Conference of Presidents seeks meeting with Cuba’s UN Ambassador on Alan Gross imprisonment

 NEW YORK (Press Release)– The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations has requested a meeting with the Cuban Ambassador to the UN Pedro Nunez Mosquera to discuss the plight of Alan P. Gross, who has been held in a Cuban jail since December 3, 2009. The Conference also addressed this issue in a letter to President Barack Obama.

“It is outrageous that Mr. Gross, who was clearly not engaged in espionage or inappropriate activities would be imprisoned for more than seven months with no charge. He was in Cuba as a US Agency for International Development subcontractor working on a U.S. government program to help the local Jewish community stay in contact with each other and with similar groups abroad. We have been approaching intermediaries to urge Mr. Gross’ immediate release. We hope Ambassador Nunez Mosquera will meet with us and convey our concerns about Mr. Gross’ improper imprisonment and his failing health to the Cuban government,” said Conference of Presidents Chairman Alan Solow and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has repeatedly called upon Cuba to release Gross, stating that his continued detention is harming U.S.-Cuba relations. Solow and Hoenlein voiced appreciation for the work of the Administration and the State Department to secure Mr. Gross’ release and expressed hope that Cuba will recognize that “Mr. Gross is not a man who is motivated by politics, nor by any agenda other than providing humanitarian support to people in need.”

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Preceding provided by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

Community Mikvah & Education Center plans Aug. 22 workshop on preparing for the High Holidays

 SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–The month of Elul is the time to begin to prepare oneself for the Yamim Nora’im (High Holidays). The Waters of Eden/San Diego Community Mikvah & Education Center will sponsor a workshop on Sunday, August 22nd from 8:30am-1:00pm at Congregation Beth El: 8660 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, 92037. 

Registration/breakfast begins at 8:30am. An optional Shacharit service begins at 9:00am, and the opening program beings at 9:40am.

This workshop will enable you to begin this preparation process of your mind, body and spirit. The cost for this event will be $18/person by July 31st, and $25/person afterward. The event will include a kosher breakfast. 

Presenters and participating facilitators include: Rabbi Aliza Berk, Cantor Arlene Bernstein, Gail Braverman, Rabbi Ralph Dalin, Rabbi Janice Elster, Craig Lambert, Rabbi Avi Libman, Yvonne MacNeely, Myla Wingard, and Jeff Zlotnik. Registration, speaker bio’s and descriptions are available on the website.

This event is co-sponsored by Congregation Beth El, Jewish Healing Center of Jewish Family Service, Project SARAH and Wexner Alumni Leadership Fund. 

Preceding provided by Waters of Eden, San Dieg Community Mikvah and Education Center

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, September 17, 1954, Part 3

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staffSouthwestern Jewish Press, September 17, 1954, Page 5{2010 editor’s note: it was common in 1954 for members and organizations of the Jewish community as well as friends of the community to take out small advertisements offering best wishes for the upcoming Jewish year.  As these greetings included the names of family members, they are helpful to genealogists.  Here, we provide an alphabetized list by surname of such greetings that appeared in the September 17, 1954 issue}

