This blind taste test is not to compare foods, but to build our compassion

By Sara Appel-Lennon

SAN DIEGO–Picture yourself wearing a blindfold while eating. A blind person is challenged with eating in darkness at each meal. In 1999 Jane Clifton and Dave Ward from the Hillcrest Mission Valley Lion’s Club were invited to eat lunch blindfolded while Blind Center students cooked and served them. This experience prompted the couple to agree to organize the annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Blind Center during the past eleven years.

On Wednesday, November 18^, volunteers from the Hillcrest Mission Valley Lion’s Club and Temple Emanu-El joined to cook and serve hot Thanksgiving meals to San Diego Blind Center patrons. Clifton and Ward from the Lion’s Club and Lee Loventhal from Temple Emanu-El recruited members for this memorable mitzvah.

Volunteers served 280 patrons. The meal was the only hot Thanksgiving dinner many patrons would have. The Blind Center collected $1700 made in the raffle and $133 made by selling extra Thanksgiving take-out dinners.

The San Diego Blind Center teaches independent living skills to those who are visually impaired. Many of the patrons are older women with macular degeneration. The program lasts nine months at which time students graduate.

Several staff members have worked at the Blind Center for 35 years. Mary Wischmeyer is a mobility instructor through the San Diego Community College District. She is trained to teach the visually impaired and has worked there since 1979. Bob Jackson worked as a professional tennis player until he lost his sight and became blind at age 33. Jackson went back to school and now serves as the staff clinical psychologist.

Blind Center personnel staffed the annual Thanksgiving dinner for 25 years until a former public relations manager asked Clifton and Ward to take over. After footing a $1200 bill the first two years, the couple asked the Lion’s Club for financial backing. The Thanksgiving dinner has since become a Lion’s Club and Temple Emanu-El project. Clifton said that the Blind Center still uses the turkey decorations made by Temple Emanu-El preschoolers.

We often take our vision for granted until we start to lose it.

This Thanksgiving we can be grateful for our senses. Eating in darkness is no small feat. Let’s be compassionate to those struggling with physical challenges.

(Author’s note: Helen Keller requested The Lion’s Clubs to become knights of the blind.)

Appel-Lennon is a San Diego-based freelance writer. Her email: appels@jewishsightseeing.com

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History~December 25, 1953, Part III

Compiled by Gail Umeham 

*
Lionel Van Deerlin Moderates Panel for Nat’l. Council of Jewish Women
 Southwestern Jewish Press December 25, 1953 Page 5

On Tuesday, January 5^th, 12 o’clock noon at Temple Center, the National Council of Jewish Women will hold their regular monthly meeting.  In observance of the forthcoming Brotherhood Week a round-table discussion entitled “Brotherhood of 1954—Are We Progressing or Retrogressing?” will highlight the program for the day.  Lionel Van Deerlin, well-known news analyst and commentator, will moderate the panel composed of Dr. William J. Rust, president of California Western University, Dr. J.J.Kimbrough, representing the Urban League, Mr. Al Hutler, director of the United Jewish Fund and Mr. Louie Orci of the Mexican Consulate.

Co-Chairmen of the education committee who have arranged the program are Mrs. Jack Stern and Mrs. Paul Belkin.  Refreshment arrangements by Mrs. Harry Blumberg and Mrs. Alfred Breslauer.  Please make reservations early with Mrs. William Gordon, J-2-0403 or Mrs. Norman Levi, B-9051.

 

S.D. State College Offers tour of Europe
 Southwestern Jewish Press December 25, 1953 Page 5

For the first time SDSC will offer a conducted study tour of Europe, during the summer session of 1954, according to Dr. Ernest M. Wolf, associate professor of German and romance languages at SDSC.

The tour is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages and will be directed by Wolf.

For detailed information regarding costs, itinerary and travel arrangements, students may consult Dr. Wolf in his office, S102C

Dr. Wolf was born and educated in Europe.  He has lived or traveled in all of the countries covered by the trip which will last 65 days.

Jewish War Vet Aux.
 Southwestern Jewish Press December 25, 1953 Page 5

The next regular meeting of the J..W.V. Auxiliary will be on Monday, January 4^th, at 8:30 p.m. in the War Memorial Building, Balboa Park.  All members are urged to attend, as there will be nomination of officers for the coming year.

