Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff
In Concert March 6
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 4, 1956, Page 3
Schmuel Fisher who is called the Jewish Charlie Chaplin, will appear here in a concert along with Dora Kaliwona and pianist Pola Kadison, on Sunday, March 6, at the Beth Jacob Center. Artists are being sponsored by the Jewish Labor Committee of San Diego.
Mr. Fisher lived in Israel since 1930, was educated at the University of Arts and Letters, in Tel Aviv. He entertained the troops at the front during the war for liberation.
*
Yo-Ma-Co’s Install New Officers
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 4, 1956, Page 3
The Yomaco Club will have their semi-annual dinner dance installation of officers at Caspar’s Ranch in El Cajon City, Sunday, Feb 13th, 7 p.m. They have engaged Forest Gantz’s orchestra for the occasion. Ted Harrmann is the chairman for the installation and a terrific program is expected.
Incoming officers are President, Ray Lowitz; Vice Pres., Leon Solomon; Record. Sec’y, Esther Tempchin; Correspond. Sec’y. Ray Novak; Treaurer, Hy Kitaen; Sg. At Arms, Al Abelson; Membership Chairman, Evelyn Herman; Auditor, Byron Sharpe.
Newcomers who will be officially welcomed into the ranks of Yomaco are the Sid Roses, the Victor Silversteins, the Al Wittenbergs and the Stanford Brusts.
A cordial invitation is extended to old members and friends. For reservations call JU 2-0370 or JU 2-4204.
Many thanks to those of you contributing to our Eleanor Kitaen Memorial Fund. Any additional contributions may be made by calling Tully Kitaen, AT 1-4140, and will be gratefully accepted. Plans are in the making to perpetuate the name of Eleanor Kitaen within the confines of our own Jewish community.
*
City of Hope JRs. Slate “Fun Nite”
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 4, 1956, Page 3
“Ladies Nite” an evening of “Just For Fun” is being planned by the City of Hope Jr. Auxiliary on Tuesday, February 8th at 8 p.m. at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. This is for women only. Games! Prizes! And Surprises and delicious refreshments, including lox and bagel will be yours. No admission – no solicitation. Just an evening of fun and relaxation for members and friends. Anyone who would like to come or is in need of transportation please call Mrs. Morton Lieberman, CO 4-0972, or Mrs. Harold Reisman, HO 6-7236.
*
Ballet Russe Here Two Performances
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 4, 1956, Page 3
Third major ballet company to come to San Diego this year will be the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. The noted company will give two performances here, an evening show on Feb. 26, with a matinee scheduled for the 27th. Both engagements will be played in Russ Auditorium.
The company is topped by one of America’s prima ballerinas, Maria Tallchief, and Frederic Franklin, British-born star. Franklin returns to the company after a 2-year tour as Stanley Kowalski in the ballet version of the Tennessee Williams prize-winning play, “A Streetcar Named Desire.” New to the company and to America is the 22-year-old prima ballerina of the famous Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Irina Borowski.
The dance troupe’s local engagement is a Master Artist Series attraction. Tickets are available Palmer Box Office, 640 Broadway.
*
Plays at Russ
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 4, 1956, Page 3
Walter Gieseking, one of the world’s top ranking pianists, will give a concert recital in Russ Auditorium, Monday, Feb. 14 at 3:30 p.m.
This will be Gieseking’s first local appearance in many years.
Throughout the years since his American debut, his extraordinary gift has won him international fame all over the globe, and almost all of his engagements are sell-outs.
Gieseking’s local engagement is a Master Artist series attraction. Tickets are available, Palme Box Office, 640 Broadway.
*
Cottage of Israel
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 4, 1956, Page 3
At the last meeting of the Board of Directors, plans were outlined for the Israeli Independence Day Celebration which is already scheduled for May 1st on the lawns of the House of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park. Since there will probably be no other public celebration of this event, every effort will be made to provide an outstanding program at that time.
All hostessing and housekeeping of the Cottage has been taken over by a small group of women headed by Mrs. Rose Abrams. The small budget provided for this important Cottage activity is used by these ladies to support their favorite charitable interests.
To those persons who are not yet members of the Cottage of Israel, we would suggest a visit to the House of Pacifric Relations in Balboa Park any Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5. If a visit convinces them that this important public relations group is worth supporting, they can become members by sending $2.00 (per family) to Bess Borushek, 4902 67th St. or can phone HO 9-2643 for any further information.