Rosh Hashono Greetings

A.B. Appliance Co., 3011 University~Page 12
A&P Food Stores ~Page 8
Ace Liquor Store, 1954 Main, El Centro~Page 12
Acme Truck Rental Co., 4630 El Cajon Blvd~Page 8
Norm and Shirley Alweis of the Melrose Hotel, Dallas, Texas~Page 5
American Housing Guild, Martin Gleich, ~Page 15
American Tuna Boat Association~Page 11
Anthony’s Fish Grotto By the Sea, 866 Prospect St~Page 9
Sirio F. Anton, Custom tailor, 419 Robinson~Page 14
Armored Transport, Inc., 17005 First Avenue~Page 8
Arrow Food Store~Page 10
Charles E. Atkinson, M.D., Banning~Page 7
Atlas “Fences, 268 18th~Page 12
G.L. Baldwin, fuel oils~Page 12
Audio Equipment Co, Abe & Sheldon Sackheim, 2058 India~Page 11
Balboa Hairdressers (Frances Strauss), 444 Kalmia~Page 14
Bank of America~Page 14
Hobbs-Baranov Jewelers, 115 W. Main, El Cajon~Page 12
Barney Manley Co, Cadillac and Pontiac, Ontario~Page  7
Bates & Osborn, refrigeration, Calexico~Page 6
Benbough Mortuaries, 711 Date St~Page 12
M/M Elias Berwin and Family~Page 5
Blade-Tribune Publishing Co., Oceanside~Page 7
Blumer Bros Bakery & Delicatessen, 3982 30th~Page 3
Samuel I. Fox Lodge B’nai B’rith~Page 13
Samuel I. Fox Lodge B’nai B’rith~Page 16
San Diego Bay City B’nai B’rith Women~Page 5
San Diego Lasker lodge B’nai B’rith~Page 13
San Diego Lasker Lodge B’nai B’rith~Page 16
Bohemian Bakery, Market & 13^th~Page 9
The Breitbard Family ~ Page 5
Brookside Dairy, Redlands~Page 7
J. Brownell & Co, Inc, weed control, Brawley~Page 7
Bunnell Photo Shop, 1033 6th~Page 9
Burnett’s, furniture~Page 10
Butcher’s Union Local 229, Max J. Osslo, Sec~Page 11
Caesar’s Café, 535 University~Page 10
Café del Rey Moro, ~Page 15
H.F. Caldwell Realty, Cedric Garagliano, Mgr., 204 W. Washington~Page 7
Caliente Race Track, Tijuana~Page 2
California Date Shop, Banning~Page 7
California Market, 353 El Cajon Blvd~Page 9
The Camiels ~Jeanne, Zel, Jack, Stan, Myriam~Page 5
Campbell Chevrolet, 16^th and Broadway~Page 8
Cantor Bros, Tires, 1035 Market~Page 10
Capitol Electric Co, 2680 Kettner~Page 12
J.N. Ceazan Company, 1945 Harbor Drive~Page 8
The Central Drug Store, Modesto~Page 6
Central Meat Company, 1811 C Street~Page 11
Certified Pest Control Co, 3754 Ray St~Page 11
Chenkin’s Youth Fashion Center, 1151 Sixth~Page 3
Chinese Pullman Cafeteria, 1240 Fifth Ave~Page 12
Citizen Printing & Publishing Co, 3738 El Cajon Blvd~Page 13
Citizens National Trust & Savings Bank, Palm Springs~Page 6
City Chevrolet Co, Kettner at Ash, ~Page 15
San Diego City of Hope Senior Auxiliary~Page 5
Colton Lumber Company, Colton~Page 7
Congregation Beth Jacob, 3373 30th~Page 13
Fred C. Corey La Jolla Securities Co ~Page 12
Coronado Department Store, 826 Orange~Page 11
Cottage of Israel~Page 5
Council of Jewish Women, San Diego Section~Page 5
M/M Paul Cudney~Page 5
Culligan Soft Water Service, 2641 Kettner Blvd~Page 8
Daughters of Israel ~Page 5
DeFalco Market Co, 1703 India St~Page 8
Deitrich Drug Store, Encinitas~Page 6
Mel Dennett Electric, San Bernardino
Dennstedt Electric, 4102 El Cajon Blvd~Page 11
M/M Al DeSure and Douglas~Page 5
Doria Pharmacy, El Cajon & 30^th ~Page 9
M/M Morrie Douglas~Linda and Alan~Page 5
Dragon Inn, El Centro~Page 6
M/M Leonard L. Drogin and Family~Page 5
Effron’s Shoes and Clothing, 743 5th~Page 8
El Morocco Club, 5108 Federal Blvd~Page 10
Local Union 569 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, M.J. Collins, bus mgr~Page 11
Mike Ellis & Sons, Wholesale Drygoods, 702 Ninth Ave. ~Page 7
Eleanor and Harry Epsten~Page 5
Employment Center Agency, Mrs. C.S. Henry, 502 California Theatre Bldg~Page 8
Espiau’s Café, Pomona~Page 6
M/M Mack Esterson, Elsa and Howard~Page 5
Executive Personnel Agency, 5^th & Broadway~Page 9
Faure Tractor & Equipment, El Centro~Page 6
The Federal Men’s Wear, 220 Broadway~Page 15
H.G. Fenton Mateiral Co, 1245 National~Page 12
Ben and Ida Feinberg~Page 5
Fintzelberg & Steinmetz, real estate-insurance, 1346 Fifth~Page 15
First National Bank of Elsinore, Elsinore~Page 6
