Finding Jews in Rural America

By Steve Hofstetter

Steve Hofstetter

NEW YORK–The New York metro area has 2 million Jews, more than everywhere but Tel Aviv. But it’s a big drop after that. LA has 650,000. Philly, DC, Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco each have about a quarter million. A few more American cities have 50,000-100,000. But when you get down to the top 40 American cities, we’re talking less than 10,000 in a metro area.

We have always gravitated towards large metro areas. Perhaps it’s because we’re a communal people. Perhaps it’s for the availability of good Chinese food. Whatever the reason, we’re city dwellers. Which means there’s an awful lot of America without any Jews.

I can just imagine someone on JDate in Pierre, South Dakota, messaging the same two people over and over again. There are only 295 Jews in the whole state – I’m guessing their answer to JDate’s “Will you relocate?” question is a resounding yes.

As a standup comic, I am constantly touring – so I get a chance to see parts of the country most people only dream about. Assuming their dreams are incredibly boring. I recently played a comedy club in Mason City, Illinois. I don’t know how they have a comedy club – they don’t even have a McDonald’s. I also don’t know how they get to be called a city. Mason Rest Stop, maybe. Incidentally, Mason City’s Jewish population is me, whenever I perform there.

Something that’s always been tough for me is being Jewish on the road. I learned very quickly to ask if everything I order is made it with bacon. Salad, steak, even pizza has come with bacon without the menu saying so. In certain parts of the country, they use bacon like Jews use salt. I’m actually shocked that powdered bacon isn’t available in a jar at the table. Most days I have to pretend I’m allergic to pork for any waitress to take me seriously. You try explaining kosher in Wichita.

I try to use the stage to spread love for the Jews, both with positive Jewish humor, and by simply being a Jewish guy the crowd likes. I am often the first Jew a lot of people meet, which is a ridiculous responsibility. To counteract prevalent stereotypes, I have to make sure to tip well, avoid klezmer music, and never eat the blood of Christian babies. Or bacon.

There was one time when I purposefully didn’t talk about being Jewish on stage. Before a show at a small bar in Muskogee, Oklahoma, my friends and I were confronted by what we thought were just local yokels. As they talked our annoyed ears off more and more, yokel turned into racist, and racist turned into two card-carrying members of the Ku Klux Klan. That’s right – they had ID cards. I believe they kept them right next to their Bed Bath and Beyond rewards cards. All those sheets can get expensive.

An aside – while doing research for this column, I checked out the KKK’s website – it looks like it was made by an 8th grader in 1997. Apparently, they hate black people, Jews, and HTML.

No one in the bar knew who I was, so my friends and I swapped positions on the show. I went on first and did ten ad-libbed minutes about growing up a patriotic, Christian American. I am proud to be Jewish, sure – but I am also proud of the Jewish people’s inherent ability to survive. That night, it was my turn.

I happily returned to Manhattan in one piece. I’m not saying we’re immune to anti-Semitism in New York; At some point Mel Gibson will star in an Oliver Stone movie here. But I do recognize that I am spoiled by just how easy it is for New Yorkers to find everything from a synagogue to a Kosher Deli to a Jewish wife.

I am continually impressed by the resolve of Jews in smaller cities, where it’s not as easy to be Jewish. So for those of you who don’t have the luxury of an apartment complex littered with mezuzahs, stay strong. And make sure to check if they put bacon on your ice cream.

*

Steve Hofstetter is an internationally touring comedian who has been VH1, ESPN, and Comedy Central. To find out how to book him at your next event, visit SteveHofstetter.com. This column was originally published on jdate.com.

4 SDJA students bring home water reclamation prize from Israel

SDJA students Noah Sutton-Smolin, Ari Colton, Jake Posnock and Matan Kaminski prepare their water reclamation device for the Gildor Family Projects and Inventions Competition in Israel.

SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– After winning the national Gildor Family Projects and Inventions Competition in New York last June, San Diego Jewish Academy (SDJA) students Ari Colton, Matan Kaminski, Noah Sutton-Smolin and Jake Posnock traveled to Israel to represent the United States at the international competition.

After nearly seven months of work developing an innovative water reclamation device with six other eighth and ninth grade students from SDJA, the group’s work paid off when they won first place at the international competition.

“The competition was a great experience. It all started with an entrance application and assembling our team. We met with a coordinator once a week and began developing our device,” said Matan Kaminski, a ninth grade student at SDJA.

The competition was hosted by the Israel Center for Excellence Through Education and focused on water conservation. The competition challenged students from across the world to conceptualize and create devices that could be used to recycle grey water (dirty water) from washing machines so that it could be reused for agriculture or drinking.

The SDJA students decided to use reverse osmosis as their primary method of filtration, as they found this to be the most effective method in their early experimentation. To perfect their device, the group faced many challenges along the way and developed creative solutions for a variety of issues.

“One thing that amazed me was their solution to a problem with a pump overheating. Rather than spending hundreds of dollars on a special heat resistant adhesive, the group researched the issue and found that a combination of petroleum jelly and toothpaste would be just as effective as the expensive adhesive,” stated Rose Armour, an SDJA science teacher and project coordinator.

The culmination of their journey was both exciting and tiring for the students, who returned to San Diego on July 22. “I enjoyed playing around with new things and experimenting. I am excited to apply them to the rest of my learning career, and hopefully use them throughout my life,” stated Kaminski.

*
Preceding provided by San Diego Jewish Academy

Rothman lauds funding for U.S.-Israel anti-missile programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–U.S. Representative Steve Rothman (D-NJ), a member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, released the following statement:

On July 27, 2010, the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a strong message – to our allies and enemies alike – by appropriating more funds than ever before toward joint U.S.-Israel and Israeli missile defense programs. This is only the latest example that when it comes to defense, military, and intelligence cooperation, the relationship between the U.S. and Israel has never been stronger.

