Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, November 11, 1955, Part 1

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff

Bonds Aid Israel in Crises

Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 1

 Murray D. Goodrich has once again accepted the position as chairman for the San Diego Jewish Community to conduct a campaign in behalf of the Bonds of Israel Government.  In assuming this responsible position, Mr. Goodrich reiterated the words of Dr. Dov Joseph, Israel Minister of Development, when he said in Los Angeles before some 1,100 dinner guests, “Israel Bonds currently being sold here will not be used for arms.  The money will be earmarked for the economic development of Israel.”

In an exclusive interview given to the Jewish Press, Mr. Goodrich quoted an article in last Saturday’s Los Angeles Mirror which showed a dateline by one of the Mirror’s Foreign Correspondents in Rome, Italy, and which stated that “Col. Nasser is watching with great interest the current sale of Israel Bonds in the U.S. for the success or failure of such drives will guarantee the stability of the Ben-Gurion Government.”

Immediately after the acceptance of the chairmanship, Mr. Goodrich had two successful organizational meetings—one in his home and the other at the San Diego Hotel.

Meetings of the Israel Bond Committee will be held regularly and all activities will be geared to a climax dinner which will be held at the Mission valley Country Club, Sunday, Dec. 4th at 7 p.m.  The chairman emphasizes that the entire community should consider attendance at this dinner and that the purchase of an Israel Bond is a solemn duty of every member of the Jewish Community.

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Free Loan Fund
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 1

The Free Loan Fund set up by the United Jewish Fund has been organized by a committee headed by Maury Novak, Morris W. Douglas, president, announced.

Chairman Novak has listed the following qualifications for applicants: (1) Applicant must be  Jewish.  (2) Applicant must bit have other borrowing power or credit resources; (3) Applicant must be resident of San Diego County and for a period of time satisfactory to the Committee; (4) Applicant must be of character and reputation satisfactory to the Committee.

Applicants for loans are to be made through the executive director of the United Jewish Fund with the social studyh being made buy the Jewish Social Service Agency.

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“Drive For Dollars”
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 1

A two-pronged drive for cash will be undertaken by the United Jewish Fund because of the urgent needs of the UJA and local agencies.

Max Rabinowitz, campaign chairman, stated that the needs of Israel are such that every effort will be made to secure the contributions of those who have not as yet given.

“Another $15,000 must be reached to meet the bare minimum needs of Israel and the other agents supported by the Fund,” he said.

David Stotsky and Ben Harris will lead the “Drive for Dollars’ which will ask for immediate payment on all pledges.

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Campaign for $150,000 To See Dream Come True

Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 1

One hundred-fifty volunteer campaigners started out Thursday morning to knock on doors to raise $150,000 so that the entire San Diego Jewish Community can see the “Dream Come True.”

When the goal of the Jewish Community center Building Fund is reached in the ten-day drive, as stated by Edward Breitbard, Center president and chairman of the campaign, “we can be assured that we will begin building the $400,000 Center in 1956 and complete our master plan prepared in 1947.”

The new structure, according to co-chairmen of the building committee, Sidney Rose and William B. Schwartz, will have a minimum of 30,000 square feet and will offer recreational, cultural and social activities for young and old alike, plus facilities for clubs and organizations. It will be built on a 2 ½ acre site adjoining the new Hebrew Home for the Aged at 54th St. and University Ave. 

Leaders in the Center Building Fund Campaign with Breitbard, Morrie Kraus, William B. Schwartz, Al Solomon, and Leonard Zlotoff, urge that everyone respond generously to the volunteer that calls because “we all must aim in building our Center so that we all may benefit!”  They also reminded contributors that contributions are payable over  a five year period.

Other community leader actively engaged in working for the completion of the new building are Maury Novak, Rodin Horrow and John Ruskin, members of the architectural committee; Bernard Aronson and Dr. Milton Schwartz, co-chairman of the hose committee and Seymour Rabin, treasurer of the Center.

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B.B. Women Go Western
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 1

Hitch up your wagon, mount your pony, it matters not How you go there – the important thing is to be there!  Where?  The American Legion Hall at 37th and B Streets. When?  Saturday, November 12th, 7:30 p.m. til ?  What? The Bay City Chapter’s Sixth Annual Dinner Dance come in costume or come as you are—but do come hungry  barbecued beef with all the trimmings served Chuck Wagon style, or fish for those who prefer it, will be served throughout the evening.  Dancing to the music of “Happy” Blake and his orchestra.  Prizes for the most authentic Western outfit will be presented and Mrs. David Schloss, chairman, promises many surprises during the night.

Mrs. Max Felsman, president, urges all those who have not made reservations to feel free to attend. The drawing on the lovely stole presented to the Chapter by Mrs Jack Norr will also be held that evening.

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Jewish Community Centers
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Pages 1, 6

By Dr. Philip L. Seman, Director Emeritus of Jewish Community Centers of Chicago

A great democracy like ours, counting in its population over 160 million people of all nations and races, must be more than alive and intelligent. In order that it may be a perfect union, it must be democratic.