Cody Firks Mobil Service, 3390 Adams~Page 12
M/M Manuel Fisher and Leonard, Judy, Sandra~Page 5
Flack & Bailey Insurance, Granger Building~Page 12
Fooshee Furniture Company, San Bernardino~Page 6
Irving Friedman, Pacific Insurance~Page 14
Fronton Palace, Tijuana~Page 2
Frozen Food Lockers, 201 West G~Page 10
A.E. Gallagher, coroner & public administrator~Page 15
General Truck Drivers & Helpers Union Local 467, San Bernardino~Page 6
Frank A. Gibson, County Supervisor District No. 1~Page 5
Glaser Bros, wholesale cigars, 703 G St~Page 12
Golden State Upholstery and Drapery Co, Wm B. Schartz, 2747 University~Page 14
M/M Murray D. Goodrich and Rochelle~Page 5
The Goodwill Industries, 402 Fifth Ave~Page 11
M/M L. Gordon, used clothing~Page 8
M/M Robert Gordon; Jeannie, Gail, Bobbie~Page 5
M/M Leo Greenbaum~Page 5
Gregg’s, electrical contractors, Ontario~Page 7
Jack and Loretta Gross, Larry and Jack Jr. ~Page 5
Guardians~Page 13
Guenther’s Murrieta Hot Springs, Murrieta, California~Page 3
Charlotte Haas Catering, 4092 Front St. ~Page 5
Hadassah~Fashions from Israel~Page 3
San Diego Chapter Hadassah~Page 5
Harold’s Cocktail Lounge, Fontana~Page 7
Alfred Hart Distilleries, 335 6^th Avenue~Page 10
Hebrew Home for the Aged Auxiliary~Page 5
Heers Associates, Heers-Built Homes, Riverside~Page 7
Hillcrest Gift Shop, 407 University~Page 3
Horace Heidt’s Lone Palm Hotel, Palm Springs~Page 6
Mrs. I. Heller~Page 5
Henderson Construction Co, El Centro~Page 6
Greetings from Henry~Page 8
Herz Paving Co., San Bernardino~Page 6
M/M Herman Hindel~Page 5
Hillcrest Auto Laundry, 624 University~Page 9
C. Holle Glass Company, 427 Ninth Ave~Page 12
House of Jacobson~Isadore, Ellis, Merrill, Inez, Gary, Denise, Audrey, Bill and Kathleen~Page 5
House of Walter, hair fashions, 1028 Broadway~Page 8
Huneck’s Furs, 7^th & C, ~Page 10
Jaffe Pontiac, 7950 La Mesa Blvd~Page 2
Jay Displays, 228 B Street~Page 7
The Jewish Community Center Board of Directors, 3227 El Cajon Blvd, AT 1-7744~Page 5
Jewish War Veterans, Post 185 and Auxiliary~Page 5
The Jolly Sixteen~Page 5
Karl’s Shoe Stores~Page 8
Julia and Maxwell Kaufman and Berenice Soule~Page 3
Don Keller, District Attorney~Page 5
Geo. F. Kennedy Inc., Firestone ZProducts, 723 Market~Page 12
Keystone Hotel, 943 Tenth Avenue~Page 8
Ben P. Kirk, real estate, San Bernardino~Page 6
M/M P.J. Kirsner~Page 5
M/M Joe Kitaen; Darreld, Terry, Susan~Page 5
Gus C. Klindt, gas water heaters, 121 Juniper Street~Page 7
Knudsen Dairy Products, for your milchic dishes~Page 10
Koffee Kup, 907 Fourth St~Page 12
Senator Fred Kraft~Page 5
Krasne’s, Sixth & Market~Page 9
M/M Julius Krasner and Son, Larry~Page 5
La Mesa Hardware, 8261 La Mesa Blvd~Page 8
H.A. Lavezzi Co, beer distributors~Page 11
M/M J.L. Learner~Page 5
Leclair’s Meat Market, 307 Spruce ST~Page 12
Pauline Gleason Leib~Page 12
M/M Max Leichtag and Family~Page 5
Chas. H. Lentz, 5^th Ave. Bldg~Page 8
M/M Jay Levin and Paul Frederick~Page 5
Lewis Colonial Mortuary, 3051 El Cajon Blvd~Page 13
Lou, Aurora, Sandra Lipton~Page 5
Los Angeles Examiner, 3684 Kettner~Page 12
Your Legislator Frank Luckel~Page 5
MacDonald Rexall Drug Store, Oceanside~Page 7
Joe Maggio, growers, packers, Holtville~Page 6
Maisel’s Lumber and Building Material, 1895 Main ST~Page 11
Mannen Egg Co., 7301 El Cajon Blvd~Page 10
Maxwell Studio of Photography, Orpheum Theatre Building~Page 9
Menlo Bakery, 4663 El Cajon Blvd~Page 10
Merkley-Austin Mortuary, 3655 5th~Page 13
D/M Marco Meyer; Lynne, Linda, Jane and Lisa ~Page 5
Mexico Travel Service, 740 E. St., ~Page 3
Minor Drug Co, Rexall Agency, El Cajon & 35th~Page 9
Mission Bell Market, 802 B “St, Zel Camiel~Page 3
Wm L. Morrison~Page 5
Will & Frances Moss~Page 5
Motel Biltmore, Las Vegas~Page 2
Motor Finance Company, 400 B St~Page 9
Muehling Department Store, 1277 Garnet~Page 8
M/M Al Neumann and Family~Page 5
Mrs. Julia Neumann~Page 5
New Lake Elsinore Hotel, Elsinore~Page 14
New Palace Hotel, 480 Elm St~Page 12
New Pla*** (advertisement torn), 1037 Fourth, R>E. Sanborn, mgr~Page 10
Newport Pastry Shop, 4953 Newport~Page 12
Orange Avenue Cleaners and Laundry, Coronado~Page 7
Orange Belt Café, 807 Broadway~Page 13
Pacific Surplus, 666 9^th Avenue~Page 10
The Palomar and Margo Theatres, Fred W. Seigel Manager, Oceanside~Page 7
Park Manor Hotel, 5^th & Spruce~Page 2
Pay ‘N Save Market, Pacific Beach~Page 10
M/M Its Penter and Family~Page 5
People’s Fish Company, 905 W. Harbor~Page 15
M/M S.H. Perlmutter and Family~Page 5
Byrl D. Phelps, civil engineer~Page 12
Wm Pierce Studio, 1224 Fourth Ave., ~Page 12
Piggly Wiggly Stores, San Diego~Page 15
Pioneer Women, Negba Club ~Page 5
Poale Zion, Chaim Weizmann Branch~Page 5
M/M Nathan Prager; Kay and Nancy~Page 5
M/M Dennis L. Price and Family ~Page 5
Price’s Insurance, 1371 Sixth Ave~Page 16
M/M Sol Price; Robert and Larry~Page 5
Qualitee Dairy Products~Page 15
Quintard Hospital, 1630 A St~Page 12
Raffee Rug & Carpet Co, 822 6^th Ave~Page 12
A.O Reed & Co., plumbing and heating~Page 9
Si, Alice, Joyce, Etta Rich ~Page 5
Roche Bros. Sheet Metal Works, 744 7^th Ave~Page 11
Roberts Employment Agency, 525 E. Street, Don R. Sylvester~Page 9
Rowbens Furniture Company, Inc, 6533 El Cajon Blvd. ~Page 7
Pearl & John Ruskin; David and Marcia~Page 5
Prager’s Shopping Center, 31q75 National Ave~Page 9Z
Ramona’s Marriage Place~Page 9
R.E. Riling, plumbing~Page 9
Roy’s Markets, 2221 Linda Vista~Page 12
S.A. Novelty Co., San Bernardino~Page 6
M/M Sanford Sack~Page 5
The Abe and Sheldon Sackheim Families~Page 5
San Diego Glass & Paint Co, 693 Ninth Ave~Page 11
San Diego Hockey Club, Inc. ~Page 10
San Diego Ice & Cold Storage Co, 825 Imperial~Page 11
San Diego Janitor Supply & Chemical Co, 1002 B St~Page 13
San Diego Laundry Tray Company, 2226 Commercial St., Carl Madera~Page 9
San Diego Transit System~Page 10
The Sands, Las Vegas~Page 6
Sanford’s North Park, 3005 University Ave~Page 8
A. Schreiber Jr, contractors~Page 10
M/M David Schriebman and Family~Page 5
M/M Jules Schwitkis and Family~Page 5
M/M  Victor Schulman and Family~Page 5
M/M Victor Selten and Family~Page 5
Seven Seas Locker Club and Clothiers, 107 W. Broadway~Page 11
Esther I. Siegel, speech arts~Page 3
Harry M. Simsarian, plumbing, heating, Palm Springs
M/M Abraham Sklar~Page 5
Willard Snyder Fruits & Produce, 516 7^th Ave ~Page 12
M/M A.L. Solof and Family~Page 5
Solimines, steaks, shish-ke-bab ~Page 2
D/M George Solomon and Family~Page 5
South Bay Savings & Loan Association, National City~Page 11
Snyder’s Uniforms, 114 Broadway~Page 13
Sol’s Auto Supply, 9^th & Market~Page 15
Star of India Maritime Museum~Page 12
State Pharmacy, 4704 El Cajon Blvd~Page 14
Dave Stotsky Insurance Agency~Page 2
Sunlight Electric Supply Co., Harry Engel, David Engel~Page 9
Sunset Engraving Company, 820 Third Avenue~Page 10
Swiss Chalet, Santa Monica~Page 6
Talone Packing Co, Escondido~Page 6
Tanner-Gray Line Company ~Page 15
Temple Beth Israel, 2512 3^rd Ave~Page 13
Tifereth Israel Synagogue and Jewish Center; Edward Breitbard, President; Monroe Levens, Rabbi; Joseph Cysner, Cantor~Page 5
Tifereth Israel Synagogue and Jewish Center, 2930 Howard Avenue~Page 13
Toeller’s Food Store, Oceanside~Page 7
Tormey’s Taxitreads, 6645 El Cajon Blvd~Page 12
Trepte Construction Co, 2001 Kettner Blvd
United States National Bank~Page 8
United Success Drive~Page 4
Universal Boot Shops~Page 12
USO-Jewish Welfare Board, Armed Services Committee of San Diego~Page 5
Vernon’s Delicatessen & Bakery, 4239 30^th St. ~Page 3
Walker-Scott Company, George A. Scott, President~Page 9
Wenman’s Apparel, 2504 Fifth~Page 11
Western Lumber Co, foot of Columbia~Page 11
Wise Furniture, 3215 El Cajon Blvd~Page 9
Witt’s Kosher Meat Market, 4505 30th~Page 12
Womack.Mitchell Motor Co, El Centro~Page 6
Womack & Womack, Chevrolet, El Centro~Page 7
Dr. Herman E. Wyloge and Roberta~Page 3
Yardage Shelf, Betty and Frank Black, 3986 30th~Page 12
Young’s Transfer & Storage~Page 6
Zeglis Service Union Oil Station~Page 9
J.L Zwiener Electrical Co, 1242 First Ave~Page 12