On January 16^th, quite a number of the Auxiliary members will be making their annual trek to Los Angeles to attend the Department of California Donor Luncheon, at the Ambassador Hotel.  This is quite an outstanding affair and the ladies look forward to this event.

Tifereth Sisterhood Hears Sherry Newman
 Southwestern Jewish Press December 25, 1953 Page 5

Members and friends of Tifereth Israel Synagogue have a treat in store for them when Sherry Newman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Newman will be the guest speaker on Friday, January 5^th at 8:15 p.m.  Her topic will be “Youth Looks at the Isms.”

Sherry won three top places in the recent speech art contests of the County High Schools.  In the “B” division, she took first place in oratory, impromptu and extempore speaking.

We look forward to Sherry’s presentation with great pride and anticipation.  Plan to attend Friday night services at Tifereth Israel Synagogue that night.

Mrs. Elias Berwin, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee announces that plans are under way for the second annual family dinner to be held in the Tifereth Israel Center on Sunday, January 31^st.  A gala affair is anticipated, so won’t you please mark that date on your calendar?  For information, please contact Mrs. Berwin.

City of Hope Holds Installation Jan. 18
 Southwestern Jewish Press December 25, 1953 Page 5

Mrs. Jeremiah Aronoff, outgoing President of the City of Hope Senior Auxiliary, invites members and friends to the Installation of New Officers on Jan. 18, at 12 noon in the Don Room of El Cortez Hotel.

Incoming officers tro be installed are Mesdames Elias Berwin, President; Harry Douglas, 1^st Vice-President; Sam Tepper, 2^nd Vice-President; Gladys Tappan, 3^rd Vice-President; Rose Barr, Treasurer; Jerry Aronoff, Fin. Sec.; Dave Schwartz, Rec. Sec.; Zel Camiel, Corr. Sec.; and D. Friedman, Soc. Sec.

Installation Chairman, Mrs. Neil Himmel is making plans for an entertaining day, with Mrs. Nat Bertram coming down from City of Hope in Duarte, Calif., as Installing Officer.

ADL Elects Local Men To Advisory Board
 Southwestern Jewish Press December 25, 1953 Page 5

The Fifth Annual meeting of ADL’s Pacific Southwest Regional Advisory Board elected three San Diegans to membership for 1954, David Coleman, Los Angeles jurist and Board President, announced.

Edward Breitbard was re-elected for a fifth term; Morris W. Douglas and Harry Wax are new Board members.

Jewish Social Service Plans Annual Dinner
 Southwestern Jewish Press December 25, 1953 Page 5

Plans for the Annual Meeting of the Jewish Social Service Agency have been announced by Mrs. Saul Chenkin, Chairman.  The dinner meeting wwill be held January 20, in the new State Ballroom of the San Diego Hotel.

Mr. Louis Ziskind of Los Angeles, Executive Director of the California Jewish Committee for Personal Service, will be guest speaker.  He will describe one of the newest experiments in the rehabilitation of the mentally ill now being carried on by his organization.  The work is being done at the Gateways, a rehabilitation center in Los Angeles.  His talk will be of special interest to San Diegans, as the Jewish Committee for Personal Service is one of the beneficiaries of the local United Jewish Fund.

Pioneer Women Go Out on Memb. Drive
 Southwestern Jewish Press December 25, 1953 Page 6

A National campaign to enroll thousands of new members into Pioneer Women Organization was announced by the National Chairman.  This campaign will end officially on March 18^th, 1954 and all NEGBA Club members are being urged to enroll as many members as they possibly can.

Pioneer Women support these projects:  the maintenance of children’s institutions of all kinds, agricultural training farms and youth villages, vocational training courses and various social services.  Pioneer Women’s Ïsrael supplies Project” instituted about 4 years ago, shipped over 5 million pounds of new and used clothing to Israel warehouses and was distributed to needy and immigrants to Israel.

An interesting program and delicious luncheon are being planned for the next meeting on Thursday noon January 7^th at Beth Jacob Center.  President Jeanette Abrams is hopeful of greeting a large turnout for the 1^st meeting in 1954.

Deceased (Louis Kirschbaum, Albert Berenson, Maurice Marholin)
Southwestern Jewish Press December 25, 1953 Page 6

Louis Kirschbaum, 82 years of age, on Dec. 13.  Mr. Kirschbaum lived in San Diego 43 years.  Services were conducted by Rabbi Monroe Levens in Lewis Colonial Mortuary on December 21, with interment in the Home of Peace Cemetery.