From the very beginning, we as Jews have been glad of the opportunity to be part of the fine expression of this political philosophy.  The Jewish Community Center, in a large measure, is our contribution to this philosophy, for it is here in the Center that we come to discuss community interests and devise helpful methods of cooperation.

A social center is especially suitable as a place where your Jewish citizens in San  Diego, and I hope in many instances your non-Jewish citizens as well, will come together in a neighborly way on terms of democratic equality. Here you will learn to know each other and extend and enrich community sympathy.

Here you will find that the Center belongs to no individual and creed. Zionist or non-Zionist, Reformed, conservative or Orthodox; Republican or Democrat. Here you will find the Center non-partisan, embracing Jews of all shades of political thinking. Your Center is the common property of all, the one place on which all have equal rights and are equally at home.

The Center should serve to interpret the best in American life so that the people who come to it may become active and intelligent participants in the progressive development of American democracy. This should be done not because we are afraid as Jews in the midst of a non-Jewish world but because we want to be better men and women and through the Center, to better serve our fellow men and our community.

Many, even those who should know better, have an idea that the Jewish Community center represents a new phase of social effort or social expression as a part of Jewish community life. This is a mistaken idea. All we need to do is search into the historical documents of past achievements of the Jew, as far back as the building of Solomon’s Temple, to learn that there was really the first and most comprehensive of Jewish community centers.

After the first and second destruction, there was a lull for quite a number of centuries as far as community center functioning was concerned.  Later, however, with the development of the synagogue in the middle ages, the synagogue took the place, at least in part, of the community center. Outside of its religious function, the synagogue offered an opportunity for education –to be sure the education was very largely limited, if not entirely, to the study of Talmud and other Hebrew lore—and social recreational life were also expressed there. The great holidays were celebrated with pomp and glory, when the entire Jewish community would center within the confines of the synagogues and its immediate environment. The philanthropic expression of the community also had an opportunity o function through it.  n other words, for all intents and purposes, recognizing the fact that the community was quite concentrated and the Jews of the community were all known to one another, the synagogue represented the finest expression of the Jewish Community Center It meant to the members of the Jewish community what I hope your Community Center will mean to all of you in San Diego.

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Mrs. Max Nussbaum Guest Speaker at Hadassah Luncheon

Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 1

Mrs. Max Nussbaum will lead Hadassah’s guests on a mythical Road of Health at the organization’s November 16th meeting, in the Don Room of the El Cortez Hotel, at its luncheon meeting. Mrs. Robert Strauss, Hadassah Medical Organization Chairman and General Chairman for this month, and her committee have engineered many excellent arrangements for this even. Along with her illustrious husband, Rabbi Max Nussbaum, Ruth Nussbaum has had an instrumental hand in building Zionist organizations throughout our United States. She has long been identified with Hadassah, and has served most successfully in many phases of its work.  At present she is an active member of the Los Angeles Chapter of Hadassah.

Tickets for the journey, including an up-front reserved seat and a luncheon, may be secured from Mrs. Strauss at Atwater 1-8227, for only $1.50.

Mrs. Harry Snyder, Hospitality Chairman, and her committee will be on board to greet each guest as they enter.

Another “special VIP” that day will be Mrs. Harry Felson, President of the local chapter, who has just returned from a tour of Canada, climaxed by her attendance at Hadassah’s 41st Annual National Convention in Chicago. In a short statement to The Jewish Press, Mrs. Felson said: “Hadassah is helping to shape the future destiny of Israel by achieving the impossible. The situation in the Middle East at this very moment is a living nightmare for the people of Israel and the women of Hadassah are all aware of this tense and horrifying move against the very thing that they are working for.  With renewed strength and hope Hadassah will help to maintain the many high standards which she has brought about in the world’s youngest democracy.”

Mrs. Louis Solof and her entire committee have now gone into high gear on plans for Hadassah’s Presentation Ball and every teenager in town is delighted with the thought that for one night in the year Hadasssah will focus their spotlight on her – a typical young debutante daughter of a Hadassah member.

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Bar Mitzvahs Told

Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 2

Gary Lester Effron, so of Mr. and Mrs. James Effron, will be Bar Mitzvah on Saturday morning, November 19th, at Tifereth Israel Synagogue.

Gary is the grandson of Rabbi N.I. Addleson of Los Angeles and Mr. and Mrs Hyman Effron of San Diego.

Kiddush and luncheon will follow the services. All friends are invited to attend.

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Douglas Gene Cohen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Cohen, will be Bar Mitzvah on Friday evening, November 18th, at Temple Beth Israel.

Reception will be held and refreshments will be served following the service. All are invited to attend.

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Women’s League of the J.C.C.

Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 2

A re-organization meeting of the Women’s League took place last Thursday at the Jewish Community Center.  Two very capable women have undertaken to co-chair the Presidency of the League; Mrs. Marvin Bobrof and Mrs. Victor Selten.

