Other items in today’s column include:
*Erev Mother’s Day
*Political bytes
*Jewish American Heritage Month
SAN DIEGO — Seacrest Village Retirement Community has reported that as of Friday, it had tested 125 residents for coronavirus, and thus far had received results for 104 residents — all negative.
“We expect the remaining 21 test results within the coming days and will report back to you as soon as possible,” reported Pam Ferris, President and CEO of the home for seniors which is run under Jewish community auspices.
Ferris said that while the results at the retirement community had prompted a “sigh of relief,” fresh incidence of the disease elsewhere in San Diego County make it critical to remain at home and to continue to wear face masks.
“In light of our test results thus far,” Ferris told residents, “we would like to reinstitute the following:
“–Fitness Center and Life Enrichment programs can now be enjoyed in small groups of 5-or-less if six feet apart.
–“Residents of Independent and assisted Living buildings can congregate in Annette’s Village Square if six feet apart.
–“Walks outside for exercise around the Seacrest campus; we are blessed to live in a wonderful climate, get out and enjoy the fresh air.”
However, Ferris cautioned, the following precautions should remain in place:
–“Please do not leave campus; if there is a mandatory appointment, notify your Building Director.
–“Families please continue to utilize the drop-off station at the main entrance, wear a mask, maintain social distance, and refrain from visits at that time.
–“All residents or associates feeling flu-like symptoms, notify Building Director or Supervisor immediately.
–“Residents feeling flu-like symptoms, please self-isolate in your apartment.
–“Mahjong and/or card games are not allowed. It is nearly impossible to sit 6-feet apart. If a six-foot distance cannot be maintained, the activity is not permitted.
–“Residents are asked not to go into one another’s apartments; this is still too risky and a very easy way to spread the virus.
–“Residents and staff are asked not to go into another building on campus other than the one in which you live or work; this is also still too risky.
–“And remember wash your hands often and for 20 seconds with soap and water.”
Looking ahead to Sunday, Ferris added, “We know this Mother’s Day will be different and more challenging given the restrictions. We must ask that you please refrain from physically visiting your loved ones this year. It is still too risky. That said, in honor of this special day, we will be sending our resident ladies flowers and a card. We sincerely wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all.”
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Erev Mother’s Day
Among those paying tribute to their late mothers this year is Sandy Scheller, who writes of Holocaust Survivor Ruth Sax: “People, let me tell you about my best friend: I am the daughter of Ruth Sax, mother of 2 and grandmother of 4. In reality she became the mother and grandmother to so many people throughout the world as people came to Ruth for advice about every possible topic. One thing about my mom that many do not know, she had lots of great acquaintances but very few friends. She didn’t trust many people and usually let others do the talking until you got to know her. She was great about letting go of things and moving on not holding on the grudges. About two weeks before she passed so unexpectedly, she was saying how much she missed her husband and her parents. Little did I know that she was ready to see them again. Not a day goes by where I don’t think about her. In my quarantine I’ve thought about her as “we” sew together.
*Nancy Weisinger, meanwhile, told us that her mother, Janet Weisinger, z”l, “would be 93 if she were alive today. I wish her a happy Mother’s Day as I remember her energy, how she had a cute and magnetic smile, how she read the newspaper front to back every single day, knew about everything going on in the world. She was so smart, always looked good, a great planner, lover of all animals and nature, camping, baseball, the temple and volunteering for Sisterhood, dealing with three crazy kids and making a good home for us and Dad, Don Weisinger. She only got 68 years on earth, way too few. I like to think I inherited her curiosity, drive and looks…lol. I remember she was always willing to help me, and I wish she was still here. Love to you Mom!♥️”
*Carol Davidson Baird relates that as a child in Oppeln, Upper Silesia, Germany in the early 1930’s, her mother, Eva Karliner Davidson, z”l, was called Evchen by her family and eventually Eva by everyone else, until she met and married Carol’s father. Both of them were Holocaust survivors, meeting as teens in a refugee boarding house in London during the Blitzkrieg, and as they got to know each other, he called her Evchen too. I don’t know why, but after they were married, he started calling her Butch (that had a completely different meaning then!). When I was born, they called me Butchy, the diminutive of her name. After that, we all had silly names depending on the situation. When I played shoe store with my mother, she called me Sally the Saleslady (I hated the name, so it was used to tease me), when I loved a stuffed bear given to me by a relative whose name was Moritz, I called my bear that. Why my mother started calling me Moritzmaus, I don’t know, but after I saw my uncle conduct “Die Fledermaus” at the Hollywood Bowl when I was about 5, I started calling my mother “Fledermaus.” Those two names were used by us in public to tease one another or so no one else would know who the call out was for. Those names stuck until the day she died, too early, missing the guy who called her Butch.”
Tomorrow, Mother’s Day, we will have some more remembrances. It’s not too late to get yours in via this email.
Political bytes
*San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, a candidate for mayor, says in her current position as chair of the council’s budget committee, she has a few recommendations for meeting San Diego’s fiscal challenges in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Her recommendations: Finalizing the SDSU stadium site deal; extricating the City from the 101 Ash Street lease; ending the Smart Streetlight program; eliminating all Public Information Officer positions earning more than $100,000 per year, and freezing the salaries of elected officials through June 30, 2021.
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Jewish-American Heritage Month
In its continuing salute to Jews who have made important contributions to American history, EMET (Endowment for Middle East Truth), has profiled baseball slugger Hank Greenberg, who played for the Detroit Tigers facing many of the types of prejudices which Jackie Robinson, as the first African-American baseball, later had to overcome.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com