Surviving are three sons, Joseph of Tyler, Texas, Bernard of New York, and Maurice of Washington D.C.

 *

Albert Berenson, 69 years of age, on Dec. 13.  Mr. Berenson was born in Russia and lived in Denver before moving to San Diego 41 years ago.  He was a member of the Zionist Organization of America and B’nai B’rith.

Services were conducted by Rabbi Monroe Levens in Greenwood Mortuary on Dec. 14.  Entombment followed.

Survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Lenore Greenberg and Mrs. Irma Evans, both of San Diego; two sons, George of San Diego, and David of Los Angeles; a brother and sister, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

*
Maurice B. Marholin, 42 years of age, on Dec. 14.  Born in Connecticut, Mr. Marholin had lived in San Diego for 7 years.  Services were conducted by Rabbi Monroe Levens in Greenwood Mortuary on Dec. 16.  Entombment in Greenwood Mausoleum followed.

Surviving him are his parents and two brothers and two sisters in Connecticut and a brother Herman E., of San Diego.

 Young Adults Invited To Jewish Arbor Day
 Southwestern Jewish Press December 25, 1953 Page 6

the Young Adults Branch, Labor Zionist Organization, cordially invites any interested young adults to participate in their first social event.  Celebrating Tu B’shvat, which is Jewish Arbor Day.  A party and dance is planned for Saturday evening, Jan. 16, 8:00 p.m. at the home of Seymour and Edith Gates, 784 El Monte Rd., El Cajon.  No admission will be charged.  For rides, directions or information call R-3028 or H-8-0585.

The winter and spring season will find the Ben Zvi Branch planning other social events as well as important cultural and business meetings.  The next regular meeting of the branch will take place on Sunday evening, January 10 promptly at 7:30 at the home of Maedelle Richlin, 4341 30^th St.  Nominations and election of new officers and a discussion of current happenings in Israel will be on the agenda.

The group invites and welcomes anyone interested in the Zionist cultural-social program to be present at our next meeting or party and to call R-3028 for further information.

Weizmann Branch Invites All To New Year’s Party
 Southwestern Jewish Press December 25, 1953 Page 6

There is still time to make your reservations for the gala New Year’s party to be held at Tifereth Israel Center.  Phone either Chavera Bertha Veitzer, chairman, at T-7886 or her co-chairman, Chavera Dora Richlin, at R-3028 and they will be pleased to accept your reservation or give you any further details.

This is our first venture in sponsoring a New Year’s party and the committee are doing everything possible to make this a mo0st enjoyable affair.

Thursdays with the Songs of Hal Wingard, z’l

SAN DIEGO–How we shape life and how life shapes us is the theme of the lyrics this week from the collection of Hal Wingard.  To see and hear songs previously published from his collection,  please click here.  (These songs will be added to the collection, once our main server is restored).
#101 — The Shots of Life
#310 — Beneath the Baubab Tree
#320 — Time to Blame 

#310, The Shots of Life

When I was young and orchid bright,
Not yet knowing wrong from right,
I held the youthful point of view:
Nothing I couldn’t do! 

Thus, when my bank account was low,
I’d double work to make it grow;
And when I felt my love-life thwarted,
I’d play the Don Juan as I courted.

            I’d play the Don Juan as. . .I. . .courted.

 Now youth is gone; and at my age
Orchids look like desert sage;
And I’ve revised my point of view:
Many things I cannot do.

I cannot change my changing health
As aging stalks in silent stealth;
And no way now nor in my prime
That I could stop the flow of time.

            That I could stop the flow. . .of. . .time. 

When I was young and starry-eyed,
I felt that if I really tried,
If I really gave my all,
The shots of life were mine to call.

 My starry eyes have lost their glow,
And I have learned what all should know:
The shots of life fall where they fall,
And I don’t call the shots at all.

            I don’t call the shots. . .at. . .all. 

(c) Estate of Hal Wingard, July 10, 1980

#310, Beneath the Baubab Tree
 
A Story from Senegal

(Sung)
Beneath an ancient baubab tree
There sat an elder sage,
Sharing, should a person ask,
The wisdom learned with age.

(Spoken)
One day a youthful passerby
On route from Dokomo
Paused to ask for sage advice,
With facts the sage would know.
 
(Spoken)

 “I’m on my way to Kadama,
You know, the nearby town.
Do all the people living there
Smile, or do they frown?” 

(Spoken)

The sage then asked the passerby
To think for just a while.
“Do folks you left in Dokomo
Frown, or do they smile?” 

(Sung)

“They frown,” the passerby replied.
“They frown the whole day through.”
“In Kadama,” the sage explained,
“You’ll find them frowning, too!”
 
(Spoken)
Another day, another youth
On route from Dokomo
Paused to ask for sage advice,
With facts the sage would know.

(Spoken)

 “I’m on my way to Kadama,
You know, the nearby town.
Do all the people living there
Smile, or do they frown?”
 
(Spoken)

The sage then asked the passerby
To think for just a while.
“Do folks you left in Dokomo
 Frown, or do they smile?”
 
(Sung)

“They smile,” the passerby replied.
“They smile the whole day through.”
“In Kadama,” the sage explained,
“You’ll find them smiling, too!” 

(Sung)
Beneath an ancient baubab tree
There sat an elder sage,
Sharing, should a person ask,
The wisdom learned with age.

(c) 2009 Estate of Hal Wingard; To Lorraine D’Ambruoso, who served as leader of a strand entitled Connaître L’Afrique Francophone! at the 1997 Annual Summer Seminar for Language Teachers, where I heard Daouda Camera, who was born in Senegal, tell the story in French. February 11, 2003 The words, written August 8, 1997, during a wait-over at Los Angeles airport on the way home the day the Seminar ended, are a loose rendition of the original story.

#320, Time to Blame
 
We all know folks who voice complaint
            That time makes life a race,
That time’s so fast they can’t keep up
            To do the tasks they face.

The culprit, though, cannot be time.
            It’s neither fast nor slow,

But rather moves, as rivers do,
            In steady, self-paced flow.

 “Too little time to do so much.”
            That’s what some others claim.

And yet the ration ev’ry day
            For ev’ryone’s the same.

Yes, time exists for us to use
            In work and pleasure, too.

But time, for sure, has never caused
            What we have failed to do.

The question’s not amount of time
            Nor passage fast or slow,

But do we sometimes squander time—
            And who can answer “no”?

(c) Estate of Hal Wingard, January 26, 2006.   Words completed January 17, 1997, in Rancho Cordova

The Foreigner still pleases

FOREIGNER CAST—Ryan Hunter Lee, Charlie Riendeau, Howard Bickle, Aimee Nelson, and Dagmar Fields.  (photo by Ken Jacques)
_________________________________________________________

By Carol Davis

VISTA, California–Larry Shue’s The Foreigner has been around for years. In fact the award winning comedy/farce first appeared on the scene in 1983 and has been going strong ever since. There was a time when it was produced by almost every theatre company here in San Diego over a period of years, then put to rest. It is currently being given a robust airing at The Avo Theatre in Vista as the first offering of Moonlight Theatre’s winter season and directed with TLC by producing artistic director Kathy Brombacher.

The story is pretty straight forward, kind of until it get so convoluted that you have to see it to appreciate it. The central character is a chap named Charlie Baker (Howard Bickle, Jr.). Charlie has some major social issues, the primary one being that he has a difficult time conversing with people. His contact with them is limited as Charlie is a proofreader of a science fiction magazine. He is in desperate need of a time out from his job and his wife whom he dearly loves, but who does not share his sentiments.

His friend S/Sgt Foggy LeSure (Charlie Riendeau) takes him from his native London to a rural fishing loge in the back woods of Georgia where the thought of having to talk with anyone puts Charlie in a tailspin almost to paralysis. The two friends hatch a plan to make sure Charlie doesn’t have to converse and still be able to relax with the good folks from Georgia. Foggy tells his friend, Betty Meeks (Dagmar K. Fields) the owner of the lodge that Charlie is from some far away exotic place and doesn’t speak or understand the English language.  Now the stage is set for some pretty bizarre comings and goings.

You can just imagine how the good folks at the lodge took this intrusion by a complete stranger and a foreigner to boot! Over a short time we meet Catherine Simms (Aimee Nelson), an heiress and former Southern glamour girl, her slow witted brother Ellard (Ryan Hunter Lee) and her betrothed Reverend David Marshall Lee (Paul Morgavo) who regards Charlie with the suspicion of a serial murderer. They are all staying at the lodge.

Before long things take a turn toward the ‘normal’, if you will and everyone goes about his or her business with Charlie, who seems to be in the right place at all the right times, at the center of everyone’s conversations. He is also present when they discuss their most private and secretive plans. He overhears a conversation between Catherine and David that she is pregnant even though he assured her he was sterile.

He learns that the good Reverend David is in cahoots with the local county property inspector Owen Musser (Paul A. Canaletti, Jr.). They plan to wrangle Betty out of her property by devaluating it and buying it for a song (with Catherine’s money) and then turn it into a meeting place for the local KKK (Remember that group? They lynch Jews, Catholics and blacks as well as foreigners) that the reverend plans to head up. And so it goes, all the while Ellard is ‘teaching’ Charlie how to speak English by walking around the main lodge room and pointing to objects in exaggerated tones and with wild hand movements. Ellard becomes the teacher and Charlie the student, to everyone’s wide eyed amazement.

Most of the fun comes when Charlie, the terminally shy Brit, becomes this no holds barred physically energetic bag of wind willing to follow in Willard’s footsteps playing Simon Sez to make him look better in everyone’s eyes. It’s not until a bit later, after the shtick begins to wear off, that David becomes suspicious of Charlie and his antics that the play takes on another side, still funny but with more urgency. You guessed it though, ‘All’s well that end’s well”.

Shout out’s go to Howard Bickle, Jr. for masterminding his wonderful gibberish and peculiar sounding foreign accent and pulling it off with a straight face. It’s one thing to play dumb quite another to become a different personality speaking in pig Latin or tongues. Funny thing happened on the way to fixing everything Betty, Willard and Catherine seemed to understand just what he was saying when he decided to tell them all a story in his own farmished language. It brought the house down.

Another shout out to Ryan Hunter Lee who’s Ellard steals the show with his arm flailing, accent from another world speech patterns and prideful strut as he takes ownership in being Charlie’s mentor. It is a hoot to watch him.

Charlie Riendeau has just the right swagger and eyebrow arch look to know he’s somewhat perplexed but understands what’s going on and Aimee Nelson finally settles into the role of a sympathetic and understanding Catherine after a shaky start. Dagmar K. Fields is a riot as she shouts into Charlie’s ear hoping that what he doesn’t understand he will at least be able to hear, like he’s hearing impaired. She is consistent throughout.

Paul Morgavo is perfect as the slime ball reverend who cons his fiancée into thinking he loves her while keeping his hand on her purse strings. He’s suave and reassuring as the calm clergyman and brutally mean spirited as the KKK leader. As his helper and partner in crime Canaletti’s Owen is more of a threat to Charlie than anyone else as he threatens to get rid of him just like they plan to do to all the Jews and Catholics in the area. He is pretty menacing looking. And, oh! those white hoods wow!  (Roslyn Lehman)

As soon as you enter the theatre N. Dixon Fishes set strikes you as a perfect retreat to vacation, hunt and or fish if that’s your thing. It’s set on two levels with rustic furniture set about the living room fireplace as well and a hand railing that looked like it was made of strong branches. Peter Hashagen’s sound design is realistic enough and Paul A. Canaletti, Jr.’s lighting splashes a range of beautiful days to fear filled nights.

If you like romps that keep your imagination in high gear, this is one that will tickle.

The Foreigner continues through Nov. 29 For more information visit www.moonlightstage.com.

See you at the theatre.

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Davis is a San Diego-based theatre critic.  Her email: davisc@sandiegojewishworld.com

Viterbis give $1 million to San Diego Opera

SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– San Diego Opera has announced a $1 million gift from Erna and Andrew Viterbi. The first $500,000 of the gift  will be used to underwrite the “Community Conversations on Faith  and Freedom” lecture series in conjunction with Verdi’s opera Nabucco, the second opera in the San Diego Opera 2010 season. 

Portions of the gift will also be used to underwrite the production of the opera, making Erna and Andrew the Lead Sponsors for Nabucco. The second half of the gift is designated to the 2011  International Season where San Diego Opera will honor the Viterbi family as the Season Sponsor.

 “Our interest in opera generally, and in this production of Nabucco in particular, derives in part from our cultural  heritage,” comment Andrew and Erna Viterbi. “Having inherited  from our parents a love of opera, especially Verdi’s masterpieces, as well as respect for our history, we have found  San Diego Opera productions, so masterfully directed and  performed, resonate with our interests and passions.”

 “Community Conversations on Faith and Freedom” is a free, citywide lecture series that explores the various aspects of  Verdi’s opera Nabucco. Each lecture will offer insight into the music, history and biblical origin of Nabucco. Lectures will  be held at Lead Partner venues around the community.

