Canadian Jerome Summers leads successful exchange concert

By Eileen Wingard

SAN DIEGO — Jerome Summers hales from Ontario, Canada, where he is Music Director of the Stratford Symphony Orchestra and, across the border, conducts the International Symphony Orchestra of Sarnia/Port Huron, Michigan.  Summers was in San Diego recently to guest conduct TICO. For several days prior to TICO’s opening concerts November 15 and 17, Summers presided over three rehearsals.

“He was very demanding,” reported one TICO violinist.” “Summers worked us hard,” commented another. Whatever method or magic Summers used to whip the orchestra into shape, he produced excellent results. The strings, in particular, were visibly alert, using full bows, and playing with the kind of true intonation and warm vibrato which give a special sheen to the sound. Attacks and releases were precise.

Summers conducted with great expressiveness, using broad motions and a variety of gestures. Born and educated in British Columbia, he played clarinet in the Vancouver Symphony and the CBC Vancouver Radio Orchestras before devoting his career to conducting, soloing, composing and teaching.

David Amos, conductor of TICO, recently conducted the Stratford Symphony Orchestra with enthusiastic response.  Summers’ guest conducting stint with TICO is the second half of that fortunate exchange.

It is a valuable experience for musicians to play under different conductors, as I know from my three decades of playing in the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. A new face, a new perspective can often spark renewed vigor.  Such was the case with Summers and TICO.

His program had some clever touches. The concluding work, Paul Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes of Von Weber, the most difficult piece on the program, had, as one of the themes, the flute tune from Von Weber’s Overture to Turandot. Summers programmed that piece so the listeners could hear the source of Hindemith’s theme. Summers cleverly placed his own arrangement of Bruckner’s Adagio between the two works “as a musical sorbet to clear the palate” before the final work.

The strings performed the Adagio with lovely ensemble, beautiful tone quality and a pleasing range of dynamics.

The concert opened with an energetic rendition of A Canadian Celebration Overture by fellow countryman Ronald Royer, and was followed by Von Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 1, expertly performed by San Diego State University’s Professor of Music, Marian Liebowitz. As a clarinetist himself, Summers led the orchestral forces in a sympathetic accompaniment for the impressive soloist.

This was followed by “Victor’s Tale” from The Terminal by John Williams, with Liebowitz as soloist. The selection was chosen because it has a section which resembles klezmer music. Liebowitz, who plays klezmer music idiomatically, as confirmed by her recent CD, Jewish Friends and Neighbors , performed this work with conviction.

Although Williams is not Jewish, one of the most frequently played pieces on Jewish music programs is his Suite from Schindler’s List. Also, of interest, his grandson is Jewish (Williams’ son married a Jewish woman) and will be going to Israel next month with Ashreinu,  an Orthodox group dedicated to bringing nonaffiliated college-age Jews back to the fold.

The next TICO concert will be about Humor in Classical Music. For an intimate musical experience and an amusing evening of musical fun, be sure to mark your calendar for February 2, 7:30 p.m. in the Cohen Social Hall of Tifereth Israel Synagogue.

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Wingard is a freelance writer and retired San Diego Symphony Orchestra violinist

Old friend and new tastes highlighted Wine and Food Festival

Wine and Food Festival, 2009, behind Seaport Village
______________________________________________________
By Lynne Thrope

SAN DIEGO– Amongst the 170 wineries, breweries, and spirit purveyors, 70 chefs showing off their gourmet prowess, and thousands of enthusiasts in attendance at last weekend’s Grand Tasting at the largest wine and food festival in Southern California was Ellen, my long lost friend from NEFTY (New England Federation of Temple Youth).

What could possibly be the likelihood of me bumping into someone from my high school days on the East Coast here in San Diego? But there she was, all the way from Boston, smiling from ear to ear with Sonoma labeled wine in one hand and a plate of ahi sashimi marinated in a fresh beet juice in the other.

Kvelling over our good fortune of finding each other (yes, like a needle in a haystack), we set our GPS with Huge Hugs and Never Ending Kisses to take us to the many acres of kiosks along the Embarcadero behind Seaport Village. Like two giggling schoolgirls, we reminisced about our jaunty pasts and even more jubilant presences.  Together, we sampled the seemingly endless array of meat, poultry, fish, and deserts and judged for ourselves the winners in each category. Coincidentally, our list closely matched the festival’s official one listed here:

1st Place and “Chef of the Fest” : Anthony Sinsay with Harney Sushi

2nd Place: Paul McCabe with Kitchen 1540

3rd Place: Jeff Rossman with Terra Restaurant

4th Place: Eric Sarkisian with Tom Ham’s Lighthouse

5th Place: Eric Bauer with Anthology

Finalist: Andrew Knudtson with the House of Blues

Finalist: Adam Bussel with Vela Restaurant

Finalist: Ralph Rubio with Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill

Finalist: Anthony Calamari with Sé San

Finalist: Sean Langlais with The Oceanaire

Category Winners:

Raw Category: Anthony Sinsay with Harney Sushi

Meat Category: Paul McCabe with Kitchen 1540

Poultry Category: Eric Bauer with Anthology

Fish Category: Anthony Calamari with Sé San Diego

Dessert Category: Jonathan Hale with Blue PointCoastal Cuisine
Like me, Ellen pursues her passion for haut and international cuisine weeknights and weekends “to bring balance to our Jewish souls.” After happily gorging from 11a – 4p, we were convinced that this spectacular culinary event is the ultimate for anyone interested in innovation, creativity, and great taste.

If you fancy yourself some kind of foodie and/or wine zealot and want some “Lip Smacking, Glass Clinking, Celebrity Watching, Mouth Watering Kind of Fun,” The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is for you! For information about next year’s event dates, venues, list of visiting celebrities and ticket prices, visit www.worldofwineevents.com or call 619.342.7337.  Hopefully, Ellen will return. I know I will… B’Tayavon

*

Lynne Thrope can be contacted at lynnesworld@mac.com

When they laughed at Tom

By Sheila Orysiek

SAN DIEGO–When I first began to frequent the coffee shop I slowly realized that there were about twenty people who gathered regularly.  Not all at one time, of course, but in various numbers, usually in the morning or on a pleasant evening.  The group was made up of individuals from all walks of life, differing levels of education and many different ages. Childhood stories were recalled and shared; memories of growing up on a mid-western farm or the life of a child in a large city.  One told of a trip to a far off place and another told of plans to go on a special trip.  Coffee shops have become America’s front porch with a constantly changing constituency.  And, if one sits back and observes there is a common thread, the basic human need for contact and communication.

A rabbi once told me that Mitzvah doesn’t happen when we are alone, but through our interaction with others.  Watching people interact in a coffee shop setting is a lesson in how correct he was.  How we treat other people across the divides of gender, color, religion, politics and ethnicity is a test of our respect for one another.  A table at a coffee shop is a microcosm of both our assets and our human frailties.

There is Joe, sitting at the far end of the table, he worked in the north of Alaska, and he tells of how he survived winters and storms as he inspected oil wells on the north slope.  Young Bob talks of his plans for college and beyond. Vera is obsessed with the pursuit of her college degree and of the young men in pursuit of her.  And next to her sits Adele.  She talks of the college professors in the department where she works and their idiosyncrasies and behavior which often belie their advanced educations.  Pert little Maggie describes how she is going to spend her free time during her hard won retirement.  Harry the handsome, is out of work again, and struggling to re-make his life after a divisive divorce.  He misses his children and spends his days lamenting his dilemma.

As time passes not only are memories shared but eventually the problems also.  Everyone has a story to tell of some hardship or obstacle overcome, and some still to be endured.  Janet has diabetes and shares her fears and the restrictions this imposes on her life.  Everyone in the group is concerned about Vincent who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is undergoing surgery and chemotherapy.  And, so on pleasant evenings and sunny mornings the group gathers and then disperses, a constant fluid interchange of hopes, fears and dreams.  Cheer and sorrow is intermixed.  Information is exchanged and each helps another when possible, even if only by listening.  There are always a few about, sitting on chairs, with coffee cups ready to greet and chat.

For a short time I became a part of this group quite by accident.  As I sat there one day with my notebook, staring off, waiting for inspiration to write, Stuart, a friendly soul, engaged my attention and rattled along in a cheerful manner.  He spoke of the weather and then added his humor into the mix.  Others of the group soon joined and I found myself an eagerly sought member of this informal collection.  I enjoyed their conversation, easy camaraderie and was impressed with the concern they had for one another’s problems as well as applause for individual accomplishment and obstacles that had been overcome.

Robert, has a nervous disorder and his hands shake and though he has a fine mind, but his mouth no longer readily obeys him.  The group observes his dilemma and commiserates both in their hearts and in their words to him.  It is as if his trembling is a sign of a weathered leaf threatening to fall.  He has everyone’s sympathy.

Another of the group, Tom, is afflicted with mental illness.  He has both schizophrenia and manic depressive disorder and is on powerful anti hallucinatory medication.  The side effects slow his speech a bit and make his hands shake uncontrollably from tremors.  He is an honest man and had served in the military until his disability.  One of the indicators of schizophrenia is the sufferer denies the illness and the need for medication.  And, physically the patient is much more comfortable without the medications and feels less befuddled, though of course in reality the opposite is true.  So, the patient is always tempted to reject the medication both because of the illness itself and a physical feeling of well being when not on the drugs.

On one particularly pleasant evening we gathered together in our customary group, exchanging pleasantries and the events of our day.  Vincent appeared and announced his chemotherapy was at an end and to everyone’s pleasure that his cancer was now gone.  He was welcomed with smiles and words of joy. Then Robert joined us and a chair was brought for him.  Someone helped him grasp a cup of juice in his trembling hands and we patiently waited for each sentence as his lips formed his words slowly.  We let him know he was surrounded by loving friends.

Then Tom came over.  For the past several days he had neglected to take his medication for schizophrenia and the results were most apparent.  There was no physical fear of him, he offered no threat, but his thoughts were mired in his warped view of reality.  People listened, a smile or two was hidden behind a hand, or averted eyes tried to hide their secret mirth. Then Tom suddenly stood up and left and the general laughter began in earnest.  Tom’s every move and word was re-examined and ridiculed.

I was horrified. I refused to believe this was so.  Surely this could not be, laughing at mental illness?  Carefully, I asked why the laughter and I was given back with renewed hilarity the inconsistencies in Tom’s words and thought.  I tried to explain that there is no difference between the tragedy of Vincent’s cancer and Tom’s mental disorder.  I thought perhaps if I explained that mental illness is just another disease of the body but expressed through the mind, understanding would follow. But, even so, these otherwise educated, sympathetic people closed their hearts, shut off their intellect and laughed at Tom, refusing to see the tragedy of his life.

In dismay I watched still disbelieving and since I could not change their souls, I refused to be a witness to their vulgarity.  And, so I left because to sit there would be an act of assent. But the laughter rang in my ears. They are echoes from what I thought were the superstitions and ignorance of bygone centuries.

To sit and listen quietly to cruelty is to be part of the crime.

*
Orysiek is a freelance writer based in San Diego.  She may be contacted at orysieks@sandiegojewishworld.com

‘The Peddlers Tale’ and other holiday stories to be read Dec. 14 in Write Out Loud production

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) —Write Out Loud, San Diego’s only live dramatic short story reading company, presents The Peddler’s Gift by Maxine Rose Schur in its annual holiday program, “Giving Season,” on December 14 at 7pm at the Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs Street, San Diego, 92110.  Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and$5 for children 12 years and younger.  Reservations are advised:  619-297-8953 or WriteOutLoudsd@gmail.com.

The Peddler’s Gift is the story of the peddler, Shimon, who visits the home of a boy named Leibush in the village of Korovenko to sell his wares. The children of the village call Shimon “Schnook” because they think he is odd and a fool.

