Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, June 14, 1957, Part 2

Senior citizens who spend hours, days and weeks as volunteers in the office of the United Jewish Fund during the campaign are Mrs. Joseph Krone, Mrs. Edith Bernheimer and Mrs. Elka Meyers.  Much of the success of the campaign was due to behind the scene work of volunteers such as these.
Senior citizens who spend hours, days and weeks as volunteers in the office of the United Jewish Fund during the campaign are Mrs. Joseph Krone, Mrs. Edith Bernheimer and Mrs. Elka Meyers. Much of the success of the campaign was due to behind the scene work of volunteers such as these.

Marriage Told
Southwestern Jewish Press, June 14, 1957, Page 2

On Sunday, June 9, Alvin J. Abrams, of San Diego, was wed to Carol Bonnie Rosen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Peter Rosen, of Los Angeles, in a garden ceremony at the Robertson Rendezvous in Los Angeles. A reception and dinner followed the ceremony.

The groom has accepted a position as Education Specialist with the Naval Electronics Laboratory in Pt. Loma. He received his Masters Degree at the Claremont Graduate School in Pomona.

The groom’s uncles and aunts who attended the wedding were Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Simon from Louisville, Ky., and Mr. and Mrs. Sol Starr, from Milwaukee, Wis.  Attending from San Diego were Mr. and Mrs. Meir Barach and family, Mr. and Mrs. Macy L. Abrams and son, and cousin Martin Wm. Starr.

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Frank-Gleisser Wed
Southwestern Jewish Press, June 14, 1957, Page 2

Milton S. Frank, son of Mrs. S.B. Frank and the late Saul B. Frank, was wed on May 18th to Marcia Gleisser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Gleisser, of Cleveland, Ohio.

The bride is a graduate of the School of Nursing, Western Reserve University of Cleveland. The groom, a native of San Diego, was graduated from the University of California and served as a lieutenant in the Navy during World War II.  He is a member of the Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity.

The young couple will reside in San Francisco, California.

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Personals
Southwestern Jewish Press, June 14, 1957, Page 2

Miss Norma Spivack, fiancee of Jay Borushek, was honored recently at two bridal showers given in her honor.  Mrs. Alwin Feiler, co-hostessing with Mrs. Bernard Veitzer, entertained a group of 30 women at a luncheon in her new home in Twain Heights for the future daughter-in-law of their mutual friend, Mrs. Geo Borushek.

Another luncheon shower was given by Mrs. Max Goldstein and Mrs. Wm. Davis at the La Mesa Town House for another group of friends.

The Spivack-Borushek wedding will take place on June 21 at Beth Jacob Synagogue with a family dinner following at the House of Hospitality.

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Proud parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Brenes, now have a “High Commissioner” in the family.  Son Phil was elected to that post at Hoover High School where he will enter his senior year.

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Grandparents of Natalie Witt will be in San Diego for her Bas Mitzvah on June 28.  Mrs. Sima Witt will come from Chicago, Ill., and Mr. and Mrs. George Farkas, of Elsinore, Calif., will attend the services.

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Tillie Gordon plans a four week trip to the East with her  children, Stephen and Janice.  They will leave June 19th and will visit Washington D.C., New York City, Chicago and New Hampshire. A farewell party at the Konai Kai Club was attended by approximately fifty people.  Hostesses were Mesdames Milo Berenson, Al Newman, Sidney Newman and Lou Solof.

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Andrea Beck, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Beck, was elected Student Body President of Woodrow Wilson Junior High School. this is the first time in 25 years that a girl has been chosen.  Andrea is the second in the history of the school.  To top it off, Andrea won the American Legion Essay Contest at her school with her essay, “The Four Freedoms.”

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Mrs. Sam Waldman will leave on June 14 for a four months tour in Europe, two weeks of which will be spent in Israel. In July, in Rome, she plans to join members of her family who are also touring Europe.

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Mr. and Mrs. Morris Stokes invite their friends to an Open House on Sunday, June 16, from 3 to 5 p.m. at 3345 – 31st St., in honor of the graduation of their daughter, Reitha Rae, from S.D. State College. Reitha will teach at the Lafayette School in Oakland.

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Newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Milton S. Frank, spent last weekend in San Diego and were entertained by the groom’s sisters and brother in law, Mr. and Mrs. Hal Roades and his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Max Rabinowitz.

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An invitation is extended to the friends of Miss Bertha Rosenthal to attend a birthday party being given in her honor at the S.D. Hebrew Home for the Aged on Saturday, June 15.  The party is being sponsored by her brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Rosenthal.