The Lead  Partners for these lectures are the San Diego Natural History Museum, Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Congregation Beth  Israel and the San Diego Museum of Art. A full schedule of the lecture series can be found below. 

 Verdi’s Nabucco is considered the opera that cemented his reputation as one of the world’s greatest composers. The story is drawn from ancient history and begins with the destruction of the  Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (Nabucco), the King of Babylon. The opera follows the Israelites as they struggle for freedom as Babylonian slaves. Noted for a demanding soprano role (Abigaille) the opera also includes one of the most well- known choruses “Va, pensiero” which is so beloved by Italians that is was once considered for their national anthem.

 “Erna and Andrew Viterbi have made a spectacular and deeply appreciated gift at a most critical time for San Diego Opera. The economy has taken a big bite out of arts funding and a gift of  this significance allows the Company to continue to produce opera  with the best artists in the international arena today,” comments San Diego Opera’s Ian Campbell.  “The entire board of  directors, management and community are indebted to Erna and Andrew for their generosity and thoughtful philanthropy.”

 Italy holds a special place in the hearts of Erna and Andrew Viterbi. Andrew was four when his family fled Italy just days before World War II broke out. Andrew began his academic career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology followed by graduate school at University of Southern California (USC). From 1963 to 1973, he served as a professor at the UCLA School of Engineering  and Applied Science. Andrew is a co-founder of LINKABIT Corporation and a co-founder of Qualcomm, where his Viterbi  Algorithm and other inventions contributed to creating the cellular technology used today. Dr. Viterbi is the founder of The  Viterbi Group, LLC, an equity investment fund that advises and invests in early and emerging companies that are pioneering innovative technologies.

Erna Finci Viterbi was born in Sarajevo, a descendant of Sephardic Jews who were expelled from Spain. In 1941, during World War II, the Finci family fled German-occupied Yugoslavia for the Italian-occupied zone from which they were deported and interned in the Parma region of Italy. In 1943, when the Nazis occupied Italy, they were saved from deportation to extermination camps by the bravery of the good people of Gramignazzo di Sissa, the village where they had been interned. Other Italians helped them escape to Switzerland, where they waited out the war. In 1950, they resettled in California, where Erna met Andrew Viterbi; the two were married in 1958, and today they have three children and five  grandchildren.

 Community Conversations on Faith and Freedom lectures reflect the themes and experiences of the Viterbi family’s flight to freedom.  All lectures are free and open to the public although reservations are required.

 Nabucco, Israel and Babylon: The Impact of Exile on the Birth of Judaism and Christianity.Presented by Dr. Nicolas Reveles, San Diego Opera’s Geisel Director of Education, and Dr. Risa Levitt-Kohn, Director of  Judaic Studies at San Diego State University.Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 7 PM. San Diego Natural History Museum – Charmaine and Maurice Kaplan Theatre. 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

 Lessons from the Exile: Babylon Revisted,Presented by Dr. Nicolas Reveles, San Diego Opera’s Geisel Director of Education, and Rabbi Michael Berk, Congregation Beth Israel. Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 7 PM. Congregation Beth Israel – 9001 Towne Center Dr., San Diego, CA 92122

By the Rivers of Babylon: Judaism, Empire and Exile, Presented by Dr. Nicolas Reveles, San Diego Opera’s Geisel Director of Education and Dr. William Propp, Director of Judaic Studies Program at University of California San Diego. Monday, February 8, 2010 at 7:30 PM. Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center – Garfield Theatre – 4126 Executive Dr., La Jolla, CA 92037

Nabucco: The Jewish Story in Art and Opera. Presented by Dr. Nicolas Reveles, San Diego Opera’s Geisel Director of Education and a curator from the San Diego Museum of  Art’s European Collection. Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 7 PM. San Diego Museum of Art – 1450 El Prado, San Diego,  CA 92101

 All events are free but an RSVP is required. Please visit http://www.sdopera.com/Operas/CommunityConversations/ for more information and to reserve your seat.

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Preceding provided by San Diego Opera

Killing Al Qaeda now U.S. primary purpose in Afghanistan

By Shoshana Bryen

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Post intoned on the front page, “Poll Finds Guarded Optimism on Obama’s Afghanistan Plan.” What plan? Plumbing the article, it turns out that support for the President on the issue has “plummeted” since the summer; more than half think “the war is not worth the cost”; and they are evenly split over whether the plan should include the higher number of troops mentioned in public reports or the lower. A slim majority does believe the President “will choose an Afghanistan strategy that will work.”
 