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“Adventures in San Diego Jewish History” is sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg. Our “Adventures in San Diego Jewish History” series will be a regular feature until we run out of history.  To find stories on specific individuals or organizations, type their names in our search box. 

U.S. commitment to Israel ‘not negotiable’ — Ambassador Susan Rice

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice pays tribute to outgoing Ambassador Gabriela Shalev, Permanent Representative of Israel to the UN. Pictured (l to r): Ambassador Susan Rice, Conference of Presidents Past Chairman Mort B. Zuckerman, Conference of Presidents Chairman Alan Solow, Ambassador Gabriela Shalev.

NEW YORK (Press Release)–At a tribute reception Wednesday for outgoing Israeli UN Ambassador Gabriela Shalev and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Daniel Carmon as well as Consul General of Israel Asaf Shariv and Deputy Consul General of Israel Benjamin Krasna hosted by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and Israel Bonds, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice reaffirmed the “essential truth” about the special relationship and the unbreakable bond shared by the U.S. and Israel.

“The U.S. remains firmly and fully committed to peace and the security of the state of Israel. That commitment spans generations and political parties. It is not negotiable and never will be,” Ambassador Rice said, adding that the U.S. will continue its efforts to “combat all international attempts to challenge the legitimacy of Israel including, and especially, at the UN.”

The Conference of Presidents and Israel Bonds honored the Israeli diplomats on the completion of their tenures in New York and their imminent return to Israel. The reception was held at the Prime Grill Restaurant in Manhattan and was chaired by Conference of Presidents Chairman Alan Solow with greetings provided by Joshua Matza, President and CEO of Israel Bonds.

Many dignitaries attended the meeting and provided tributes to the outgoing Israeli representatives, including New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch and Dr. Jamal Benomar, Chef de Cabinet of the UN General Assembly, as well as French Ambassador to the UN Gerard Araud and Consul General of Germany Dr. Horst Freitag. Ambassadors and Consuls General from many countries joined in the tribute.

Ambassador Shalev and Ambassador Carmon addressed the challenges that Israel faces at the UN and the strong friendship and support Israel enjoys with the U.S. While Ambassador Carmon noted that there is “no better reflection of the challenges that Israel faces than at the UN,” Ambassador Shalev stated that the strong bond between Israel and the U.S. was “greatly enhanced” by Ambassador Susan Rice, whose resolve and leadership led the effort to pass the sanctions against Iran at the UN. “Many obstacles confront Israel in the global arena,” said Ambassador Shalev, but “no other nation supports our right to exist and our right to self-defense as does the U.S.”

Consul General Asaf Shariv and Deputy Consul General Benjamin Krasna spoke of the experiences they gained during their tenure in New York and the importance of the American Jewish community to Israel. Ambassador Shariv noted the dedication of the Conference of Presidents and Israel Bonds to the State of Israel and the impact of the relationship with Ambassadors Shalev and Carmon. Deputy Consul General Krasna added that so much of the relationship between the U.S. and Israel is due to the work of the American Jewish community. “The success and vitality and prosperity of the American Jewish community is a strategic asset and a strategic interest that we remain committed to working with,” he said.

In closing the reception, Conference of Presidents Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein also paid tribute to the outgoing Israel dignitaries, commenting that their service to the Jewish people and the Jewish state made all of the honorees “people of words because they are people of deeds,” noting the Biblical references of Moses. 

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Preceding provided by the C onference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

Craig Parks releases ‘all-fun’ children’s CD

Craig Parks entertains families at the CD release party for his debut children’s album “Kol Kef”. Photo: Elizabeth Hansen

ENCINITAS, California (Press Release)– Temple Solel Youth Director and Encinitas resident Craig Parks released his debut children’s CD “Kol Kef”, or “All Fun!”, which features a collection of uplifting songs that encourage kids of all ages to sing out loud and embrace their Jewish heritage. 

Recently held at Temple Solel, the CD release party was attended by more than 250 local community members, families and children.
 
“Craig Parks’ music has a magical influence on his audience,” said Ellen Fox, Temple Solel Religious School Director.  “His performances portray a deep love of Judaism, knowledge of the newest and greatest songs, including the songs he writes, an understanding of people of all ages and an enthusiasm that radiates with every note and verse.”
 
“Kol Kef” includes 14 Jewish favorites including the Togetherness Song, There’s a Dinosaur Knocking at my Door, Hava Nashira and Weave Me the Sunshine, as well as six original songs penned by Parks.  The CD’s songs send a clear message – have fun and be kind to one another.  
 
Among the collaborators on “Kol Kef” are: Russell Angelico, the CD’s recording engineer and former drummer for Temple Solel’s teen band;  Carlsbad’s Martin Storrow, a nationally known solo artist; Ruby Gorcey-Biblowitz, a former singer for Temple Solel’s teen band; and Jeremy Gimbel, a local song leader from Scripps Ranch.
 
Director of Youth Programming for Temple Solel in the Cardiff by the Sea neighborhood of Encinitas, Parks also serves as director of the synagogue’s summer camp, called Camp Simcha, for kindergarten through sixth grade students.  From day schools and synagogues to camps, Parks has entertained thousands of kids with his music, shtick and high energy. 
 
He has performed with some of today’s best Jewish performers including Rick Recht and Craig Taubman and studied with greats like Debbie Friedman and Danny Maseng.  Parks has founded and toured with several local rock bands, and played all over the country at JCC’s, camps, retreats, music festivals and youth events.  His performances draw from his 15 years working with youth as a song leader, youth director, educator and camp director. 
 
Evident through Parks’ performances on the album is his connection to the kids, as a portion of the CD’s songs were recorded live and feature some of Parks’ 2009 Camp Simcha campers.
 
A portion of the album’s sales will benefit the Friendship Circle, an international nonprofit that provides assistance and support to the families of children with special needs.  The Friendship Circle fosters friendships between children, teens and young adults with disabilities by providing social, recreational and educational experiences.
 
“The CD Release concert was amazing and doors are still opening for The Friendship Circle because of it,” said Elisheva Green, Executive Director of the Friendship Circle.  “We are so grateful to be a part of Craig’s fun and uplifting Jewish music, which we’ve been enjoying ever since!”
 
To learn more about Craig Parks, please visit his website. 

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Preceding provided by Southwest Strategies for Craig Parks

Gaza-bound Libyan ship docks at Egyptian port after deal

(WJC)–A deal struck between Israel and Egypt has reportedly enabled a Libyan ship carrying aid for Gaza to change course and dock peacefully at the Egyptian port of El-Arish. An Arab newspaper in London reports that in return, Israel has agreed to let the Gadhafi Foundation begin a US$ 50 million project to rebuild damaged buildings in Gaza, together with the United Nations.

On Thursday, the Amalthea docked at El-Arish after Israel’s navy had stopped it from reaching the Gaza Strip territory. Since Hamas rose to power there, Israel maintains a sea blockade to prevent weapons smuggling.

The director of the port of El-Arish, Gamal Abdel Maqsoud, said the ship would unload its cargo and hand it over to the Red Crescent for delivery to Gaza by land. Israeli ships stopped the aid vessel from reaching Gaza.

The Gadhafi Foundation, headed by a son of Libyan leader Muammar al-Gadhafi, said the ship had left Greece on Saturday carrying 2,000 tons of food and medical supplies.

Meanwhile, another Gaza-bound aid convoy left the Jordanian capital Amman on Tuesday, heading to the Red Sea port city of Aqaba. Around 150 activists traveled with the convoy, which includes 25 trucks laden with basic humanitarian aid including food and medicine, as well as an ambulance donated by Jordan Medical Association members, according to Jordanian officials.

The convoy is set to travel by boat from Aqaba to the Egyptian port of Nuweibeh and then enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing.

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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress.

Irish government blocks EU data transfer to Israel after passport affair

(WJC)–The European Commission’s proposal to recognize Israeli data protection standards as appropriate to transfer personal data of Europeans has been blocked by the Irish government. A spokesman for Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said that Ireland could not support the move in the wake of the row of the faking of Irish and other EU passports in the killing of Hamas commander al-Mahbouh, in Dubai in January. In Europe, the hit is widely blamed on Israel’s Mossad.

The spokesman said the Irish government had the “gravest concern” that information supplied to Israel could be used to forge passports for use by intelligence agencies.

Dublin expelled an Israeli diplomat last month. Dubai police have accused Israeli secret service operatives to be behind the killing. However, separate investigations conducted by the Irish police did not find any additional evidence that links Israel to the forged passports of EU member states. Nonetheless, the Irish government maintains that Israel was responsible for them.

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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress.

San Diego teens travel and volunteer in Israel

San Diego teen trip members at San Diego-Ibim Student Village in Sha'ar Hanegev region of Israel

By Ulla Hadar

Ulla Hadar

SHA’AR HANEGEV, Israel–A group of 23 teen led by shlicha Shoshi Bogoch have for the last two weeks travelled in Israel from the north to the south as part of the Community Teen Trip sponsored b y the Jewish Federation of San Diego County.

Open to  Jewish teens of all backgrounds in the 10th to 12th grades, the trip
is designed to give youngsters an opportunity to feel the heart of Israel, explore historic places, meet Israeli teens and more, according to Bogoch, an Israeli citizen who now coordinates Israel programs at the Jewish Federation of San Diego.