Mr. Irving Mortin, Director of the Center,  attended the meeting and discussed with the group plans for the League.

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Veterans Plan Spaghetti Dinner
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 2

Past Commander Stan Yukon and Joe Cheiten, both former cooks in the armed service, will again show their mettle by preparing a spaghetti dinner for members of Post 185 and their guests. Dinner will be served November 16th, at 7:15 p.m.  guest speaker from Los Angeles will speak on a timely topic.

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Personals
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 2

Bill Colt and his co-chairman, Abe Sklar, were recently awarded an “Oscar” for being the first to reach their goal, in the Retail “A” Division of the United Success Drive.

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Mrs. Jacob Kaiser was recently reunited with her brother, Marcel Guzower, whom she hasn’t seen for 34 years.  Mrs. Guzower’s wife and daughter, who are at present in Brussels, Belgium, hope to join him in San Diego in the not too distant future.

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Charlotte Pearl was honored at a miscellaneous bridal shower given by her aunt, Mrs. Moss Addleson, at the Lafayette Hotel. Fifty guests attended.

Miss Pearl plans to marry Dr. Edward H. Abrams of Buffalo, N.Y., sometime in December.

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Busy Girl – In order to follow the activities of Janet Solof these days, you’d have to have your antenna tuned in,  Janet, who among other things, is chairman of the S.D. County Jr. Red Cross, presented a scroll to the Mayo0r at the United Nations  Birthday Celebration and was interviewed on both TV and Radio. She was also chairman of the Script Committee of San Diego High, for the Homecoming.  No wonder she has not time for her Southwestern Jewish Press column.

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Sylvia Bard remembers her first Jolly-16 dinner-dance She was thirteen years old, and the event took place at the Foreign Club in Tijuana.  We didn’t ask her the date.

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It was a happy birthday for Martha Hollander’s “tante” Lena Gunsberger. Her birthday was the first to be celebrated in the New Home for the Aged, on October 26th and over thirty guests were present. Cantor Jos. Cysner entertained with several songs. Mrs. Harry Tennebaum and Mrs Sonnabaum are chairmen of the Birthday Committee for the Ladies Auxiliary.

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Mr. and Mrs. Al Neumann say “Thanks” to their many friends who have helped to make Al’s stay in the hospital more pleasant

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Back home again is Mrs. Simon Glazer after a visit to her sister and family in Ohio.

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Welcome! –Escapes from Cleveland, Ohio’s sleet and snow are Mr. and Mrs. J. I. Feldman and their two children, Joanne, sixteen, and Earl, twelve.  They are a welcome addition to the community.

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Tomorrow’s The Big Night
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 2

Those who enjoy a Jolly (16) Good Time are alls et for the Annual Autumn Dinner Dance to be held this Saturday, Nov. 12th in the Ballroom of the El Cortez Hotel. Dinner will be served at 8 p.m.

if you haven’t already made arrangements just phone Sally Ratner, AT 4-6642; Bernice Esenoff, AT 4-7527, or Rose Glickman, HO 6-6871.  They will be happy to take your reservation.
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Cradle

Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 2

Jeane and Adek Firestone are off to a good start. They happily announce the birth of their first child, Sandra Fay, born October 30thj. Sandra weighed 8 lbs at birth. 

Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Max Leopold.

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Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Topias were blessed with their fourth grandson on October 20th, when Benjamin W. Tobias was born in Newport Beach, Calif.  Parents are Lt. (jg) and Mrs. David Tobias.  Daddy, who is stationed in Japan, has not seen his 8 lb son. 

Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Max Weinstock of Chula Vista.

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Classified

Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 2

Will someone please refer this to a nice lady who might be interested in a nice lonely man, elderly, cultured, 5 ft, 7 ½ inches tall, 160 lbs. Retired, small income.  Doesn’t drink, smoke dance.  No car. Seeks companionship; a friend—if compatible – marriage.  Can read Jewish and English.  Solowaychick—2433 G St., San Diego.

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Wanted – Employed woman with two boys, 8 and 10, wishes room with kitchen privileges or small apartment, close to an elementary school.  Will work some evenings as part payment if necessary. Call BE-2-5172.

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Calendar

Southwestern Jewish Press, November 11, 1955, Page 2

12th—Sat, 8 p.m.—Jolly 16 Dinner Dance – El Cortez
12th—Sat., 7:30 p.m. – B.B. Bay City Women – Dinner Dance.
15th – Lunch – Card Party –City of Hope—Beth Jacob Center
16th – Weds., Noon – Hadassah Story -1955,” Mrs. Max Nussbaum—El Cortez
16th –Weds, 7:5 p.m. – J.W.V. Dinner –Guest Speaker – War Memorial Bldg.
19th—Sat—Costume Dinner Dance—Tifereth Men’s Club – Synagogue Playground.
27th—Sun, Lasker Lodge, Dinner Dance—Mission C.C.

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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