The Post failed to ask, “What is/what should be the goal of U.S. Afghanistan policy?”
 
The American and allied goal in the region should be to secure Pakistan, a nuclear-armed country with a fragile civilian government. While the Taliban has only been a secondary threat to the United States, providing the haven al Qaeda required to incubate and strike (the Taliban is a primary threat to Afghan women), a jihadist government in Pakistan would be a primary threat to India, to Israel and to American interests.
 
The United States cannot pursue jihadists inside Pakistan, or even discuss the possibility of the government losing control-it is an allied and very touchy country-so we pretend the conversation is about Afghanistan. The argument over “counterinsurgency vs. counterterrorism”-securing Afghanistan and providing political stability or standing off and just killing al Qaeda as we find them-is a red herring for the discussion we’re not having. The time the Obama Administration has taken to work this out while troops are on the ground fighting has been devastating.
 
In what finally appears to be a move toward the “counterterrorism” position generally favored by Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton visited the talk shows last weekend and staked out the “just kill them” position:
 

 

“Our goal is to defeat Al Qaeda…We want to get the people who attacked us, and we want to prevent them and their syndicate of terrorism from posing a threat to us, our allies and our interests…we understand that the Afghans themselves need help in order to defend themselves against the Taliban. Those are mutually reinforcing missions, but our highest obligation is to the American people. It is to do everything we can to make sure that America is secure, that our allies, our interests around the world are protected.”
 

 

“We’re not interested in staying in Afghanistan. We have no long-term stake there.”
 

 

“This is not the prior days when people would come on your show and talk about how we were going to help the Afghans build a modern democracy and build a more functioning state and do all of those wonderful things…that could happen. But our primary focus is on the security of the United States of America.”
 

 

In other words: No long-term stake, no modernization, and no functioning state. We are in your country to bomb things and kill people that threaten us, not you. Oh, yes, those pesky Taliban-we’ll help you kill them while we’re there, but they’re your problem not our problem.
 
Aid?
“We’re not going to be providing any civilian aid to Afghanistan unless we have a certification that if it goes into the Afghan government in any form, that we’re going to have ministries that we can hold accountable.”
 

 

In other words: Only if you clean up your act, and don’t expect patience from us.
 
Pakistan?
“Well, I think, you know, we want to get al Qaeda, and we’re very clear about that, and we see it as part of our integrated strategy looking at Afghanistan and Pakistan as a theater in which we have to operate. We have made it clear to the Pakistanis, as well as to the Afghans and others, that we want to do everything we can to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda.”
 

 

In other words: Pakistan is no more than a front in the American war on al Qaeda.
 
Gone is war against terrorists and the states that harbor and support them. Gone is the broad understanding that weak countries can be taken over by terrorist forces that will use their resources to build bigger and better terrorist capabilities. (That’s why al Qaeda chose Afghanistan in the 1990s to begin with, and thought it could move to Iraq after we toppled the Taliban in 2001. That’s how Hezbollah moved into the government in Lebanon and how Hamas took over Gaza.) Gone appears to be the understanding that securing the civilian population and providing aid is the precursor to the stability that allows for political maturation and long-term moderation-which secures us better than bombs alone can do.
 
Who had those understandings? President Bush did as he pursued the surge in Iraq that has led to the decrease in violence and the political maturation that will see multiparty national elections proceeding on schedule in January. President Obama had it eight months ago. Formally presenting his first policy review in March, the President said:
I want the American people to understand that we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future. That is the goal that must be achieved.
 

 

[We need] a dramatic increase in our civilian effort… to advance security, opportunity and justice-not just in Kabul, but also from the bottom up in the provinces-we need agricultural specialists and educators, engineers and lawyers. That’s how we can help the Afghan government serve its people and develop an economy …Make no mistake, our efforts will fail in Afghanistan and Pakistan if we don’t invest in their future.
JINSA does not necessarily support an increased American military presence in
Afghanistan. If the goal is really limited to killing al Qaeda operatives in other people’s countries, we can probably do it with UAVs as Vice President Biden prefers. But if the objective is Pakistan, its nuclear weapons and its future, the President was right back in March and all the ensuing delay has just made things more complicated and more deadly for our troops- for no reason.

