Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff
Schulman & Ornstein Accept 1957 Campaign Leadership; Greatest Campaign Since 1948
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Pages 1, 6
Victor Schulman and Dr. Walter Ornstein have accepted the co-chairmanship of the 1957 United Jewish Fund campaign.
The announcement at the Fund’s 23rd Annual Dinner Meeting last Saturday evening by Harris (sic, Morris) W. Douglas, President, was applauded by over 250 Fund workers.
Also cheered were the awards to David Stotsky, as the outstanding worker for 1956, and to Zel Camiel, who received national recognition from the United Hias Service, and locally from the United Jewish Fund for his ten years of service to immigrants in San Diego.
The two prominent Jewish community leaders, Ornstein and Schulman, who accepted the chairmanship of the coming Drive, toured Israel this summer. Dr. Ornstein, a Vice President of the Fund, President of the Jewish Social Service Agency, and a Director of the Community Welfare Council, was also the principal speaker of the evening.
Mr. Schulman is a past President and is serving his second term as a general campaign chairman. He is also a past President of the Hebrew Home for the Aged, and a former vice President of the San Diego Community Chest.
Campaign awards were made to Mr. and Mr. Milton Y. Roberts by the United Jewish Appeal representative, Ernest Michel, for their outstanding leadership in the 1956 Drive.
At the same time. Michel presented a United Jewish Appeal leadership pin to President Douglas, and announced is appointment to the Pacific Coast Campaign Cabinet for the United Jewish Appeal.
Other awards that were presented for campaign activity were to vice-Chairman of the Women’s Division, Mrs. Jack Binderman, Mrs. Louis Feller, Mrs. Samuel Friedman and Mrs. Leo Smollar; to William B. Schwartz, Chairman of the Campaigners’ Division and to Harry Sugarman, Chairman of the Pace-Setter’s Division.
Alex Maisel, County Chairman, received a plaque for his fine work in the area outside of the city; and Maurice Levy, of Oceanside, was chosen as the outstanding County worker.
Inducted into the “Ten Year Key Club” were Morris w. Douglas, Carl M. Esenoff, Irving Friedman, Murray D. Goodrich, Mrs. Saul Chenkin, Ben Harris, Harry Mallen, Max Rabinowitz, Mrs. Al Neumann, Louis Moorsteen, Ida Nasatir, Victor Schulman and Sol Stone.
Retiring Directors David Block, Zel Camiel, Mack Esterson, Manuel S. Fisher, Mrs. Samuel Friedman, Iriving E. Friedman, Ben Harris, Jerome Neiderman, Henry Price, Sol Price and David Sapp were presented with a scroll expressing appreciation for their leadership and service to the Jewish community.
A special award was presented to Commander Elihu Rickel, Chaplain Corps, United States Navy, for his community service above and beyond the call of duty.
The outstanding volunteer’s pin was given to Mrs. Edith Bernheimer, who during the year had spent many days as a volunteer clerical worker in the Fund office.
Eli H. Levenson, past President of the Fund and National Vice President of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, and Federal Judge of the United States District Court, Jacob Weinberger, also spoke. Mr. Levenson spoke on the recent National Conference held in Toronto, Canada, and presented resolutions which were approved by the general membership.
Judge Weinberger spoke as the first President of the United Jewish Fund and gave some interesting facts about old San Diego, its Jewish community and the work of the Fund.
Dr. Ornstein, the principal speaker of the evening, stated that immigration to Israel of Jews from Hungary, Poland, North Africa and Arab countries will be the need that must be met in 1957 by American Jewish communities and by San Diego Jewry.
He pointed out the fact that Israel’s recent invasion of the Sinai Peninsula was defensive action taken only after the government became convinced the peninsula was a staking point for an Arab attack on Israel.
In the report of the Executive Director, Mr. Albert A. Hutler spoke of the progress made in Central Community Organization in 1956. He pointed out the fact that without Central Community Organization many of the things that were accomplished in San Diego could not have been achieved. “The needs of the local community,” he said, “are being met to a great extent only because of the planning and financing that Central Community Organization is able to give.”
In discussing 1957, Mr. Hutler stated that the needs of overseas and Israel organizations would be far greater than that in 1956. “We are going back to 1948 plus 1936 in our 1957 campaign. If ‘marching feet’ are to be stilled and ‘marching feet’ are to find a homeland, then Jews of America must give much more than ever before.” He pointed out that the United Jewish Appeal, at its recent conference, attended by Mrs. Gabriel Berg as a delegate from San Diego, resolved that one hundred million dollars will be raised in 1957 in the United Jewish Appeal Special Survival Rescue Fund, above and beyond the regular campaign and contributions to the United Jewish Appeal and its agencies.
The Annual Meeting Committee consisted of Mr. William Schwartz and Dr. Walter Ornstein, co-Chairman; Mrs. Abe Ratner, Mrs. Samuel Friedman, Maury Novak and Henry Price. Mr. Schwartz acted as Chairman of the evening and Mr. Douglas conducted the Annual Meeting.
Those responsible for the beautiful decorations as members of the Arrangements Committee were Mrs. Friedman and Mrs. Ratner, co-Chairmen; Mrs. Mack Esterson, Mrs. Milton Fredman, Mrs. Sam Sosna, Mrs. Saul Chenkin and Mrs. Roberts.
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National Council of Jewish Women Plan “Confetti Ball” to Start New Year
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Page 1
Council of Jewish Women, Mrs. Jack Stern, President, is inviting the entire community to “Start the New Year Right with Council” at the Confetti Ball, gala New Year’s Eve dinner-dance. Featuring Pete Newburg and his 8-piece dance band, the Confetti Ball offers an opportunity to dine, dance, and celebrate in the new ballroom of the Lafayette Hotel, and at the same time help support Council’s many service projects, according to Mrs. Norman Mann, chairman.
A buffet supper will be served from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., and dancing will be continuous until 2 a.m. Favors and hors d’ouevres will be “courtesy of the house.” Decorations designed by Mrs. Irving Coleman will adorn the ballroom and a door prize will be given.
Seating is limited, and early reservations are suggested. To make sure you’re set for a lavish evening of fun and entertainment call Mrs. Lemson at JU-2-7628 or Mrs. Babbitz at AC-3-8230. Make up a party … we’ll see you at the Confetti Ball!
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Jewish Labor Group Holds Dinner-Concert
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Page 1
Mrs. Ben Feinberg, President of the Jewish Labor Committee of San Diego, announces a dinner and concert in honor of Benjamin Tabachinsky, well-known leader and National Campaign Director of the Jewish Labor Committee, on Sunday evening, December 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the Beth Jacob Center.
Bernice Ashdown, well-known soprano, will render her interpretations of Yiddish Hebrew songs. Mr. and Mrs. Sandor Goldberger are coming from Los Angeles to take charge and prepare a delicious home-cooked turkey dinner.
A large response is anticipated for this affair and you are urged to make reservations immedialty by calling BE -3-5459 or CY 8-1504. Price per plate is $2.50.
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Fund Year Book Distribution Starts Next Week
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Pages 1, 7
The 1956 Year Book, distributed at the Annual Meeting, will be forwarded to all contributors to the United Jewish Fund this coming week, according to Morris W. Douglas, Fund President.
Containing the Annual Report of major committees, the Book is dedicated to “Marching Feet” to the homeless, the sick, the hungry; “marching feet” to freedom in Israel of thousands of Jews; “marching feet” for the homeless, the sick, the hungry in America, in San Diego, in Europe, in North Africa and in Israel.
Contributors’ names and the amounts given are also listed in the book, according to men, women an d Christian Division in alphabetical order. The listing indicate those who gave additional monies to the United Jewish Appeal Special Survival Fund.
An Honor Roll of workers in the 1956 Campaign is a new feature of San Diego’s annual Year Book, according to Douglas.
Major reports listed are: Campaign Allocations, State of Israel Bonds, Community Service Organizations, The Emigre program and the Free Loan Fund.
The Campaign Report shows that $215,000 was raised in 1956, including the United Jewish Appeal Special Survival Fund and a legacy of $10,500. Of this money, $110,500 went to the United Jewish Appeal alone, with an additional $7,000 to overseas, and Israel organizations; 24 1/2% to local needs; 6% for national agencies; 10% for administration on a year ’round basis of the Federation and the Fund; and 4 1/2% for campaign expenses.
Throughout the book, one reads the story of the activities of the United Jewish Fund in 1956. Local agencies, as well as overseas needs, are stressed with pages given to the Jewish Social Service Agency, the Jewish Community Center, the Community Relations Council, Emigre Program, and the San Diego Hebrew Home for the Aged.
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Top Israeli Official To Speak in San Diego December 19th
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Pages 1, 7
Dr. Ranaan Weitz, Director of the Agricultural Settlement Department of Israel, will speak in San Diego on Wednesday, December 19th, under the auspices of the United Jewish Fund.
Dr. Weitz will be welcomed to San Diego at a luncheon meeting of community leaders in the Riviera Room of the Grant Hotel at 12 noon, according to Morris W. Douglas, President of the United Jewish Fund, to tell the story of Israel’s agricultural program and the resettlement of immigrants pouring into Israel.
Dr. Weitz, key figure in Israel’s drive for agriculture, is one of Israel’s most colorful figures–a hardened fighter for freedom — a sensitive and thoughtful master planner, a field General in Israel’s struggle to win economic self- sufficiency.
He is the first Israeli civilian official to go into the Gaza strip after Israel’s defense forces took it over from the Egyptian occupying troops. His story of the vital facts behind the headlines, telling of what he found in the Gaza Strip after eight years of occupation; what the net results were for the Arab refugees there, and what startling evidence came to light of Egypt’s plans for a Pearl Harbor attack on the nearby Israeli farming communities, is most revealing.
He is responsible for the way immigrants are handled in Israel, and will tell for the first time how the North African immigration will be handled by his department.
Reservations for the luncheon honoring Dr. Weitz at the Grant Hotel, may be made by calling the office of the United Jewish Fund, BE-2-5172.
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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.