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.

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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.