Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff
Marriage Told
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Page 2
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Smollar announce the marriage of their daughter, Judith Sandra, to David Edward Honig, son of Mrs. Mary Honig, of Phoenix, Arizona.
Judy was a student at S.D. State College, affiliated with Pi Alpha Lambda Sorority. David attended Ariona State College and was a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi.
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Shirley Samuels Wed
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Page 2
Mr. and Mrs. Murray Samuels announce the marriage of their daughter, Shirley, to Paul Hausner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hausner of Kansas City, Missouri. The ceremony was performed in Las Vegas by Rabbi Arthur Lebowitz.
The bride attended San Diego State College and is affiliated with Pi Alpha Lambda. The groom is a graduate of the Missouri School of Mines and is a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi.
After their honeymoon in Las Vegas, the young couple will reside at 3435 Waco St. in this city.
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Betrothal Announced
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Page 2
Mrs. Sam Fischer announced the engagement of her daughter, Carol, to Albert Zahalsky, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nat Zahalsky, of San Diego, A wedding date has been set for sometime in May.
Carol attended the University of Southern California and is a member of Alpha Epsiolon Phi. Albert is a graduate of San Diego Stte College.
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Eddie Fisher Will Present Debutantes at Hadassah Presentation Ball
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Page 2
Adding to the flurry of excitement of the Hadassah Presentation Ball, January 26, 1957, Hotel del Coronado, and the fifteen beautiful debutantes, will be Eddie Fisher, famous radio, television and recording star. Eddie Fisher will present the debutantes at the Ball.
Mrs. Abraham Nasatir will introduce Eddie Fisher and invest the des.
After the presentation ceremony, Eddie Fisher will lend his charming self to a coke-corner. Don Howard will be on hand to join him.
Tickets are $2.50 pr person. They are available through Mrs. Harry J. Harkavy, AC-3-8353; Mrs. Nathan Bloom, AC-3-0842; Mrs. Jean Goldberg, AC-3-9825 and Mrs. Jerry A. Krasne, AT-4-0808.
The pre-deb corps is still open to serve as a court to the debutantes. Their mothers must be Hadassah members, and they are eligible to bow at the next Presentation Ball. Those girls interested are welcome to call Mtrs. Harkavy or Mrs. Ruth Freidman, JU-2-9556.
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Personals
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Page 2
Irvin Jack Sonnabaum, son of Rosalie Sonnabaum, was elected Worshipful Master of the Coronado Masonic Lodge. Installation will take place on Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Masonic Temple, 529 Orange Ave., Coronado. Friends are invited to attend.
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Anyone for Bridge? A new class is being formed to teach the latest rules of contract bridge, using the Goren system. An experienced instructor will guide the class members in actual playing. There will be no charge. The class will meet at the Ocean Beach Community Center. For further information phone or write Mrs. Evelyn Sahfran, 3705 Milan St., AC-3-0692.
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Jennie Drogin left on the 5th of December for Miami, Fla., where she will join friends for a winter vacation.
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Mrs. Muriel Feiler of Great Neck, N.Y., left San Diego yesterday, aftr three weeks with her daughter and son-in-law Natalie and Michael Podell. She will bring regards to Mr. and Mrs. Max Podell from their Sn Diego friends.
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Marine Lt. Mathew Charles Strauss, son of Mr. and Mrs. Burt Strauss, has been promoted to 1st Lt. at Cherry Point, N.C. where he is serving with the Marines as Personnel Officer. Matt will be discjharged in June and will begin the study of law at Hastings College in San Francisco.
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Mrs. Frances B. Tokman wishes to thank her many friends for their condolences during her recent bereavement.
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Herbert Solomon, who passed is bar examination, will be sworn in as a lawyer on December 19 in San Francisco.
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Hoover High School’s “Girl of the Month” for December is Debby Struass, 16-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Strauss. This honor is given to ten girls of the Senior Class each year for outstanding service to their school. Debby’s extra curricular activities includes the following: Member of the Safety Council;; Vice-Pres of the German Club; Picture Editor for the Senior Annual; a member of the Sr. Cabinet; Chairman for the Student Telephone Director (fund raising project) She was chosen Traditional Cardinal Bird (Red Bird) which is the mascot for the gfootball games and led the Homecoming Parade for Hoover High.
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Bill Solof recuperating from his long illness, wishes to thank all his friends for the kindness and the messages of good wishes.
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Good Neighbor — Etta Bonnoff, known as the mother of the Palm Springs Jewish Community, gave President Maxwell Kaufman some citrus fruit and a donation for the Hebrew Home for the Aged when he visited her recently. She is a longtime friend of Lillian Bland, who invited her to the last luncheon meeting at the Home.
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The community welcomes Dr. Harold Robbins, his wife, Mildred, and sons Stephen, David and Darrel, formerly of New York City. Dr. Robbins is a brother of Mrs. Bob (Betty) Black. He is a member of the California Osteopathic Association, and a specialist on diet.
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Cradle
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Page 2
Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Kobernick had an additional reason for giving thanks on November 22, whenb their third child, Todd Eric, arrived. He weighed 9 lbs, 1 1/2 oz. Se nior members of the nursery are Marc Evan, 4 1/2 years old and Cynthia Ellen, 3 years of age.
Maternal grandparents are Mrs. Lillian Steinberg of San Diego, and Philip Liff of San Francisco. Paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Hy Kobernick of San Diego.
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Press Notes
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Page 3
By Julia Kaufman
” ..for what is the present, after all, but a growth out of the past?” — Walt Whitman
A casual remark made to me by Federal Judge Jacob Weinberger on the evening of the JWB-USO awards, led to a visit to the inner sanctum of the Judge’s chambers and a review of the events of yesteryear. I skimmed through folders containing newspaper clippings, old programs and letters–all commemorating some historic milestone of the past. The Judge, who has always been active in the civic life of the communty, filled in the gaps with personal recollections.
In 1917, when the first San Diego branch of the Jewish Welfare Board was formed, it was known as the Jewish Board for Welfare Work in the U.S. Army and Navy. Some of my readers will remember the dedicatin exercises held t Camp Kearny, on January 12, 1919, for the opening of the Jewish Welfare Board Building or “Hut” as it was called. Unchanged through the years is the need of uprooted men in the armed forces–escape from the impersonal atmosphere of the barracks to the warmth of home hospitality. At the end of the war, the “Hut” was moved to 2nd and Beech, next to the original Temple Beth Israel, where it became the first Jewish Community Center, and J.W. B. headquarters. (The Temple and the “Hut” are now occupied by the Spiritualist Church but if you look closely you can still see the Star of David peeping through the paint.)
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Did you know that at one time there were more soldiers than sailors in San Diego? It wasn’t until the city gave land to the government that Navy installations were established early in 1920. There are approximately 120,000 Navy and Marine personnel in the County today and it is now a rarity to see a soldier in these parts.
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What made San Diego grow? — San Diego has a population of 900,000 in the County and 490,000 in the City. For the sake of comparison,, I’d like to point out that our population is greater than the County of San Francisco and the City of Oakland.
There is no doubt that climate has been an important factor in our city’s growth. However a growing city like a growing child needs nurturing. It took leadership with vision to protect the natural beauty which attracts so many tourists to this city. City fathers had to plan and then “sell” to a lethargic public the fact that dams, highways, improved ports, new schools and expositions were essential to stimulate and keep pace with the growing city. The names of these men are unknown to san Diegans today except for the few who are fortunate enough to be still active in civic affairs or where the family name is being perpetuated by their children.
Judge Weinberger recalled the erection of the first large office building –the First National Bank Bldg. at 5th and Broadway. He was the fourth tenant and kept his law offices there for thirty years. During this time he witnessed many firsts throughout San Diego — the first large hotel — the U.S. Grant Hotel… the first High School — “Russ” now San Diego High … the first College, etc., etc. He served for twenty-one years on the School Board and was one of a committee of men who picked the site for San Diego State College. He watched farms and fruit orchards give way to stores and industries, gradually changing the character of the city from rural to urban.
We discussed the series of circumstances which caused the increase in San Diego’s population. The Expositions of 1915 and 1935 plus the first national advertising campaign launched by the S.D. California Club in 1921 attracted the tourists. World Wars I and II and the Korean war, brought the servicemen. Because of the climate and picturesque setting of the city, thousands of tourists and servicemen who came for a visit returned to stay. When Major Reuben Fleet moved Convair from Buffalo to San Diego n 1935, he brought with him and created a demand for skilled technicians. This was only the beginning. … Ryan, Solar, Rohr followed–attracting thousands of young men and their families to San Diego from all parts of the United States. The housing shortage created a building boom. Men with capital, who preferred swimming pools to snow shovels, bought up land and built houses, retail stores, super markets and even super-duper markets.
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The Navy Personnel who chose this as a “Port of Retirement” in the good old days, learned to their regret, that while they were ready to retire the young city of san Diego was starting to grow. We hope that they have found quiet nook far away from the colossal housing developments now covering the terrain.
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I just realized that if Father Alonso Horton hadn’t recognized San Diego as a “heaven on earth,” when he set foot here in April 1857, I wouldn’t have a column for this issue. I’m making a note to celebrate in April 1957 the 100th anniversary of his arrival.
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Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow
The following is a newspaper clipping 40-years old — which I found among the Judge’s papers:
‘Arrange Rally for Jewish Relief’
Arrangements for the rally meeting to be held in the interests of the $15,000 drive for the American Jewish relief committee at the First Baptist Church (White Temple) Tenth and E Streets are almost complete.
Great interest centers in this meeting of which George W. Marston is chairman, as all creeds may come together to learn of this humanitarian movement which is seeking to secure $15,000 for 1918, that it may relieve the sufferings of 3, 500,000 Jews in the war zones. It is more pertinent than ever before that this aid shall come to these people who have suffered beyond expression. In yesterday’s communications, it was learned the German government has forbidden Jewish laborers to enter Germany anywhere int he East.
Those in charge of the meeting at the White Temple tomorrow are: Jos. Weinblatt, chairman of the rally committee; J. Rogers, Hyman Wolf, Alfred Rosenfeld, Isaac Davidson and Mrs. Charles Lowenstein. The following young women will act as ushers. The Misses Jessie Moss, Dora Sachs, Minnie and Dollie Rubin, Estelle Rubin, Minnie and Rebecca Berman, Ruby Jacobs, Ruth Weinberger, Pearl Levy, Lillian Fox, Rose Schneider, Emmeline Lowenstein, Miriam Kuhn, Ruth Price, Fanny Smith and Salome Weinstock.
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Interlocking Boards (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Page 3
One of the problems facing an expanding Jewish Community is how to make use of potential leadership among the newcomers and the young men and women who reach for responsibility upon maturity. We are sure everyone is aware that there are many newcomers in our midst. Attend religious services or any organizational meeting and you will meet new people every time.
How to utilize these people to help plan, support and shape our growing community is worth study and deliberation. Such a study should be undertaken by the Federation or a committee of the United Jewish Fund, and would be of value to every segment of our community.
Another concern has been our tendency to “overuse” people who are active workers. Once a man or a woman serves on the board of an organization he is likely to be sought after by other groups. This in itself is not bad but we question the wisdom of developing what might be termed interlocking boards.
For example, if someone is a board member for the United Jewish Fun, is it wise for him to sit on the board of an agency that receives financing from it? Can he be objective enough in making decisions regarding the agency’s budget, staff or program?
Active workers have been found on as many as three or four boards and sometimes serve as officers of these organizations. Many of us belong to five and six organizations and only time and the days of the week limit the number.
The above situation leaves little or no room for new people to assume their responsibilities and rightful place in the community. It is all too easy to use the tried and trusted people who have proved that they can do a competent job but this does not develop the potential new leadership that must be given an opportunity to serve.
A survey of the boards of all our Community Agencies would at least point us in the right direction. Further study would enable us to make use of the skills and talents of people of whom we may not even be aware. An intelligent approach to the problem might reveal a veritable gold mine of leadership.
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Do We Really Mean Peace For All? (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 14, 1956, Page 3
The President of the United States has warned Russia and Syria that any threat to the territorial integrity of Iraq, Iran, Turkey or Pakistan, members of the Baghdad Pact, “would be viewed by the United States with the utmost gravity.” We wonder why Israel was not included in this stern stand against the Russian-Nasser alliance? Is an attack on Israel less a threat to peace than an attack on Iraq?
Three times in recent weeks Russia has denounced Israel and ominously warned that her very existence is endangered. Bulgaria has sent a direct communication to Ben Gurion threatening the “continued existence of Israel as a State.” Arab countries, which has adopted the Russian-Nazi barbarism of deportation, expropriation and human hostage, and who for eight years have shouted for Israel’s extermination, are now sated with Russian arms.
One billion dollars of Russian arms in Egypt and Syria certainly do not threaten the arms balance of the Baghdad countries who are protected by the military might of the U.S. and NATO–but what about Israel, protected by no one, left in isolation?
The Baghdad countries were not left to the protection of the U.N. for the obvious reason that the U.N. could not protect them. Nor can the safety of Israel be left to the U.N.
If Russia’s Arab stooges should attack Israel can anyone predict that it will be a little “limited” war? Or will it be the beginning of World War III. If the United States means peace then the time to prevent war is now, by telling the world that we would view an attack on Israel “with the utmost gravity” — the same determined stand we took to protect the Baghdad Pact nations.
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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.