Shimon displays  his goods:  silk ribbons, embroidered pillowcases, Shabbos candles, and other fancy things, but Leibush is fascinated by a dreidel that he  lets fall from his ragged leather bag.  He doesn’t really mean to steal it from “Schnook,” just borrow it, but…that night his conscience won’t let him sleep.  He slips quietly out of his family’s  sooty hut to find “Schnook” and return the dreidel.   When he finds him in the Synagogue, he discovers, not a fool named
“Schnook,” but a kind and wise man named Shimon.

The Peddler’s Gift is written by Maxine Rose Schur whose books have won many awards, including the Sydney Taylor Award and a Parents’ Choice Award. Her book, Sacred Shadows, was a National Jewish Book Award finalist.

The Peddler’s Gift will be read by actor Paul Maley.

GIVING SEASON also includes the world premiere of a new translation done expressly for Write Out Loud by Anne-Charlotte Hanes Harvey of the beloved Swedish folktale, The Legend of the Christmas Rose.

My House, a new story by Emile Barrios will be given its premiere reading  by actor  Albert Dayan.  Barrios is a San Diego-based writer.

Sound effects man extraordinaire, Scott Paulson, joins  Write Out Loud to do a live radio show of Red Rider Nails the Cleveland Street Kid, an excerpt from Jean Shepherd’s book, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash.

Write Out Loud  is in its third season of short story readings.  For more information about the company,  visit  www.WriteOutLoudsd.com.

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Preceding provided by Walter Ritter, executive director of Write Out Loud

Some hard realities of negotiations and politics

By Ira Sharkansky

JERUSALEM–In response to a recent column, an American friend wrote the following:

 

“In other words, you are saying that the Israeli gesture is not a good faith
effort to restart peace talks. Isn’t that what the Israelis have done before
when they offered “concessions” they knew were inadequate and not
acceptable to the Palestinians so they could claim to be the good guys
while really sabotaging meaningful negotiations?”

This response is not too different from others I have seen, which accuse Israel of taking advantage of its power in order to preserve its advantages.

Most likely true, and understandable.

My friend is retired from a career in the financial sector. I doubt that he negotiated any differently than Israeli officials, seeking to preserve or enhance his opportunities or those of his employer. If he did not seek the advantage of his employer, most likely he was violating his trust.

In my own career, which included several years of teaching and writing about religion and politics, I have encountered several people who told me about contacts with angels, or messengers from heaven. I have neglected to ask such people how angels negotiate, or if they do negotiate. Perhaps they are not self serving. Or they may negotiate as toughly as worldly folks, in their case concerned to preserve or enhance the power of the Lord.

From everything I know about politics, I expect that politicians are concerned to preserve or enhance their status, and that of their constituents. Indeed, they would be violating their public trust if they did not concern themselves with their constituents’ interests.

In other words, most Israelis do not vote for politicians who will serve Palestinians, and it is up to the Palestinians to serve their own interests.

Now we have come to the knotty problem of how two communities in a decades long struggle should look after themselves.

Not be maximizing short term advantages. Neighbors have to make concessions to one another in order to live peacefully.

As I have written in several columns, the Israeli record appears to be fair. Its elected leaders have offered concessions to the Palestinians, usually against what substantial segments of the Israeli population wants. The settlers and their supporters have the rights of citizens to express themselves, and to use their votes to select individuals who will serve their interests.

Here and elsewhere in politics, we should not fool ourselves into thinking we are talking about absolute rights and wrongs. Even in the Holy Land, the Lord has absented himself since Malachi, according to the Jewish tradition. The Almighty has left us to get on with it as we see best.

The Palestinian pattern, since the 1930s, is to maximize their demands, to rely on others to pressure the Jews to deliver, and to reject compromise.

As I understand politics and business, individuals who demand everything or nothing usually get nothing.

It’s us who are doing the work. As noted above, we do not know how angels would do it.

In the same note, my American friend also recalled a report I have made several times:

You have referenced 4% support for Obama in Israel. Does this include
all Israeli citizens or just Jewish Israelis? If the latter, you are deliberately
creating “facts” out of whole cloth. Or is that only Jewish citizens of
Israel count?

Again, my friend seems to be looking for angels where none are likely to be found.

