Other items in this column include:
* ‘Zayde just sat up’
* Political bytes
* Coming our way
* Mazel tov! Mazel tov!
* In Memoriam
SAN DIEGO — With the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) planning its Western Regional Gala on Thursday, Nov.7, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, and the San Diego/ Orange County/ Arizona chapter planning a local gala just two days later on Nov. 9 at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel here in San Diego, it’s likely to be a busy time for the local chapter’s board.
San Diego/ Orange County/ Arizona board members include Alan Katz, chair; Norman Smith, vice chair; Raymond Fink, Tamara Klein, Kevin Lyons, Enrique Pupko-Maizel, Doron Malka, Steve Mizel, Stephanie Nisan, Simon Vainer, Nancie Vann, and Sioma Waisburd.
The western regional gala will salute the memory of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, who founded the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, which was headquartered in Chicago and Jerusalem.
At the San Diego/ Orange County/ Arizona gala honorees will be Sydney and Denise Selati at a function called “A Night of Heroes.” A former International Chairman of the Israel Tennis Centers, Sydney Selati also has served on the board of the Monster Beverage Corporation; as president of the Sussex Group Ltd and the Galore Group; and as chairman of the Jewish Communtiy Foundation of San Diego.
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‘Zayde just sat up!’
When Leo Israel Samuel was a boy, he was asked by his father, Moshe Samuel, to sit with the body of his grandfather, Yitzhak Samuel. He did as he was told, and saw his grandfather suddenly sit up. He ran to his father excitedly, saying “Zayde just sat up!” But when they returned to the room where Moshe’s body had been laid out, it had returned to normal position.
That family story was one of the reasons that Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel of Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista developed an interest in zombies, about which he wrote a recent column. Some 30 years later, his father, Moshe, learned from a mortician that “gas causes a person to sit up, and when the gas is released, the body resumes its previous position.”
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Political bytes
* San Juan Capistrano Mayor Brian Maryott has been endorsed by former Gov. Pete Wilson in his 49th Congressional District race against incumbent Congressman Mike Levin, whose district covers portions of Orange County and northern San Diego County. Wilson said of Maryott, a fellow Republican: “He’s an advocate and leader that rises above petty political games and instead focuses on delivering bipartisan, substantive results.”
*San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez, who is running to succeed Susan Davis in the 53rd CD, says, “When I meet new friends and neighbors in San Diego, we talk about the real life struggles we face. We talk about the housing crisis, our public schools, protecting our planet, and how ordinary families are struggling to get ahead and stay ahead. And no matter what, we always talk about the real solutions our families need.”
* Escondido City Councilwoman Olga Diaz, opposing incumbent Kristin Gaspar in the 3rd supervisorial district, criticizes the vote by which county supervisors voted 4-1 to give pay raises to the sheriff, district attorney, treasurer/tax collector, and assessor/ recorder/ county clerk despite pleas from employee organizations that there first be a compensation study for all employees. Said Diaz: “The budge is a moral document—how we spend money reflects our priorities.”
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Coming Our Way
* Rabbi Joshua Dorsch of Tifereth Israel Synagogue will hoist a beer and discuss Torah at a “Torah on Tap” session at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 11, at the San Diego Brewing Company, 10450 Friars Road, San Diego.
* Dr. David Luchins, national vice president of the Orthodox Union and a former aide to such Democrats as Vice President Hubert Humphrey and U.S. Sen. Daniel Moynihan of New York, will discuss “After Pittsburgh & Poway: Is The Party Over,” at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12, in the south social hall of Congregation Beth Israel, at which Torah High School is a tenant.
* Dr. William “Bill” Freeman, MD, a professor of ophthalmology at UCSD, will discuss social and ethical issues facing the medical community at a meeting of the Youth Action Movement, at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 7015 Chapala Canyon Court, San Diego.
*Rabbi Devorah Marcus and Rabbi Benj Fried will each a four-session class on anti-Semitism at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, beginning Nov. 13, at Temple Emanu-El, 6299 Capri Drive. Fee: $18 members, $25 others.
*Artist and writer Judy Tuwaletstiwa will begin a one-month residency as an artist at the Lux Art Institute, 1550 South El Camino Real, Encinitas, with a welcoming reception at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15. Married to Philip Tuwaletstiwa, a Hopi Indian, the Jewish artist’s surname means “wind making ripples in the sand.” She is well known for her conceptual art works on glass inspired by patterns and movements in nature.
* Rabbi Devorah Marcus of Temple Emanu-El will lead a trip to Israel, departing San Diego on June 22 and returning July 5. Details at this website.
Mazel tov! Mazel tov!
* Lillian Faderman, PhD, curator of the “LGBTQ+ San Diego: Stories of Struggles & Triumphs” exhibit and Bill Lawrence, executive director of the San Diego History Center, and other contributors and members of the history center’s staff, have been honored with the downtown San Diego Rotary Club’s 2019 Peace Award.
*After 30 years in the real estate business, Dale Brent has announced her retirement from San Diego Properties, but her family still will be very much involved. Her husband Chip Brent, son Loren Brent, and nephew Ryan Glazer all will be continuing at the firm. She says she is looking forward to such hobbies as vegetable gardening, cooking those vegetables, spending time at the beach and playing with their three dogs, Murray, Rodney and Buddy.
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In Memoriam
Tifereth Israel Synagogue has announced the death of Barbara Blumen, wife of Dr. Jerome Blumen, mother of Scott, Karen and Lisa Blumen. The funeral and shiva were held in Florida.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. Obituaries in this column are sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg.