean that the child feels that the parents will not provide answers to the question or else that punishment may be inflicted because the child dares to show any interest or concern with the factor of sex.
In some cases, the parents may be aware that the child has some sex preoccupation but are relieved that they are not put in the position of having to answer the question. They are secretly glad that the child will go elsewhere for the answers. The unfortunate fact, however, is that the answers may be incomplete or inaccurate. Some children feel that they must find out for themselves rather than face the shame or self-consciousness of the parents.
Parents are beginning to face these problems by casually introducing the subject in their discussions, without embarrassment or making the topic anything more than one of general consideration. As one author stated, “It is better for the children to get good information too early than too late.”
Now that the schools are presenting course in social hygiene, too often parents feel that it is the school’s responsibility for the consideration of questions about sex. They forget that their own responsibility does not cease; after all, they would resent having the school take over their other responsibilities and rights.
Growing up in a family is a pleasure that most of us seek. It implies more than just companionship; it includes good times and bad, sharing of responsibility, and the opportunity to discuss matters that concern the family as a group and as individuals. Questions about sex are as much a part of family life as are questions concerning the evening meal, the choice of television programs, or the amount each child should get for his allowance. It is part of the preparation for adult life.
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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.