Through traveling, learning and living the Israeli way of life, the Jewish
Federation Community Teen Trip to Israel creates a meaningful, life-changing experience and an unbreakable bond with Israel, the shlicha (Israeli emissary) said.

The group spent a couple of days in the company of Sha’ar Hanegev youth, enjoying home hospitality with the youngsters of Kibbutz Bror Hayil. A tour of the area included visits to the borderline of Israel and the Gaza strip, to the Sha’ar Hanegev  educational campus, and to the San Diego Ibim Student Village where a small ceremony memorializing San Diegan Marla Bennett was held. Marla Bennett,  killed in a terrorist action at the cafeteria of Hebrew University in Jerusalem 8 years ago,  has a permanent memorial in her honor at the village.

“The community teen trip has existed for the last ten years but in the last two have undergone dramatic changes,” Bogoch said.  ”The Israel Center (at the Jewish Federation of San Diego)  and the former shaliach Eyal Dagan started the new concept that I now execute. The teen group includes students mostly from the public schools, covering all San Diego.

“Students at this age would not have the possibility otherwise to visit Israel, and would not have had the change of knowing one another, as one Jewish person to another,” Bogoch said. 

To organize the trip, Bogoch said that she “travelled throughout the entire area of San Diego, visiting the different temples and public schools, in an effort to publish this program. We succeeded in getting 23 teens together as a group.

“It is important to emphasize that the Federation supports this program and sees the importance of sending each teen who desires to Israel. The cost of the trip is $3,500 and the Federation supports the trip with an amount of $1,000 dollars. There are possibilities to receive additional scholarships to further reduce the price.

“Leading up to the trip Five seminars were  held, with the main subject being  social activism. Furthermore different activities were held in
an effort to strengthen the youth as a group. These youngsters are receiving a gift, the ability to identify themselves as Jews in the future. Enabling them to feel connected and involved has been much stronger than visits to historic places and sites.

“One of the first places we visited in Israel was a factory in Tiberias. The workgroup are grown ups suffering from different mental diseases and other physical difficulties.  The San Diegan teen group worked together with these people for a couple of hours, talking to them and experiencing the simple work of putting filters together, that these people do every day hour after hour, day in day out. The teens enjoyed themselves immensely and at the end of the day had a party where they all danced together.

“This experience made them understand that you can give and you can make a difference. My goal is that this group will continue with the contacts made in Israel and in between them and that they will work as ambassadors for Israel in the community of San Diego.”

Carlos and Meegan, two of the teen participants, had these comments:

M: “My awareness to this program came from my grandfather. It has always been very important to him that his family members will travel to Israel.”

C:”I always felt I had a responsibility to go to Israel. Most of the people I know in my community had already been here. I did not realize how great it was until I arrived here. Just the feeling of being surrounded by people just like you and who accept you for who you are. The feeling of community on a larger scale, and the country has affected me in a positive way throughout the entire trip. “

M: “It feels a bit weird to be part of the majority, I have always been connected to a Jewish community in San Diego but there we are always a minority.  When meeting new people in San Diego, you don’t have this understanding of being Jewish, most assume that you are Christian or something else. In Israel you feel connected as Jewish. It is the natural situation and no one has to pretend, to be Jewish is a normal existence, a normal identity.”

C: “The work experience we had with the disabled in the factory was a fantastic time, feeling that we did something for another person, not only for you yourself.  It was an act to help others, and it put much more meaning behind it. These workers do the same simple work every day, week and month. Our showing up helped them a lot, put smiles on their faces, it was just great. Another work experience we had was a day of picking tomatoes for the poor that have no money. This concept of helping makes one feel good, and made a very big impact of this trip.”

M: “The big part of doing community work here was understanding how different people live, like apart from the Jewish community we saw how Druse and Bedouin minorities live inside Israel, and it is interesting also to experience the life of the people in a kibbutz.”

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Hadar is Sha’ar Hanegev bureau chief for San Diego Jewish World

Returned Iranian nuclear scientist claims he was abducted and tortured by CIA

(WJC)–On his return to Tehran from the US, Iranian nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri has claimed that he had suffered extreme mental and physical torture at the hands of US interrogators, and that Israeli agents participated in interrogations with the CIA. “Israeli agents were present at some of my interrogation sessions and I was threatened to be handed over to Israel if I refused to cooperate with Americans,” Amiri told ‘Reuters’ reporters.

Amiri repeated his earlier claims that he was abducted while on a pilgrimage last year in Medina, Saudi Arabia, and brought to the United States. He claimed that he was put under intense pressure during the first few months there. “I was under the harshest mental and physical torture,” he said at Tehran’s international airport.

