Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, October 18, 1957, Part 1

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Community Center Fund Drive for $150,000 Set For December-January
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Pages 1, 3

Seymour Rabin
Seymour Rabin

An all-out campaign for a minimum of $150,000 for the Jewish Community Center Building has been authorized by the San Diego Community Chest for the end of December, according to William B. Schwartz, Center President.

Schwartz has named Seymour Rabin to head the drive which will be run during January, 1958, so that it does not interfere with the United Jewish Fund effort for the same year.

An “Emergency Cash Completion Campaign,” the drive for $150,000 minimum in cash will provide for payment of the olympic size swimming pool, the children’s wading pool, architects’ and contractors’ fees, and furnishings and equipment.

Rabin, who is now in the process of forming the campaign committee and preparing campaign plans and material, is a member of an old San Diego family that settled in San Diego in 1905.  Tjhe family has participated and been leaders in philanthropic and communal efforts of the community as a whole as well as in the Jewish community.

In his own right, Mr. Rabin has assumed leadership in the Jewish community through his active participation over many years. Though a young man, he is Secretary of the United Jewish Fund, Treasurer of the Jewish Community Center, President of the San Diego Retail Grocers’ Association, and a member of Temple Beth Israel.  He has been concerned with the activities of the Jewish Community Center since its formation in its present state.

In accepting the chairmanship, Mr. Rabin declared, “Through the years the Jewish Community Center has served the community well by its many activities including its famous Day Camp.  It has piloted programs  with our aging citizens as well as a Cooperative Nursery for our youngsters. It has developed teen-age programs and has made welcome the young single men and women who come to our community because of employment in our many industries.”

“It has done all this,” Rabin continued, “in antiquated and inadequate facilities.  Only those who have had the privilege of living in a community with a modern, fully-equipped Center can appreciate how far-reaching its services can be.

“It is my belief,” Mr. Rabin concluded, “that our entire community will find a better and more healthful life because of the Center.  It will be an important and long overdue contribution to the entire San Diego community.”

Mr. Rabin also said that as compared with cities of similar size throughout the United States we have set a modest goal for our effort.  The entire cost of this first phase of the Jewish Community Center Building, which will house all of the Jewish agencies of our community,  will be approximately $600,000.  It is anticipated that the building will be completed in early March and be occupied by April 1.

The Jewish Community Center receives its operating support from the Community Chest of San Diego which receives its money from the United Fund Campaign. It is a REd Feather Agency and a member of the San Diego Federation of Jewish Agencies.

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San Diegans to Participate in Jewish Welfare Conference in Los Angeles
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Pages 1, 7

A caravan of San Diegans led by William B. Schwartz, President of the Jewish Community Center, will leave on Friday, November 1 to attend the Western States National Jewish Welfare Board Regional Conference at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

Participating in the two days of sessions will be several of San Diego’s Center leaders, including Schwartz, Sidney Rose, Maury Novak, Morris Douglas, Mannie Adler, Albert Hutler, Irving Mortin and Murray Schneier.

Chaplain Elihu Rickel, San Diego’s 11th Naval District Jewish Chaplain, will be the principal speaker at an Armed Services Division luncheon on Sunday, November 3 and will discuss “The USO program and its effect on morale of military personnel.”

“Anxiety in the Atomic Age” will be the principal address to be made by the Honorable Chet Holifield, Congressman 19th California District, at the Conference banquet to be held on Saturday, November 2.

Sanford Solender, Director Jewish Community Center Divisions of theJ.W.B.., will also speak on the subject of “The JWB Story.”

San Diegans who will be featured in the program during the workshop sessions on Sunday, Nov. 3, will be Mr. Schwartz, who is chairman of the session on “Jewish Objectives at the Center and How to Evaluate Them.”  The professional resource person for the session will be Mr. Hutler, Executive Director of the San Diego Center.  Irving Mortin, Assistant Director of the local Center, will act as recorder for several sessions.