*
“The Greatest Gift?” (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 4, 1956, Page 4
Last week we were invited to inspect the new Children’s Hospital on Kearny Mesa, Route 395, adjacent to the soon-to-be-opened Sharp Memorial Hospital. Our tour of the hospital was an eye-opener. We saw a beautifully designed institution for children with modern, up-to-date equipment to take care of every kind of disability. The children’s hospital, like the Sharp Hospital, was built entirely by volunteer funds.
Both hospitals are a necessity in our growing city. There are approximately only 1900 beds in general hospitals in the city and county. The Sharp Memorial plans an additional 350 bed hospital. Even with these added facilities, we will be short 1,000 beds, according to national standards.
San Diego Jewry has been active in doing their share toward raising funds for both the children’s institution and the Sharp Memorial Hospital. A group of men have pledged to give almost $50,000 to the Sharp Memorial Hospital for one of their surgeries in the name of the S.D. Jewish Community; others have donated and furnished rooms for the Children’s Hospital.
Hospitals are used by all people and it is no more than right that we shall bear our hare of the burden. Illness knows no color, race or creed. In other larger cities, Jews have built hospitals, clinics and other institutions so that the entire community could benefit.
We, therefore, cannot agree with the Rabbi, who while commending the group of men responsible for these generous gifts, saw fit to add—“However, let us clearly understand that the greatest gift, in fact, the most significant one lies in the field of Religion. The most meaningful contribution that the Jews can make to America are the Synagogues, just as the churches are the greatest contributions of the Christians…”
Our religion has always taught us to care for the aged, the sick, the infirm, and the needy. Fortunately, the synagogues will not suffer by the generosity of these men. However, if we must make a choice, in our humble opinion, it would be better for us to give up some of the well upholstered luxuries of the synagogue, in order to bring us close to the “Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man.”
*
Clear Tracks for U.J.F. (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 4, 1956, Page 4
The United Jewish Fund, on March 24, will open the twenty-second Combined Jewish Appeal for Jewish philanthropy. For almost a quarter of a century the Jewish community of San Diego raised funds for Jewish needs everywhere through this “all in one drive.”
Over the long period of annual fund raising, it is possible that the real meaning and function of the United Drive might have been taken for granted. The dramatic fact is that the United Jewish Fund is not merely another campaign but actually many campaigns launched into one.
This fact must in 1955 be re-emphasized so that it may be clearly understood by every89 member of our Jewish community. This is a supreme fund raising effort for the institutions overseas, in Israel, in the United States and in San Diego.
Were it not for this united effort there would be a multitude of campaigns which would quickly demoralize the entire community to the detriment of the many agencies we support through this one drive.
*
More About Three Hundred Years in America~Jewish Contributions to American History
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 4, 1956, Page 4
By Dr. Philip L. Seman, University of Judaism
Most of the institutions referred to in our last installment of this series had a distinctly philanthropic approach. Those who were served were not only asked to contribute toward their support, but in most instances were offered stipends to make it possible for them to learn a trade or acquire an education, without having to be confronted with the difficulty of procuring the necessities of life. Those institutions were not looked upon by the community at large as agencies of self expressions that promoted a conscious self-determination of either the individual or the group. They were very largely superimposed efforts offering educational training and social outlet, which in many instances muzzled the slightest opportunity for free expression and for the interpretation of ideas and ideals.
The Jewish Community Centers which have been developed in the lst third of the century and are flourishing now three hundred and forty five of them, with a membership of five hundred and twenty thousand, represent the type of institution where the people themselves hve an opportunity of determining upon the activities to be included in the program and where those who are really interested in each and every activity are the determining factors, the ‘yes” or the “no” of the project.
The 345 Centers in the United States and Canada (and now in Europe and Israel as well) are federated in a national body, the Jewish Welfare Board, and occupy buildings for the most part especially designed and constructed for the conduct of recreational, social, cultural, civic and other group and mass activities.
When we speak of five hundred thousand, it may not mean very much when we speak in terms of a population of 158,000,000 but it speaks volumes when we think of it in terms of a population not over 5,000,000; for this number represents the real Jewish manhood and womanhood of the next very important ten years, the boys and girls, young men and women who are being developed in these 345 Centers, along cultural, recreation and spiritual (in the finest sense of the term) lines. These 525,000 are bound to become, many of them, the leaders of our community, because they are taught to think and to act constructively in terms of leadership.