Of course only the Jews count. Again, the explanation is political. Almost all the people who vote for parties likely to join the government are Jews. The vast majority of Arabs vote for anti-establishment parties, whose Knesset members spend their time slamming the government as unjust. Unlike American minorities, they do not play the game of going along in order to get along. They do not trade political support for concessions.

The Arabs of Jerusalem are in a separate category. They were offered citizenship after the 1967 war, and very few accepted it. As local residents they can vote in municipal elections. But for their own nationalistic reasons, usually about 90 percent boycott the elections.

Another rule of politics is that you get what you vote for. If you don’t vote, you don’t get. If you vote for parties that refuse to deal with the government, you also don’t get.

So in talking about the Israelis who feel Obama is supporting them, why bother to count the Arabs?

Tough talk? Politics is not for the innocent. It is the best way of dealing with dispute. If leaders of a community want something from a democracy, they should not expect gifts. They have to use the power of their votes wisely. Otherwise they will remain on the sidelines with nothing more than occasional screams of injustice.

No one with power is likely to listen. Especially if the community shouting injustice has a history of violence against those who do control things.

*
Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History~January 8, 1954

Compiled by Gail Umeham
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Letters to the Editor

Southwestern Jewish Press January 8, 1954 Page 2
December 28, 1953
Dear Mr. Kaufman:

I have just returned to New York and my first thoughts were to write to you to express my appreciation for your considerate assistance to me on December 17^th, 1953 while I visited in your fair city.

It is indeed a wonderful feeling for any Jewish traveler to come into a strange city and receive the fine hospitality and help which you and your organization gave to me.  I came to San Diego in search of the grave of my grandmother, Mollie Kramer.  The only information I had was that about fifty years ago an uncle of mine by the name of David Kramer was supposed to have been a patient in the San Diego hospital and his mother, who was my grandmother, Mollie Kramer, left New York City to visit him and as the train approached San Diego, my grandmother had a stroke and passed away on the train, and that she might possibly be buried in a Jewish Cemetery, if one had existed at that time.

In my search for assistance, which my experience as a United States Treasury agent indicated, my first act was to look for some Jewish organization that would make my search a fruitful one.  I picked up your local telephone book, and looked under the index beginning with “J.” I saw the name of your organization, The Jewish Press and Jewish Social Service, and immediately called at your office.  I told your secretary that I was in trouble and needed assistance.  I was not in need of financial assistance, as I was travelling at that time with the former world’s Heavyweight Champion, Jack Dempsey, who made this trip possible for me.  My explanation of the seriousness of my mission, to find my grandmother’s grave, brought about my meeting with you personally.

It really is a storybook feature—the manner in which you made your time available to me—took me personally to the Hope of Peace Cemetery on the plots owned by the Temple Beth Israel in San Diego—and within a comparatively short period of time enlisted the assistance of the old timers at the cemetery—and with one-half hour, I stood in prayer at my grandmother’s grave.

I assure you that it will be my pleasure to repeat this story to all of my friends and acquaintances, so that they can know of the real hospitality of our California neighbors.

Thank you sincerely for all you have done and may God bless you.

Gratefully yours,
Max Rothbaum

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Dear Mac,
I suppose it would be much easier to pick up the telephone to tell you what I want to say…but I prefer writing—it gives me a chance to mention how much I’ve enjoyed reading your Jewish Press…I do read it—from cover to cover (even if it takes me a week).   And now, I’ll come to the point and say what I want to say…In your issue of December 11 there appeared a picture of an elderly bearded man and a small dark girl.  That girl, Dunia Rubinstin shares an apartment with my sister Gg, in New York City.  I enjoyed taking to Dunia when I was in New York last year, for she was so very excited having just returned from a motor trip through our southern states.  Anyway, it sure is a small world….And it’s a good idea for a girl to keep her nose powdered for one never knows when one will have a picture in a newspaper, does one?

Yours truly,
Rose Winnick

Goodrich Leaves A Strong Fund

Southwestern Jewish Press January 8, 1954 Page 2

Murray D. Goodrich joins the ranks of past presidents of the United Jewish Fund.  He joins such outstanding community leaders as Judge Jacob Weinberger, Nathan F. Baranov, Eli H. Levenson and Victor Schulman.

In the two years that Murray led the Fund, the Jewish community continued to grow.  The Fund in its fund-raising job under Goodrich’s leadership managed to maintain the level of giving in San Diego while all over the country, the level was dropping.  This in itself, should be a great deal of satisfaction to the outgoing President.

However, the Fund has done much more.  It has shown its willingness to work with any worthwhile cooperative organization, and on any worthwhile project in the community.  It has maintained its community leadership in a dignified fashion and has gained respect and prestige not only in the eyes of the Jews of San Diego but in the community as a whole as was witnessed at the annual meeting held in December.

Murray Goodrich leaves behind an excellent record which will give the incoming president a goal to shoot at.

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Edith Press To Wed Dean Greenberg

Southwestern Jewish Press January 8, 1954 Page 3

The marriage of Edith Claire Press, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Press, and Dean Martin Greenberg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Zel Greenberg, will be solemnized January 10 at 5:00 p.m. in the Tifereth Israel Synagogue.  Rabbis Monroe Levens and Baruch Stern will officiate.

The bride’s gown is of white satin and tulle with fitted bodice, long tight sleeves, and portrait neckline of tulle appliquéd to the satin bodice with seed pearls.  A short satin peplum embroidered with pearls falls over the full tulle skirt.  Her fingertip veil of illusion is held in place by a small cloche of tulle embroidered in pearls.

Matron of Honor, Syril Press, will wear aqua tulle and taffeta; Maid of Honor, Marilyn Weisser, coral tulle and taffeta; and Junior Bridesmaid, Sue Ann Greenberg, sister of the groom, aqua tulle.  Bridesmaid Barbara Shames, Iris Leeds, Norma Simmons, Jackie Krakoff, Shirley Ann Scholz will be gowned in taffeta in shade of purple.  Nancy Shapiro will act as Flower Girls and Lynn Ellis and Ethel Schwartz are in charge of the Bride’s Book.

Charles Barkus is acting as best man, with Bruce Kuschner as ring bearer.  Ushers are Ben Press, Adrian Lasater, Joel Barries, David Berenson, Jean Freed, Bernard Sosna, and Stanley Friedman.

Immediately following the ceremony a reception for 500 guests will be held at the Synagogue, and buffet dinner at Beth Jacob Center.  The bride’s mother will receive in dusty rose Chantilly lace over taffeta trimmed in seed pearls and sequins.  The groom’s mother will wear coral satin with sequins.

The very beautiful wedding cake will feature a twelve inch Eiffel Tower to represent Paris, where the young couple will make their home for a year.  After a week in Las Vegas, the bride and groom will leave for New York, from where they will sail on the Queen Mary, Jan. 23.

Among the out-of-town guests expected from Los Angeles are Mssrs. and Msdms. M. Shapiro, L Shapiro,  I. Shapiro, Joel Kushner and son; Mrs. Abe Kushner and Daughter, Miss Ruth Addelman, and Mrs. M. Shapiro.  Coming from San Bernardino are Mssrs. And Msdms. M. Koven, L. Koven, M. Kipper, Mrs. L. Wiesser and daughter, and Mr. Littner.

Stone-Dewey Marriage Told

Southwestern Jewish Press January 8, 1954 Page 3

Announcement has been made of the marriage of Rosanne T. Dewey to Irving R. Stone on January 9^th, 6:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel.  Rabbi Morton J. Cohn will officiate.

A reception will be held at the Admiral Kidd Club following the ceremony.

*

 

Haley-Haas Rites

Southwestern Jewish Press January 8, 1954 Page 3

Announcement is made of the marriage of Miriam Haley to Rols Haas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Haas.  The marriage rites were performed in the home of the groom’s parents by Rabbi Monroe Levens on December 27.

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“Adventures in Jewish History” is sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg. Our indexed “Adventures in San Diego Jewish History” series will be a daily feature until we run out of history.