Other subjects for discussion and workshop are “How Adult Are Our Adult Programs?”; “The Job of the Board Member.”

In the Armed Services Division Workshops subjects to be discussed are “Serving the New Young Army,” and “Serving the Veteran.”

All sessions will be held at the Ambassador Hotel and will be concluded by 4:00 p.m., Sunday, November 3.

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Fund Needs $8,000 To Reach Goal; $287,000 To Date
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Page 1

The United Jewish Fund has achieved 90% of its goal in the 1957 campaign for funds to meet overseas, Israel, national and local needs, Victor Schulman and Dr. Walter Ornstein, general campaign co-chairmen announced this week in reviewing the record of the Fund for 1957.

With $8,000 more needed to reach the goal of $295,000, which was set as the objective of the campaign, the chairmen are intensifying efforts to secure gifts from those who have not as yet responded.

The Holiday Appeal, which was directed by the co-chairmen with Abe Sklar and Isaac Domnitz assisting, secured over $4,000 for the Fund.

Sixty-five percent of the money raised in the 1957 campaign has already been committed to overseas and Israel agencies including the United Jewish Appeal, the American Israel Cultural Foundation, Histadrut, United Hias Service, Hebrew University and Technion Institute.

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United Jewish Appeal Plans Air Expedition To “UJA Anniversary Conference” June 23-26
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Pages 1, 3

The largest group of American leaders ever to meet in the State of Israel will gather in Jerusalem next Spring when the United Jewish Appeal expects more than 1,000 delegates from communities throughout the United States at a UJA Anniversary Conference to be held June 24 to 26.  Plans for this spectacular event were made public today by Morris W. Berinstein, President of the UJA.

The overseas gathering, to be held during the celebration of Israel’s 10th anniversary, will give Jeish communal leaders from every part of the United States the “opportunity to see and assess for themselves the great humanitarian achievements they helped bring into being,” Mr. Berinstein said.

Milton Y. Roberts, President of the local fund, expressed hope that a tour party could be organized in San Diego.  The United Jewish Fund has already gone on record as favoring the sponsoring of a community caravan to Israel.  Roberts state d that the UJA conference trip would take its place.

The conference will be a high spot in UJA’s observance of its own anniversasry, marking its 20th consecutive campaign year. During the past two decades the organization has aided more than 2,600,000 persons in need and saved more than 1, 300,000 lives.

“We expect at least a thousand communal leaders and UJA supporters from all parts of the country who will be in Jerusalem at that time, to take part in this historic occasion, ” Mr. Berinstein said.

To bring the conference within the reach of the maximum number of people the UJA has arranged for low cost all-expense transportation including trips  for five, ten and fifteen day duration, at prices of less than $800, $900 and $1,000 per person. The ten and fifteen day trips offer extended sight-seeing tours of Israel in addition to three days in Jerusalem in attendance at the Conference.

The UJA President pointed out that 1958 will be a “milestone of deepest significance in Jewish life, when the State of Israel begins its second decade as a free and democratic land.  By the time of Israel’s 10th anniversary, which occurs in April, Israel’s people, true to their self-imposed mission, will have given haven since independence to nearly a million refugee men, women and children. The financial sinews which made that vast lifesaving work possible came in great part from UJA supporters.”

Mr. Berinstein explained the conference plans are being made public now to allow for prosepctive attendees to make adequate travel arrangements sufficiently in advance.

Israel meanwhile is reported bustling with plans to accommodate the heavy influx of American delegates anticipated for the June meeting.  Dr. Dov Joseph, Treasurer of the Jewish Agency, the philanthropic body carrying out immigrant resettlement work in Israel, financed mainly by the UJA, reported this week that a special Committee has been set up to coordinate conference arrangements in Israel.

Rabbi Herbert A. Friedman, UJA Executive Vice Chairman, is directing the American phase of arrangements.  Albert A. Hutler, Executive Director of the United Jewish Fund, will handle all arrangements in San Diego.