 
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Bryen is special projects director for the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. (JINSA). Her column is sponsored by Waxie Sanitary Supply in memory of Morris Wax, longtime JINSA supporter and national board member.

 

 

White House denounces construction in Gilo section of Jerusalem

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–The White House on Tuesday issued the following statement concerning construction in the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem:

“We are dismayed at the Jerusalem Planning Committee’s decision to move forward on the approval process for the expansion of Gilo in Jerusalem. At a time when we are working to re-launch negotiations, these actions make it more difficult for our efforts to succeed. Neither party should engage in efforts or take actions that could unilaterally pre-empt, or appear to pre-empt, negotiations. The U.S. also objects to other Israeli practices in Jerusalem related to housing, including the continuing pattern of evictions and demolitions of Palestinian homes.  Our position is clear: the status of Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved through negotiations between the parties.”

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Preceding provided by the White House

Iran metes out death penalty to 5 protestors

TEHRAN (WJC)–Five people were been sentenced to death and 81 received jail terms in connection with post-election unrest in Iran, prosecutors in Tehran have said.

The Iranian Justice Department said those facing the death penalty were members of “terrorist and opposition groups.” No names were given. The statement released by prosecutors in Tehran on Tuesday was meant to “stop rumours regarding the cases of the post-election detainees”, Iranian Channel 2 TV reported.

“The legal investigations into the cases of these people took place in the presence of their lawyers. So far, 89 of the detainees have been tried, 81 of whom have received jail terms differing from six months to fifteen years,” the statement said.

The disputed presidential election in June sparked mass opposition protests. Opposition supporters say the poll was rigged to ensure the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

At least 30 protesters have been killed in clashes since the elections, and thousands were detained. Some 200 activists remain behind bars, many of them still facing trial.

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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress

Brazilian oil company considering halting operations in Iran

RIO DE JANEIRO (WJC)–Three days after hosting Israeli President Shimon Peres, the Brazilian oil and gas giant Petrobras has announced that it is considering closing its operations in Iran. The company’s international director, Jorge Zelada, told the magazine ‘Veja’ that Latin America’s largest company was studying this possibility. Peres had met last Friday with Petrobras President Jose Gabrielli at the company’s world headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

The reported reason was the frustrated expectations with the drilling of two wells in Iran. Zelada said the drilling results are not commercially interesting and the exploration permit will be returned to the Iranian government. The Petrobras office in Tehran is likely to be closed soon, he added. “It is a strictly technical decision,” Zelada declared, denying political pressure.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is scheduled to visit Brazil next week.
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress

Peres says Chavez, Ahmadinejad will soon be out of power

BUENOS AIRES (WJC)–Ending his Latin America trip, Israeli President Shimon Peres predicted that the people of Venezuela and Iran would soon get tired of their leaders. Speaking at a forum in Argentina, Peres said both Hugo Chávez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had gone crazy over oil. He said both leaders are headed for a fall.

“They won’t hold, not because any of us is going to kill them; their own people are getting tired of them,” Peres said. “So if you want good relations with them, consider that they are passing passengers. It’s a short-term relationship. Don’t waste too much on them.”

Peres also noted that approval for Chávez had recently dropped in opinion polls. “I see the latest polls that show most of the people are dissatisfied with him. If I could vote in the poll, I know exactly how I would vote. Because the problem is not just what Venezuela is doing for Chávez but what Chávez is doing for Venezuela. It is not a serious government.”

Peres also accused Ahmadinejad and Chávez of wasting their oil reserves in an attempt to buy political prestige. “Oil makes them think a bit complicated,” he said, twirling his right hand near his head as if to suggest both leaders are crazy. “It’s really dangerous if you swallow it. It’s not bad to sell it but don’t drink it too much. And wherever there is oil, there are problems as well. You lose your sense of proportion. Let’s not forget that oil is not being produced. It’s not the result of human engineering. It’s being discovered. And you don’t know where it is going to be discovered or how long it will last.”

Peres also paid homage to the victims of the terrorist attacks on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires and the AMIA Jewish center. The president met with the bereaved families and survivors. At the end of the meeting Peres thanked Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner for her warm reception and her desire to increase cooperation with Israel. He invited her to Jerusalem to participate in next year’s Israeli Presidential Conference. Kirchner welcomed the invitation and said that it would be a great honor for her to come to Israel next year.
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress