Story and photos by Sheldon F. Merel
SAN DIEGO — Hadassah presented Dr. Luba Levin-Banchik , a visiting Israeli Professor at San Diego State University, at its third annual event on Sunday, July 26. After Prof. Levin-Banchik’s speech , we heard from two guests about why they are offering $10,000 in matching funds to Hadassah. The afternoon program was held in a professional office building on High Bluff Drive in a lovely space with delicious hors d’oeuvres served on the large adjourning outside patio with music by the Divine Guitar School.
Approximately 100 Hadassah women and a sprinkling of men gathered to hear Dr. Lube Levin-Banchik, and guests Stephen Sass and Steve Hochstadt.
Levin-Banchik is a political scientist and historian studying the evolution of conflict and peace in contemporary international relations of the Middle East. Her expertise is in the field of global and regional security, international crisis escalation and recurrence, domestic and transnational terrorism, cooperation and violence between rivals, and non-state actors. She told how Israel faces regular attacks from Gaza, and how Gazan rockets can reach any part of Israel within 90 miles. When rockets are fired, she and her family have 45 seconds to reach a bomb shelter. Those who live closer to the border have only 15 seconds.
The population of Israel is approximately 9 million people and in the past few years 1.5 million Jews have immigrated to that country. At the same time, the birth rate in Gaza is steadily increasing, while that territory also is drawing a new influx of Arabs eager to join in attacking Israel’s borders. Much of what the professor shared of Israel’s struggle to survive in the Middle East is well known in the general press. However she did stress the importance of the United States’ support, and Israel’s evolving relationships with Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Although briefly mentioned that Dr. Levin-Banchik’s visit to San Diego is sponsored by the Israel Institute , I did a bit of research and learned that The Israel Institute is in partnership with The Fulbright program to provide grants to Israeli academics to teach about Israel at elite universities in North America. This program gives both tenured and tenure-track Israeli academics the opportunity to spend an academic year abroad teaching about modern Israe , and granting students from top American universities the opportunity to meet leading Israeli professors.
Stephen Sass, an attorney, and Steven Hochstadt, a clinical psychologist, both active volunteers in the Los Angeles Jewish community, together told their hair-raising experience while visiting In Jerusalem. In the middle of the night Sass found Hochstadt collapsed in their apartment with a stroke. He immediately phoned emergency on 911 but quickly learned that in Israel , the number is 101, so future visitors to Israel beware. Fortunately, there was enough power in his cell phone to reach friends who connected him for transportation to the Hadassah Medical Center barely in time.
The innovative vascular medical expertise of advanced Israeli surgeons at this amazing hospital saved Hochstadt’s life. In gratitude for this miracle, they donated $ 10,000 to match any contributions for the wonderful work of Hadassah.
On a personal note, it was a particular pleasure for me to attend this event as my late wife, Marcie, her mother and mine were all Life members of Hadassah. I grew up with Hadassah, and feel a part of the organization since my mother was such an avid worker for the cause, and served as President of her Bronx Chapter in New York.
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Merel is Cantor Emeritus of Congregation Beth Israel in San Diego
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