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A very thrilling meeting took place at a minyon held in the Home for the Aged. Mrs. H. Levinson overheard a guest say she was from Cracow, Poland. She mentioned that she too was originally from that city.  It turned out that the gentleman was her first cousin, Mr. Wetstein, whom she had not seen since he was a small child.  Their fathers were brothers.  Mr. Wetstein, a newcomer to this city, who lost his entire family in Europe, was overjoyed at finding a blood relative.

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Bar Mitzvah — Natalie Witt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Witt, will celebrate her Bas Mitzvah at a special Friday evening service, June 28, at Beth Jacob Synagogue.

An invitation is extended to friends to attend the service and reception following.

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Michael Roberts Bar Mitzvah — Mr. and Mrs. Milton Roberts announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Michael John, on Friday, June 21, at Temple Beth Israel.

Friends are invited to the services and the reception following.

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Bar Mitzvah – Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Tappan announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Jerome, on Saturday, June 8, at Beth Jacob Synagogue. A reception was held on June 9 for 100 relatives and friends in the home of his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Fleischman.

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Siegel Accepts Post At School in Pomona
Southwestern Jewish Press, June 14, 1957, Page 2

Dr. Ben Siegel, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Siegel, of 4030 32nd St., has been appointed assistant professor of English and Speech at the California State Polytechnic College in Pomona.  A specialist in Biblical and seventeenth century English literature, Dr. Siegel has been a member of the Universty of Southern California faculty since 1952.  For several years following World War II, he wrote the “Grapevine” column in the Southwestern Jewish Press.  He is a graduate of San Diego High and San Diego State College.

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Press Notes
Southwestern Jewish Press, June 14, 1957, Page 3

By Julia Kaufman

“I envy nothing but time. Granted a gift of it, I enjoy it down to the last split second.”

Trees, Trees, Trees! — Lending dignity to the old buildings and softening the severe, functional lines of the new, Sacramento reminded me of a grand old dame with a flair for large picture hats.  The trees on the Capitol lawn represent the largest and most beautiful of their species. I stood under a heavily laden magnolia tree and inhaled the sweet scent of its blossoms.  In this heavenly atmosphere, I was surprised to note that the music I heard didn’t come from harps but from loud speakers set high in the trees. Oh well, I suppose we must be content with some earthly substitutes.

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Gov. Goodwin J. Knight and First Lady Virginia Knight flank visiting journalist Julia Kaufman during latter's visit to California's state capital
Gov. Goodwin J. Knight and First Lady Virginia Knight flank visiting journalist Julia Kaufman during latter’s visit to California’s state capital

Meet the Press!  I was visiting the Capitol on an invitation sent by Governor Goodwin J. Knight to the editors and publishers of newspapers of small newspaper throughout the state. I have often felt that politicians were prone to overlook the thousands of small independent community newspapers in their attempts at winning friends and influencing votes. In contrast to most editors of big dailies, the editors of smaller papers are close to their readers. Consequently, their opinions are generally more highly regarded. In San Diego County alone there are more than forty such newspapers. It is to the Governor’s credit that his invitation included these small home-town papers.

I had been in Sacramento two days before the Press conference, and fully appreciated what it meant to the Governor to take time out from his heavy schedule which included meetings on the very important water issue.  Upon arriving at the conference he commented: “This is the time to try the souls of legislators… and the governor.”  In his brief talk, Governor Knight stressed the need for an increase in salaries for top positions in the State government which demands highly trained men in specialized fields.

Men responsible for budgets running into millions of dollars are being offered far higher salaries for similar positions in private industry. Perhaps we should face the fact that it is now difficult to find individuals who are willing to accept the added burdens of public service, i.e., low pay and constant political pressure.

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High Button Shoes — This is the thought that crossed my mind as I climbed the high steps leading into the Governor’s mansion. The eighty-year-old building, a product of the gaslight era, could be termed Victorian-Barbary Coast architecture.  It has elaborate scroll work and carvings, Italian marble fireplaces, ornate door knobs and a winding staircase.  Virginia Knight has transformed the mansion into a bright, friendly and livable home which reflects her own sparkling personality. She is a gracious and solicitous hostess and displayed the enthusiasm of a bride for the lamps and special pieces she had “found” to enhance the twenty-eight room house.

After an appetizing luncheon we were invited to tour the home.  With the skill of a professional guide she escorted us through the many rooms, relating personal anecdotes and calling our attention to various articles of interest. One was the prize winning portrait of the Governor done by San Diegan Larry Schiller, whose accomplishments in the field of photography are well known to Press readers.”
Too busy for a diary, Virginia Knight records her life as First Lady by keeping pictures, news clippings and letters in scrap books. Among the keepsakes on her bedroom mantlepiece was a framed certificate indicating that she was an Honorary Poet Laureate of the State of Delaware. My impression of Virginia Knight was that of a young woman who has taken her position as the Governor’s wife very seriously.  She is well equipped to match her husband’s outgoing personality and ability to make friends.

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Men at Work — Watching our Senators and Assemblymen patiently dealing with the problems of a big State is to see them in an entirely different light.  Here are no stereotyped “politicians” but, individuals away from home and family, working ninety-hours a week, making important legislative decisions each day and compelled oftentimes to snatch lunches at sub-committee meetings. For conscientious legislators there are always “special” meetings regardless of the day or the hour.

I arrived at the Capitol Sunday night and found local Assemblyman Sheridan Hegland attending an Assembly session.  Probably the most misleading and disturbing sight to the visitor is the apparent milling about of the legislators which gives the impression that no one is paying too much attention to the problem at hand. The fact is that most of the intensive work has already been done in committees and such activity  on the floor is usually to gather votes for or against a bill.

(Some garbled type here)

The night I attended the Assembly, the Water Bill was at the boiling point and for a while I thought I was back in the Civil War days, hearing a North-South debate. The Northern legislators sat on one side of the chamber, the Southern law makers on the other and sometimes the twain didn’t meet.

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Room 119 — The Door That Is Never Locked.  In 1911, Frank C. Jordan, the Secretary of state, decided that during working hours, the door leading into his private office would never be locked.  In this way, anyone seeking an audience with him would not have to clear first with his secrtary. Contrary to the warnings he received, the practice was never abused and the only time he locked his door was during a heated controversy with Senator Hiram Johnson.

Today, his son, Frank M. Jordan, occupies the same office and maintains his father’s practice of keeping the door unlocked.  I tested the story and sure enough there I stood blushing before the Secretary of State in his private office.  He graciously accepted my apologies and explained his unusual practice.  It couldn’t happen anywhere but in these United States.   {Continued in the next issue}

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Yo-Ma-Co News
Southwestern Jewish Press, June 14, 1957, Page 2

The nomination of new officersw ill be held at the next meeting on Wednesday, June 26, at 9 p.m . at Highland and Landis St. Hall.

At least 25 couples attended the theater party last Sunday night and all thoroughly enjoyed the exciting stage play at the Old Globe Theatre.

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(Ages of Women)
Southwestern Jewish Press, June 14, 1957, Page 3

Women are attractive at 20, attentive at 30, and adhesive at 40.

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As the Psychologist Sees You
Southwestern Jewish Press, June 14, 1957, Page 3

By Irving R. Stone, Psychological Consultant

Some Impressions of a Traveler

A few days ago I stepped off a plane after having completed a two month tour of Europe. Since that day I have had time to think back on the events of those busy days abroad and my thoughts have taken sufficient form that I’d like to share my impressions of the places, events, and most important, of the people with you.  Naturally, these impressions are completely subjective and are based upon the places I visited, the people with whom I came in contact, the purpose of my trip, and my own background.

Denmark:  a country of warm, interesting people who are trying to maintain a high standard of living with substandard remuneration. The people are relatively poor but yet maintain a cheerful attitude, an interest in things about them, and a desire to be friendly to all. The suicide rate is very high there, evidence that not always is that cheerful attitude able to be retained. Bicycles and bike riders are everywhere.

England: tradition must be maintained at all costs. The people have a great love for their Queen and are very proud of the admiration other countries have for her.  Salaries are relatively low and there is a general migration of British subjects to Canada, New Zealand and Australia where there is greater hope for more favorable returns to the workers.  The traditional fog was absent during our visit, possibly to make visitors from San Diego feel more welcome.

Holland:  tradition again. Too much commercialism found. Amsterdam is a thriving city with many American cares, relatively low prices, and an eye for the tourist trade.

Belgium:  Not too clean; prices somewhat high, people a bit aloof. There is an attempt at modernization but it is not concerted.

France: Paris, Paris and Paris. The most beautiful city in the world. The drivers attempt to make up for the ban on auto horns by going in all directions with little regard for the next person. Very high rices, good food; very high alcoholism rate; night life.

Germany: many signs of the bombings; highest degree of industrialization; very little unemployment; food prices high but other commodities relatively inexpensive. An attempt to forget the past with a desire to change the appearance and behavior of the present day soldier from the way he was prior to 1940.  Visitors wonder whether the change is as great as desired.

Austria: very low prices; beauty of surroundings; easy attitude; visitors anxious to return. Friendly people; coffee not too good.

Italy: tradition again; religious influences at every turn; poverty; beauty of natural surroundings; driving a hazard due to pedestrians; walking a hazard due to crazy drivers; narrow streets except in the very large cities; winding roads; vino and vines in all directions; an attitude of “let the tourist beware” in all transactions.

Switzerland: beauty, honesty, friendliness — multiplied many times. Nature and people seem to make a perfect blend. Prices are (missing word) and set — nbo bargaining.  Tourist anxious to return many times.

Home:  nothing like it.

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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.