Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, May 17, 1957, Part 1

Mrs. Lewis Solomon and Isaac Domnitz
Mrs. Lewis Solomon and Isaac Domnitz


$30,000 Needed To Reach Top Goal of $295,000
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 17, 1957, Pages 1, 3

As the 1957 United Jewish Fund reached its peak this week, Dr. Walter Ornstein and Victor Schulman, General Campaign Co-Chairmen, issued a plea to all those who have not as yet contribute to participate immediately in what they term “the most significant campaign in many years.”

Better than 90% of the highest goal in Fund history, has been achieved in pledges to the 1957 campaign.

As over $265,000 was reached toward the United Jewish Regular and the United Jewish Appeal Emergency Rescue Fund goal of $295,000, the Marchers Division, led by Isaac Domnitz, Chairman, was announced as the first division to go over its goal. Domnitz stated that his division, manned by over 135 workers, succeeded in raising $15,474 to date against a goal of $13,000 through the efforts of three days of telephone solicitation made by teams composed of Directors of the United Jewish Fund.

Following closely on the heels of the Marchers Division, was the Women’s Division which raised over $49,000 toward its goal of $51,150, according to Mrs. Lewis Solomon, dynamic women’ chairman. She has been assisted by Mrs. Morton J. Cohn, Mrs. Irving Alexander, Mrs. E. Al Slayen and Mrs. Herbert Eber in a plus giving Campaign which has raised the largest amount from women since the inception of this Division in 1948.

Telephone solicitation, which raised over $6,000 iun three evenings of telephoning, was carried out by William Schwartz, Abraham Sklar, William Colt, Arthur Goodman, Dr. Joshua Rittoff, Morris W. Douglas, Robert Speigel, Milton Y. Roberts, Seymour Rabin, Si Rich, Irving Alexander, Carl M. Esenoff. Martin Gleich, H. Robert Kaplan, Dr. Walter Ornstein and Dr. R.M. Stone.

The Campaigners Division, Abraham Sklar Chairman and his workers, prepared for the inal push as it was announced that the Division has raised $31,205 towards its goal of $35,000.

Solicitation also continued in the Pace-Setters Division, which has the earliest start in the Campaign and which has raised $148,000 against a goal of $170,000.

Other Divisions reporting as the Campaign intensified its efforts before officially closing were: The Christian Division led by Richard A. Nelson, $9,508 raised toward a $15,000 goal; Military Division led by Commander Elihu Rickel, USN (CVC) $361; and Students Division led by Dr. Harry Ruja with $129.  The Area Division has raised $8,314 toward a $10,000 goal.  Leaders in this division are Lewis Kipperman and Arthur L. Cohen of Coronado; Leon Richel, Arthur Gardner, Maurice Levy and Abe Eidex of North County, and Nathan Golden of Baja California.

With only $30,000 needed to reach San Diego’s highest goal of $295,000, Ornstein and Schulman urged every worker to continue his efforts in an intensive campaign in the next week.  They urged everyone who has not yet made a contribution to do so immediately by sending their gift to the United Jewish Fund of San Diego, 333 Plaza, San Diego 1, Calif.

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Center To Be Built… Project Starts July 1
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 17, 1957, Pages 1, 5

Ten years of planning, dreaming and working will soon become a reality as negotiations were in the process of being competed this week for the construction of a building to house Center activities and Administration offices for the Jewish community of San Diego, according to William B. Schwartz, President of the Jewish Community Center.

With a loan commitment from the Security Trust & savings Bank assured, and the construction contract awarded to C.A. Larsen Construction Company, Schwartz said the Jewish Community Center Building will be erected as speedily as possible.

When completed in its first phase, the cost of land, building, swimming pool and furnishings will be over $500,000, Building Committee Chairman Sidney Rose said, in discussing the steps that have been taken to reach this point in construction.

“The Center’s Building Committee has been meeting for the past year and one-half shaping plans with our Architect, George Lykos, in order to give the Jewish community the most perfect and efficient community building possible within the means available. Every effort has been made within this period of careful planning and studying; visiting of other Community Centers throughout the Pacific Coast and the Southwest, to avoid mistakes.

In reviewing the plans of San Diego’s Jewish Community Center, Leon Spector, Director of the National Jewish Welfare Board’s Building and Architectural Department, said that the proposed building for San Diego will be one of the finest in the country.  The National Jewish Welfare Board’s Architectural Department was used as a consultant in preparing the plans.

Clearing of the land for the construction of the building is expected to begin soon after July 1 and the completed Jewish Community center will be opened no later than March 1, according to the time schedule that has been set by the contractor and the Building Committee.  When completed the building will contain such features as nursery school rooms, arts and crafts rooms, small and large meeting rooms, kitchen, offices for Jewish Agencies, youth and adult lounges. There will be an outdoor play area, as well as a nursery school play area.  Feature of the construction will be an outdoor olympic-size pool, 75 x 40, and a wading pool for children.

The Building Committee, headed by Rose, consisted of John Ruskin, Maury Novak, Rodin Horrow, William Schwartz, Edward Breitbard. The committee was staffed by Albert A. Hutler.

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Mrs. Feldman Hebrew Home President
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 17, 1957, Page 1

At the annual Donor Installation luncheon to be held by the Hebrew Home for the Aged Auxiliary on Wednesday, May 22, at 12 o’clock at the Lafayette Hotel, Mrs. Cele Feldman will be installed as President at an impressive installation service to be conducted by Past President Mrs. Wm. Moss.  Other officers and Board members are: 1st Vice Pres., Mrs. Joe Shulack; 2nd Vice-Pres., Mrs. Wm. Feldstein; 3rd Vice-Pres; Mrs. Lou Feller; Corr. Sec., Mrs. Sara Cusman; Treas., Mrs. Sydney Goldstein; Auditor, Mrs. William Bystrum; Social Sec., Mrs. Frances Tokman. Board Members are Mmes. Sam Sussman, Victor Weiss, Rod Horrow, R. Platt, M.S. Berlin, Harry Wax, A.J. Bard, Walter Bystrum, Harry Snyder, Abe Sklar, Betty Cohan, Ernest Bergman, Jack Rosenbloom, Nathan Rabinowitz, and Ben Levenson.

Mrs. Wm. A. Feldstein and her committee have been working diligently to make this affair an outstanding social event. Reservations may be made by calling the Hebrew Home JU 2-5168; Mrs. Tokman, AT 2-6335; and Mrs. Frank, CY-5-1395.

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Hadassah Hosts Regional Conference
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 17, 1957, Pages 1, 6

Mrs. Gabriel Berg
Mrs. Gabriel Berg

Leo W. Schwartz, noted author and editor, will be the guest speaker at the opening banquet of Hadassah’s 16th annual Southwest Pacific Coast Regional Conference which opens on Sunday evening, May 19th, 6:30 p.m. at the Hotel del Coronado through Wednesday, noon.   Mr. Schwartz, editor of the best selling Hadassah publication “Great Ages and Ideas of the Jewish People,” was trained at Harvard University and the Jewish Institute of Religion in Classical and Semitic Philology and the History of Religion.

Also appearing will be Ami Aloni, Israel pianist, who is now in this country on a tour. He will present some of the most exciting music from his own country as ell as classical selections from the masters of music.

Mrs. Morton (Gert) Thaler
Mrs. Morton (Gert) Thaler

Mrs. Gabriel Berg of San Diego, Conference Chairman, will preside and will be assisted by Mrs. Stanley Slotkin and Mrs. Mark Taper, both of Beverly Hills, who are serving as Co-Chairmen.

Over 500 delegates are expected to attend the conference and the local chapter will have eleven official delegates among whom will be retiring Prexy, Mrs. John Ruskin and incoming President, Mrs. Morton Thaler who will both be on hand during the four day event to greet all members of the local chapter.

Mrs. Raphael Tourover, Conference Mentor, has been a delegate to several World Zionist Congresses.

Mrs. Leo Hirsch, San Fernando, Regional President, will welcome all delegates and guests at the opening session on Monday morning. A leadership Plenary will officially open the sessions at which time Mrs. Sidney Pickelner, of Phoenix, will serve as chairman.

Monday afternoon’s session will commence at 2:15 p.m. with Mrs. Joseph Gleicher of Los Angeles as Chairman for the Education Panel.

A special showing of a stirring film, “Not One Shall Die” will be held in the Ballroom at 4;)0 p.m.

Monday evening, following the Fund Raising Plenary Session, to be conducted by Mrs. David Bassan of Los Angeles, a special “Fun Raising Party” will be held with the Greater Los Angeles area chapters as official Conference hostesses.

A new innovation for conference scheduling will be tried by Mrs. Hirsch, when two simultaneous workshops will take place on Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m.

Following a festive luncheon at which time Mrs. Mark Taper will preside, honoring the 45th birthday of Hadassah — the medical arm of Israel — three more simultaneous workshops will commence at 3:00 p.m.

Mrs. Tourover will face a challenging panel of Interviewers on Tuesday evening in a “Meet the Press” program to which all local members are cordially invited. The panel includes Colonel Cholmondeley Nelson, United Nations Representative; Dr. William Rust, President of Cal Western University and Professor Minor Generales, who is Professor of Political Science at San Diego State College. This will be a completely unrehearsed program.

All sessions are open to local members and friends of Hadassah and the banquet may be attended by members and husbands, with the luncheon on Tuesday afternoon open to members and guests.  Reservations are required and may be made with Mrs. Edward Kitaen at Hopkins 9-1389.

San Diego will be well represnted by active participation in many of the sessions, workshops and exhibits.  Participating will be Mmes. Elmer P. Wohl, Leonard Zlotoff, Sam Cohen, Maynard Hurwitz and Alan Raffee who will present the Visual Aids display for the chapter.

Delegates include Mmes. Ruskin, Thaler, Sammy Stein, Leonard Zlotoff, Elmer Wohl, Maynard Hurwitz, Hyman Kitaen, Sidney Segal, Edward Kitaen, Rudolph Hess, Morris Feldman.

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Sr. Adults To Hear Famous Specialist
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 17, 1957, Page 1

Ernest W. Shaw, M.D., prominent san Diego internist and cardiologist, will discuss “Vibrant Health in the Godlen Years” at the next program sponsored by the Senior Adult Committee of the Council of Jewish Women on Tuesday, May 21 at 1 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 4056 University Avenue. Dr. Shaw represented the San Diego Medical Society at the community-wide Conference for Senior Citizens held here, and is a member of the Board of the San Diego Heart Association.

The program will be followed by cards, and refreshments will be served. A cordial invitation is extended to all senior adults. There is no admission.

Mrs. Sam DeSure will be refreshment hostess. Mrs. Hebert Malley heads the Senior Adult Committee, and Mrs. Fritz Lavender is in charge of the telephone committee.

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Jewish War Vets Hold Memorial Services
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 17, 1957, Page 1

On Memorial Day, May 30, at 10:00 o’clock, the Post will join with other veteran organizations at the services for departed comrades at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and at the water services aboard a destroyer. Chairman Buddy Samuels invites all Post members and their families to share in this solemn and impressive service. The occasion will be marked by a Massing of the Colors, the decoration of the graves, rifle squads of the Spanish-American War Veterans, the Navy and the Marines and an outstanding speaker. Comrade Willie Mintz will represent the Post at the water services.
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National Commander William Carmen is presently visiting Israel and the Mid-East countries.  He expects to test the State Department’s ban on Jewish personnel visiting American bases in Saudi Arabia.

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New Life Club Holds Annual Spring Dance
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 17, 1957, Page 1

The New Life Club will hold its annual Spring Dance Sunday, May 26, at 8 p[.m. at the Lafayette Hotel, according to Chairman Gerry Sonabend. Dancing to music “out of this world” is promised by Carl Friend, who is in charge of entertainment.  The orchestra is from the Mission Valley Inn. Donation is $1.25 per person which includes an opportunity to win a door prize.

Mrs. Louis Thomas and Fanny Mark are official hostesses. Call JU-2-3496 for tickets and reservations.

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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, located just above the masthead on the right hand side of the screen.