*
Letter to Editor
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 4, 1955, Page 4
Dear Mr. Kaufman:
What a joy it is to read your “Southwestern Jewish Press” as it comes to me regularly. It keeps me so close to San Diego, a city I like very much and that I have been coming to now over 40 years, on and off. You as editor are to be congratulated. I read the anglo-Jewish Press from all over the country and your Southwestern Press can easily be matched with the best of them. I feel your readers are unusually well treated.
With best wishes,
Cordially,
Philip L. Seman
Ed. Note: Praise from the eminent Dr. Seman is praise indeed. Dr. Seman is one of the outstanding educators in the United States and has played an important part in the development and furtherance of Jewish culture and learning.
*
(Book Review)
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 4, 1955, Page 4
What’s Your Jewish IQ by Harold V. Ribalow, Twayne Publishers, New York, 1954, 106 pages, $2.75.
The author of What’s Your Jewish IQ has published a number of books of Jewish interest. The book covers over 900 questions in the area of Bible, Judaism, Zionism, Israel, Anti-Semitism, American History, Government, Science and Medicine, ‘Famous Men, World Literature, Hebrew and Yiddish Literature, American and Jewish Literature, Music, Journalism, Entertainment, Sports and two sets of General Quiz. The answers to these 900 questions are in the last half of the book. The book will be of value to anyone, Jew or non Jew who may want to know about Jews, in the areas referred to above.
Ribalow’s What’s Your Jewish IQ gives answers to his questions in not over a line or two, and in many instances will whet the appetite for further investigations into Jewish History ratherthan serve as a complete course. Just a few examples of the questions, “In what book is the story of Susanna and the Elders told?” “Do you know who Saadia Gaon was?” “Why is the Dead Sea valuable?” “Explain the Damascus Blood Libel?” The section in Ameircan HNistory is particularly of interest now that Jews are observing the Three Hundred Years in America. And such questions as, “Who was Jacob Barsimon?” “Who was Rabbi Gershom Mendes Seixas?” “Do you know the first American Physician to specialize in the diseases of the nose and throat?” “Who wrote the now famous sentence ‘A Rose is a rose is a rose’?” etc., etc. Therse are just a few of the 900 questions.
The questions are a challenge particularly to young people, and above all to non-Jews who will benefit much in checki9ng on the answers to many questions that will be, your reviewer feels, strange and unknown, and will help to clarify much that is strange to those who are not close to Jewish History.
–Philip L. Seman
University of Judaism
*
Notes on Jewish Music
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 4, 1955, Page 4
By Cantor Joseph Cysner
The Jewish music festival, which will be celebrated throughout the United States during the month of February, was initiated by the J.W.B. sponsored National Jewish Music Council, ten years ago, to bring Jewish Music closer to the hearts and minds of the American Jewish Community.
As we are celebrating the Tercentenary, we proudly recall among many achievements, the great contributions Jews have made in the field of Music. We find great Jewish artists on the concert stage, in Opera, on Radio and Television, thrilling millions of people with their talent and artistry.
But what is the status of Jewish Music today? Though there are untiring efforts by National and Local Jewish Music Councils to bring our music closer to our people, is there really a greater appreciation of its beauty? Are we doing our part to transmit our precious Jewish Music Heritage to our children?
Considering the brief period of its revival in America, we see encouraging signs of creativity and originality. Composers such as Bloch, Weinberg, Saminsky, Milhaud, Achron and many others have enriched Synagogue Music with treasures, which will strike responsive chords in the hearts of future generations.
Are our own people aware of the beauty and the depth of those masters of Jewish Music? I fear the answer is in the negative! Any of these compositions are available to anyone who is interested, by means of recordings and sheet music – but very few people avail themselves of the opportunity to become acquainted with our very own creations.
As the great centers of Jewish life have been wiped out – a greater responsibility rests on the remaining centers of Jewish Life – America and Israel.
It should be our duty to make Jewish Music appreciation an integral part of Jewish Education. Children should be encouraged to study Jewish Music in addition to their general Music, the Jewish Song should again vibrate in the homes on all festive occasions. Thus we would create a meaningful link with the past and learn to understand the innermost feeling of the Jewish soul.
A living contact with the great artistic reservoir of Israel through the exchange of music would bring new life into both cultures and add greatly to the elevation of Jewish Music here and everywhere.
Is there a better way to revitalize interest in Jewish Music than by worshipping as a Family Unit, joining in the singing of congregational songs, providing our children with recordings for the various Holy Days and encouraging our young to listen and to study Israeli, as well as Liturgical and Folk Music?
*
“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.