Iran has portrayed the return of Amiri as a blow to American intelligence services, but Washington has denied that the scientist was abducted by US secret services. Amiri said he was in Medina when three men in a van posing as fellow pilgrims offered him a ride. “As I sat down, the man in back held a gun toward me and told me to keep quiet. They took me to a secret place and injected me, and when I woke up I saw myself in a huge airplane” and was taken to America. There, CIA agents “pressured me to help with their propaganda against Iran,” he said, including offering him up to US$ 10 million to talk to US media and claim to have documents on a laptop incriminating Iran. “I promised myself that I wouldn’t talk against my country at all,” Amiri told the state-run Iranian station ‘Press TV’.

Instead, he said, he tried to string the CIA along, letting them settle him in Tucson, where he suggested he had relative freedom there on the condition “I not talk about my abduction or what happened afterward.” But after they discovered he had made the first video, in April, “they relocated me from Tucson to Virginia with guards all around me and until this moment, I have been monitored by armed agents. They put more psychological pressure on me. They told me they would kill me. … They threatened me every time.”

The ‘Washington Post’ reported that Amiri had been working for the CIA for more than a year. It said he was paid US$ 5 million out of a secret program aimed at inducing scientists and others with information on Iran’s nuclear program to defect. “I have some documents proving that I have not been free in the United States and have always been under the control of armed agents of US intelligence services,” Amiri told reporters.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that talks between his country and the world powers on a plan to supply fuel for a Tehran nuclear reactor should start around late September. Iran has said it was ready for negotiations with the five veto-holding members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany on a deal brokered by Turkey and Brazil in May. It proposed supplying enriched uranium in a form usable in the medical-research reactor in exchange for part of Iran’s supply of the material that has yet to be transformed into fuel. However, the agreement was rejected as insufficient by the six powers.

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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress.

TICO Pops Concert July 25 to feature ‘Kosher Mantovani’

 By David Amos

David Amos

SAN DIEGO–The stories, anecdotes, and musical experience that comes out of Sheldon Cohen, “Mr. L.A. Pops”, would make for a most entertaining and informative book.

Maestro Cohen will guest conduct the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra in its annual Pops Concert, which will feature his own arrangements of memorable popular and Broadway music. This concert will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 25, at Tifereth Israel Congregation’s Cohen Social Hall. 

Shelly Cohen may be more familiar to you than you may realize. For thirty years, he was the assistant director of the Tonight Show Band, starring Johnny Carson, which featured Doc Severinsen. His many adaptations and arrangements were heard on the late night NBC show for decades, and if you ever watched the program, you surely heard in the background his fine work. Carson used to call him “The Kosher Mantovani”, and get laughs with this line every time.

Shelly Cohen was educated at Brooklyn College, the Juilliard School of Music, and the Hartnett School of Music. He became Assistant Music Director of the Tonight Show in 1962, and remained so until Johnny’s retirement in 1992.

His other television accomplishments include being the Music Coordinator of the Emmy Awards and the Today Show’s “Reflections on Irving Berlin and Richard Rodgers”. He also wrote two Christmas specials for NBC, “Christmas with Friends”, and “Noel”. He has also appeared as a guest conductor of the Pops orchestras of Los Angeles, Virginia, Pasadena, and the Brentwood Symphony. In 1992 he formed the New Horizon Singers, and together, they have performed in many venues in the Los Angeles area.

He is also the founder of the Pacific Pops Orchestra, a group of professional musicians who in addition to concerts, are involved in many of Shelly’s recording projects.

This week, the rehearsals for the TICO pops concert have been a treat to its musicians, thanks to Shelly’s colorful show business anecdotes, amiable style, and recollections of humorous incidents in his relationship with the Tonight Show.

Recently, Shelly has become the Musical Director for the San Fernando Valley Male Chorus and has formed his own swing band, The Swing Tones. In addition, he has produced and recorded numerous albums for many major recording companies. Two of these were nominated for Grammy awards.

For his concert with the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra on July 25, Shelly will bring the voices of the Horizon Singers, and various vocal soloists. The New Horizon Singers have been pleasing audiences, both young and old, continuously for over 18 years. Their repertory runs the gamut from Classical to pops contemporary, oldies, and sacred music.

Selections to be performed will include Bernstein on Broadway, Ritual Fire Dance, They Call the Wind Maria, Saturday Night at the Movies, Time to Say Goodbye, Holiday for Strings, Theme from The Magnificent Seven, a Henry Mancini Medley, a Disney Medley, music by Rodgers and Hart, Jule Styne on Broadway, and many other delightful surprises.

TICO has also announced the dates and programs for it 2010-2011 season. Save the dates for concerts on November 16, 2010, and in 2011, February 1, March 29, June 14, and July 24. These concerts will include music by Stravinsky, Von Suppé, Saint-Saens, Janacek, Ravel, Samuel Barber, Debussy, Nielsen, and Gustav Holst.

For information and/or reservations for the July 25 Pops Concert, or for receiving next season’s brochure, buying a season ticket package, or becoming a patron, call Tifereth Israel at (619) 697 6001, or check the TICO website .

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Amos is conductor of the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra and has guest conducted professional orchestras around the world.