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Dr. A.P. Nasatir Receives State Appointment
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Page 1

Governor Goodwin J. Knight appointed Dr. A.P. Nasatir to the California State Landmarks Commission, effective October 10.,

Dr. Nasatir is also a member of the County Historical Landmarks Commission; the Historical Committee of the Native Sons and Director of the San Diego Historical Society.

Over the weekend of October 25 he will attend the Pacific Coast Council of Latin American Studies at the University of California in Berkeley.  HJe will be chairman of the Panel Sesison on “Labor in Latin America.”

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Hebrew Home Benefits From Golf Tournament
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Page 1

The San Diego Hebrew Home for the Aged and two other community-wide benefit organizations will share equally all net proceeds of the $20,000 1957 San Diego PGA Open Golf Tournament October 29 through November 3 at Mission Valley Country Club.

Other beneficiaries are the University of SAn Diego Men’s College and the San Diego County Junior Golf Association.  Each receives a minimum guarantee of $1,000 in advance of the tournament, according to the Sponsors’ Committee-T.G. Lanphier Jr., of Convair;  Businessmen Murray D. Goodrich, Yale Kahn and Harry Handlery and Golf Professional Fred Sherman.

All banks in San Diego County, together with golf shops, sporting goods stores and several industrial plants, are selling bargain rate advance tickets for the big golf show.  One thousand leading citizens of San Diego City and County have been invited by the sponsors to be patrons, with clubhouse privileges, reserved area parking and other benefits.

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Fund-Federation Merger Approved in Principle
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Page 1

The Board of Directors of the San Diego Federations of Jewish Agencies and the United Jewish Fund have approved in principle the merging of both community agencies into a single unified community organization, according to Milton Y. Roberts, Fund President, and Dr. A.P. Nasatir, President of the Federation.

A Fund-Federation Relations Joint Committee has been appointed by both presidents to work out a basis for this merger.

A Structure Sub-Committee, under the chairmanship of Eli H. Levenson, past president of the Fund and National Vice President of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, has been working over the past two months to set up a draft of the proposed structure to be submitted to the committee as a whole for final submission to the boards of the Federation and the Fund, and the present constituent agencies of the Federation.

Mr. Levenson serves as Joint Chairman of the committee which consists of representatives of all agencies concerned. They are: Milton Y. Roberts, Dr. A.P. Nasatir, Dr. Walter Ornstein, William B. Schwartz, William Colt, John Ruskin, Mrs. Gabriel Berg, Dr. Gerald Kobernick, Carl M. Esenoff, Dr. Oscar Kaplan, Morris W. Douglas, Milton Fredman, Mark Esterson, Maxwell Kaufman, Irving Mortin and Mrs. Henrietta Rubenstein.

Roberts and Nasatir expressed gratification with the progress to date, and stated taht this action will mark the beginning of a more unified Jewish communty, and the type of central community organization that is looking toward the future when the Jewish population of San Diego is more than doubled.

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Murray Goodrich, left, and Richard Lustig
Murray Goodrich, left, and Richard Lustig

Murray Goodrich and Richard Lustig Head 1957 Israel Bond Campaign Here
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Pages 1, 7

Murray D. Goodrich has assumed the role of Honorary Chairman and Richard F. Lustig will serve as General Chairman of the 1957 State of Israel Bond Campaign in San Diego, it was announced today.

Organizations and individuals throughout the area are being approached for cooperative action during the drive, and full details of the committees and campaign program will be released soon.

Mr. Goodrich, in making the announcement of the 1957 Campaign and the role that Mr. Lustig will play in it, said, “In past years San Diego has done a fine job toward providing Israel with the investment capital it needs to develop itself into a strong and self-sufficient democracy.  This year we shall be called upon to extend ourselves further than we have ever gone before.”

“The increased burden of caring for newly arrived immigrants has placed Israel in a critical situation. We helped thousands of immigrants to get to Israel through our United Jewish Fund gift dollars. We exceeded ourselves along these lines. Shall we simply forget about them once they reach Israel? Or, do we have enough faith in them to lend them the money they need so desperately to establish themselves as productive citizens in the Israeli economy?”

Mr. Lustig, who is President of Temple Beth Israel, along with his newly acquired duties as General Chairman of the Bond Campaign, said, “We have recently spent some time in Synagogues and Temples renewing our Jewish identity and gaining spiritual strength.  But there can be no real meaning to our prayers if we close our eyes to the needs of Israel.  It is difficult, in fact impossible to consider the position of the San Diego Jewish Community without a vital, growing Israel from which to draw moral courage. Israel Bonds give Israel the economic strength from which we derive moral courage.

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Center Annual Meeting Set for December 8
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Pages 1, 8

The annual meeting of the Jewish Community Center will be held on Sunday, December 8, at 7 p.m. in the Terrace Room of the Lafayette Hotel, according to an announcement made by the Annual Meeting Committee.

Maurice W. Douglas, a Vice President of the Jewish Community Center and Past President of the United Jewish Fund, was also announced as Chairman of the Annual Meeting.  Committee members are: Maxwell Kaufman, Mrs. Norman Gelman and Sidney Rose.

“The 1957 Annual Meeting will be  most important as a prelude to the opening of the Jewish Community Center Building on April 1,” Douglas said. “The meeting will give everyone an opportunity to get answers to their questions relating to the operation of the Jewish Community Center.”

The program will relate itself to the new building and the activities that are to be carried out within the facilities and the area of the Jewish Community Center. Other matters of importance that will be placed on the agenda will be the election of a Board of Directors to serve as the first Board in the new building.

As plans are formulated further announcements of the Annual Meeting will be made.

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Golden Wedding Planned By Max Wohls
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Page 2

A Golden Wedding Anniversary Celebration in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Max Wohl will be held in the Gourmet Room of Town and Country on Wednesday, October 23, at 7:00 p.m.

Attending the celebration will be their seven children and their respective families: Messrs and Mmes Warren Oglesby, Elmer Wohl, Robet Wohl of San Diego; Alexander Philipps, Jack Wohl, George Morris of Chicago, Ill,; Joseph Wohl, of Stamford, Conn.

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Personals
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Page 2

Mrs. Martha Hollander extends an invitation to her friends and members of theWomen’s Auxiliary of the Hebrew Home for the Aged to attend a Birthday Party in honor of her aunt, Lena Gunsburger, to be held at 3 o’clock on Saturday, October 26, at the Home.

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If you have missed Mickey Goodman in town, it is because he is now attending the University of California, in Berkeley.  Mickey, a sophomore, is a member of the Kappa Nu Fraternity.

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Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mandell celebrated their 45th honeymoon at Murrieta Hot Springs.
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Three luncheon meetings in three days marked the return of Minnie Harris to San Diego after an extended visit in the East.
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San Diego is represented in the Delta Zeta Chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority at U. of C. in Berkeley, by Andrea Gail Leeds, daughter of MR. and Mrs.Fred Leeds; Henrietta Faquet, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Faquet, and Natalie Veitzer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Veitzer.
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Jennie Drogin left for her yearly visit to Miami, where she will rejoin her friends and spend the winter season.

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Bess Borushek, hard working secretary of the J.C.C., is off on a well earned vacation to Chicago for a few weeks and hopes to spend most of her time seeing the town and visiting relatives and friends.
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A beautifully appointed Baby Shower Bruncheon was given in honor of Mrs. Hal Hoffer (Barbara Solomon) and was hosted by Mrs. Marvin Bobrof and Barbara’s aunts, Mrs. Al Solomon and Mrs. Frank Linneen, at the Lafayette Hotel, Saturday.  Forty-five guests participated in the  festivities.  Out-of-town guests were Mrs. Ben Ariel, MRs. Max Goodman, MRs. Jack Goodman, Mrs. Don Josephson, and Charlene Goodman.

