As the Psychologist Sees You
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 22, 1957, Page 5
By Irving R. Stone, Psychological Consultant
Honesty
The birthday of a famous man is being celebrated on the day this issue reaches your home or office. George Washington is known for many things–first commander-in-chief of our armed forces, first president, and first to make cherry trees useful for exercise as well as for their fruit. Of course, the last factor made him famous for the myth regarding honesty and this is the basis for this current column.
Honesty is an attribute which we try to inculcate in all children– more often by statement than by example. Someone is on the phone, wanting to speak with us, and we tell someone to say that we are not home. the child wonders whether honesty is something that can be turned on or off at our discretion.
Too often we find that people are honest in one situation and dishonest in another. Studies have shown that children will show a high degree of honesty in most instances, but will cheat when the problem seems insurmountable. Thus, the situation will dictate the extent of honesty. Other studies have been made to determine whether there is any racial difference in terms of honesty. While the results showed these racial differences to be insignificant, there were some variations among sub-groups of the same “race” in different socio-economic classes. For example, Jewish children in a poor neighborhood cheated more frequently than the average, but those in a good neighborhood less frequently. Such studies seem to indicate that honesty may be a function of intelligence and background and not ethnic origin.
It is difficult to give children a clear picture of honesty with all the necessary examples to develop the point. They can come back with many other examples to show that honesty is not always “the best policy.” They might show us the practices of political candidates, of politicians in office, of rulers of nations who make pacts which they do not intend to keep, of people preparing income tax reports, of industrial organizations preparing reports to stockholders. True, we can point out the weaknesses of these acts but then try to convince the motorcycle cop that we were going much slower than they said as they gave us a ticket.
Yes, honesty is a troublesome problem, one which has a great deal of merit but is forgotten when the situation demands. Poor children — who and what should they believe?
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Jewish Center News
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 22, 1957, Page 5
Purim Mardi Gras–The Gaylarks will hold a Purim Mardia Gras at Beth Jacob Synagogue on March 17 from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Included in the evening’s festivities will be food, drinks, prizes, games, entertainment, dancing and booths. There will be no admission charge. The Purim Mardi Gras is open to everyone in the community, for single folks as well as couples. Proceeds of the evening will go for future Center activities.
Mental Health, According to Your Age — The Friendly Social Club of the Jewish Community Center will conduct a discussion on “Mental Health according to your age,” with Dr. Maurice Zemlick as discussion leader. This program will be held on Sunday, March 10th at 1:30 p.m. in the Jewish Community Center. Dr. Zemlick is a clinical psychologist who deals with mental health problems in our community.
Mrs. Evelyn Herrmann Joins Staff — A recent addition to the staff of the Jewish Community Center is Mrs. Evelyn Hermann. Her responsibilities include supervision of the Teenage Thursday night program, the development of a monthly city-wide family fun da, and the organization of Friendship Groups in the children’s division.
Mrs. Hermann has had wide experience and training through the Girl Scouts organization, having held many responsible positions in San Diego County.
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Half Finished
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 22, 1957, Page 5
An education simply supplies the pattern — the rest is up to the individual.
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New Books
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 22, 1957, Page 6
My Jewish Roots by Solomon Simon, the Jewish Publication Society of America; 274 pp, $3.50.
Review by Ida Nasatir
To read Solomon Simon’s “My Jewish Roots” is to re-discover one’s Jewish heritage. Translated from ist original Yiddish by Solomo Katz, told in the third person by “Shimon” it is quite clearly a personal record of the author himself.
Until he was six, Shimon could not walk because he suffered from rickets, a disease we now know is due to a vitamin deficiency. But who in that European poverty-stricken little village near the Minsk swamps some fifty years ago, ever heard about “vitamins?” Life was so grim in the “stetle” it was a constant battle for the people to provide just bread for the many mouths in the family.
The son of a humble shoemaker and an ambitious, hard-working mother of seven other children, Shimon, a gifted boy, is the scholar of the family.
Surrounded by the warmth of Jewish traditions and customs, years later, as a doctor in America, Shimon remembers the unmatched beauty of the Sabbaths. The leisurely description of how his mother prepared for the great event of the Sabbath is told with touching nostalgia.
To this day when Dr. Simon finds it hard to meet the claims of various appeals and causes, he recalls the Jewish love for charity; he remembers his parents who gave away one-fifth of their paltry earnings to those more needy; and so it became easier for him to write his own checks.
The author lets one see that for all its poverty and severity, the Jews of that day led a joyful life, spiritually rich and highly productive because it was a life which drew its sustenance from the heritage of Jewish literature and experience. It was exactly towns like the ones described in this book that held the secret of Jewish survival.
True indeed it is that the author Dr. Simon and his translator Mr. Katz have provided a vibrant and remarkable book.
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New Group Meets
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 22, 1957, Page 6
The first congregational meeting of Temple Beth El will be held in the Clairemont Community Center on February 27th at 8:00 p.m.
Neighbors and friends are invited to attend to help organize the projected congregation of Temple Beth El
For further information, please contact Mrs. Eleanor Leichter, BR-3-7517. Refreshments will be served.
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J.W.V. Aux. Elect New Officers
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 22, 1957, Page 6
The Jewish War Veterans Ladies Auxiliary No. 185 recently held elections of their officers for the ensuing year. The following are the new officers: President Sophie Silberman; Sr. Vice-Pres, Christine Rose; Jr. Vice-Pres; Dorothy Snyder; Treasurer, Marian Mintz; Chaplain Henrietta Cohen; Patriotic Insructress Esther Raymore; Conductress, Bea Apelman; Guard, Pauline Robel; Historian, Tess Furst; Trustees, Goldie Goldstein, Fan Krone, Bessie Dean, Faye Altshuler. Secretaries appointed were: Recording Secretary, Nixie Kern, Corresponding Secretary, Jeanette Abrams. A dinner-dance and installation will be held the end of March at the Officers Club, 32nd & Main.
An afternoon tea to honor the new members who joined the Auxiliary at a recent membership party is being planned for the near future.
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Jose Greco Here March 21
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 22, 1957, Page 6
Tickets are now on sale at the Palmer box office in Thearle’s music store for the vivid new productionof the sensational Spanish dancer, Jose Greco, and his exhilarating Spanish dance company on Thursday night, March 21, at 8:30 on Impresario Mary Bran’s concert series.
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Hebrew Home for the Aged Aux
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 22, 1957, Page 6
The next regular meeting of the Hebrew Home for the Aged auxiliary will be held on Wednesday, February 27 at 12 o’clock. A delicious luncheon is being planned by chairmen Cele Feldman and Sue Gruenberg. A delightful and entertaining program will be presented by Mrs. May Dean and Mrs. Ruth Berman. Transportation will be available to those coming by bus at 54th at El Canon and University Sts.
The regular board meeting will take place on Wednesday morning at 10:30 at the Home.
Please make reservation for the luncheon by calling the Home JU 2-5166, Mrs. Frances Tokman, AT-2-5168, or Mrs. Sadie Rosenbloom, JU 2-7013.
Tickets are now on sale for the raffle, and may be obtained from Mrs. Betty Feller, chairman of the project. A beautiful hand-made quilt valued at about $125 and a lovely gold wrist watch are to be given as prizes.
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(Thrifty Person)
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 22, 1957, Page 6
The thrifty person saves his pennies and makes them count a hundred before he spends a dollar.
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Hadassah
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 22, 1957, Page 6
Hadassah’s Jewish Nat’l Fund meeting will be held at noon on Wednesday, March 20th in the Lafayette Hotel. Mrs. Joseph Feldman, Blue Boxes Chairman, is co-chairing this meeting with Mrs. Edward Binder, Trees Chairman.
April 7th has been declared World Child Day. The first committee meeting was held on Thursday, February 21st at Mrs. William Colt’s home. Mrs. Ben Snyder, chairman, and Mrs. Jules Levine, co-0chairman, announced that those interested in participating in this vital universal project can contact Mrs. Snyder at BE-4-5735 after 5:30 p.m.
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Yo-Ma-Co News
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 22, 1957, Page 6
With Al Solomon acting as master of ceremonies, Yo-Ma-Co held its Installation on February 10 at Lafayette Hotel. Installed as president was Vic Silberstein.
Yo-Ma-Co also enjoyed a Valentine-night party at Landis Street Recreation Center, which was arranged by Evelyn Hermann, entertainment chairman, and hosted by Sue Lowitz, Tudo Solomon, and Alice Solomon.
Important measures will be discussed at the next meeting, February 27, at Landis Street Center, and all members are encouraged to attend.
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(Forgive and Forget)
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 22, 1957, Page 6
The right thing to do is to forgive and forget, but most people can’t do two things at once.
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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.