Another Baby Shower honoring Barbara will be held Saturday, Oct. 19th, at Rose Hedge Manor. Hostesses are Mrs. Lou Packer, Mrs. Max Gendelman, Mrs. Larry Solomon, Mrs. Bernard Lwis and Isabelle Bank.  Twenty-five guests have been invited to attend.
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Ida Nasatir’s nephew and niece, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hirsch, and their eighteen month old son, Morris, came down from San Francisco to spend a couple of weeks with the Nasatirs.

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Jolly Sixteen Club
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Page 2

The next meeting of the Jolly Sixteen Club will be held on October 22, at the home of Mrs. Harold Elden.

Final plans will be made for the Candlelight Dinner-Dance to be held on November 9 in the Don Room of the El Cortez Hotel. Dinner will be served at eight o’clock. Early reservations are recommended because of limited capacity.

Co-chairmen Sylvia Bard and Sally Ratner and their committee promise to excel even the past successful dinner-dances of the Club.  The popular Vic Vincent and his orchestra will supply the music for the evening of dancing.

If you wish to join in an evening famed for its hospitality and congeniality, telephone any of the members or table chairman Bernice Esenoff , AT-4-7527.

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Brandeis Group Hold Luncheon Nov. 25th
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Page 2

A board meeting of the Women’s Committee of Brandeis University was held Oct. 14th, at the home of the president, Mrs. William Gerelick.  Reports were given on membership, finances and plans formulated for the club’s semi-annual luncheon to be held in November.

The committee now has over 175 members and 35 life memberships, the latter at $100 each.  Mrs. Benjamin Rottman new book chairman, will be assisted by Mrs. Max Rabinowitz, Mrs. Max Nelson and Mrs. Burt Epsten. They ask that anyone wishing to remember special occasions call them and add to the book fund for Brandeis Library.

Date for the luncheon has been set for Nov. 25th, at Hotel del Coronado.  Coming out from the University will be MR. Emmanual Gilbert, public relations director, who was selected by the U.S. Jr. Chamber of Commerce as one of the outstanding ten young men of our nation. MR. Gilbert will be the principal speaker of the day, following a musical program.  Mrs. Gerelick will also give a report on her attendance at the Brandeis University Convention last June.

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Cradle
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Page 2

Cantor and Mrs. Joseph Cysner announce the birth of their third daughter, Sandra Arlene, on Sunday, October 6, at 11:11 a.m.  Sandra weighted 6 lbs, 13 ozs.  She joins her two sisters, Charlotte Susan and Pamela Rochelle.

Happy grandparents are Mrs. Chaja Cysner of San Diego and Mr. and Mrs. D.M. Nagler of London, England.

At the Sabbath morning services at Tifereth Israel Synagogue on Saturday, October 19, the baby will be named. Friends and members of the Congregation are cordially invited to a Kiddush following the service.

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Robert and Bobbie Plesser announce the arrival of their first child, Jeffrey Scott, on Sunday, October 6, at 8:31 p.m.

Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Glickman of San Diego; paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Harry Plesser of Kansas City, Mo.  Greatgrandmother is Molly Kliner.

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Bar Mitzvah
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Page 2

On October 25, at 8 p.m., Richard Alan Sugarman, son of Mr. and MRs. David Sugarman, will be called to the altar of Beth Israel Temple as a Bar Mitzvah.

Friends are cordially invited to attend the service and the reception which will follow.

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Goodrich to Head Health Foundation
Southwestern Jewish Press, October 18, 1957, Page 2

Citizens of San Diego County will be able to support programs of medical research and treatment with their single contribution through the United Fund, it was announced today by Murray Goodrich, president of the newly formed Health Foundation of San Diego County.

The new Health Foundation will seek funds through the United Fund for programs of medical research and treatment for heart disease, cancer, polio, muscular dystrophy and other dread diseases.

Goodrich said that the new Health Foundation will “make it possible for people to do their giving in only one campaign, and still support programs of medical research and treatment.”

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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.

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