Chairman Norm Dicks, myself and all the members of the Defense Subcommittee understand how important it is to be at the cutting edge of anti-missile technology, both to safeguard our own citizens and troops, but also those citizens and troops of our allies and friends such as the people of the Jewish state of Israel.

Given the concern and attention that we are focusing now on every dollar we are expending on behalf of the U.S. taxpayer for all purposes, including the defense of the United States and its allies, it is a mark of the importance of these projects that they were all funded so robustly and fully by our Subcommittee.

The Appropriations Defense Subcommittee has just appropriated $217.7 million in funding for essential joint U.S.-Israel missile defense programs, which is an increase of $95.7 million in funds over the original request. I am proud that since 2007, the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee has allocated more than $750 million in federal funding for the Arrow and David’s Sling anti-missile systems. Including this year’s allocation of $205 million toward Israel’s Iron Dome program, the Subcommittee has allocated nearly one billion dollars toward these three missile defense systems over the past three years.

I thank President Barack Obama, Chairman of the Defense Subcommittee, Norm Dicks, and all my colleagues on the Subcommittee for their leadership and vision in providing this life-saving support. The growing proliferation and increasing deadliness of missiles around the world pose a direct threat to the U.S. and our allies, making funding missile defense systems vitally important for America’s national security.

*
Preceding provided by U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman

AJE to teach course on ‘Who wrote the Bible?’

SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–The Agency for Jewish Education announces a 2-part lecture series with Noah Hadas beginning on September 14^th. The title of the class is “Who Wrote The Bible?”

Why do there appear to be two creation stories in Genesis? Why did Abraham ask Sarah to pretend to be his sister two different times? How many animals of each species did Noah bring onto the ark? These questions will lead us to consider the Documentary Hypothesis, the scholarly assertion that the Torah is a compilation of separate sources. In this class, we will begin to untangle these sources and shed light on some of the Torah’s most puzzling stories.

Morning (10-11:30am) and evening (7-8:30pm) sessions are offered. This class meets at the Lawrence Family JCC, 4126 Executive Dr., La Jolla, CA 92037. Tuition is $10. For more information or to register, contact the Agency for Jewish Education, (858) 268-9200 ext.102 or visit http://www.ajesd.org.

*
Preceding provided by the Agency for Jewish Education

Melton Adult Mini-School offers courses on some timeless topics

SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– The Agency for Jewish Education invites you to join the great Jewish conversation! Do Jews believe in heaven and hell? Are abortions OK according to Jewish law? How could the Holocaust have happened? What happens after we die? These questions and more are discussed in Melton classes.

The Melton Adult Mini-School is an internationally acclaimed weekly school tailored for adults who want to learn about Judaism in a sophisticated and enjoyable way. Melton classes meet at the JCC (9:30-11:45am or 7-9:15pm) and are stimulating, informative and inspiring. Melton has NO tests, NO homework, and NO grades!

Upcoming free taste times and locations as follows:

Wed., Aug 18 Congregation Beth Israel, 9001 Towne Centre Drive 10:00 – 11:30am

Wed., Aug 18 Lawrence Family JCC, 4126 Executive Dr., La Jolla 7:00 – 8:30pm

For more information or to register, contact the Agency for Jewish Education, (858) 268-9200 ext.102 or visit http://www.ajesd.org.

*
Preceding provided by the Agency for Jewish Education

Commentary: As peace talks loom, Arab rejectionists fire their missiles

By Ira Sharkansky

Ira Sharkansky

JERUSALEM–It is not easy to make peace in this region. 

Currently those who aspire to a breakthrough depend on Mahmoud Abbas and Benyamin Netanyahu. Neither of them inspires a great deal of confidence, given their histories. Moreover, both are politicians, dependent on pressures and constraints from local and wider constituencies.

As we are hearing the hopeful talk about the prospects for discussion (few are hopeful enough to predict success), others in the region are making it difficult on both the Palestinian and the Israeli to be generous. 

Naysayers at the peaks of Syrian and Iranian governments, and well as Hizbollah, have spoken of war in the last couple of days. There has been an uptick of rocket fire from Gaza and the Sinai. The weapons cannot be aimed and are not reliable. A substantial proportion blow up while being assembled or fall on the wrong people. There was a explosion last night in the residence of a leading Hamas figure that injured more than 40 persons. No surprise that Hamas blamed Israel, but a more reliable response from the IDF said that it was not operating in Gaza at the time. 

The luck of those firing these missiles can create a catastrophe. One recently landed close enough to an apartment building in Ashkelon to do damage and terrify those nearby. Another hit a building on the campus of one of Israel’s better colleges. If school had been in session and a number of people killed, the follow up might have looked like last year’s destruction and death throughout Gaza.

Five rockets were pointed in the direction of Eilat. Israeli sources claim that they came from the Sinai. Egyptians say that would be impossible in the presence of their forces. Anyone spending a bit of time in the Sinai must doubt the capacity of any military to know what is happening on every ridge and in the wadis between them.

Two of those rockets landed in the sea, one on an empty field in Eilat, and two missed Israel and reached the Jordanian city of Aqaba. One of those injured several people near a hotel. Initial reports mentioned that international tourists were among those hurt. The Jordanians claim that only workers and drivers were injured. 

While few who are familiar with the Middle East or international politics anywhere may expect complete candor, the lack of anything close to that is one of the elements contributing to problems of reliability, and whatever that does to the confidence necessary for agreements. 

Among the speculations heard from the intelligence community is that the purpose of the firings toward Eilat/Aqaba was to threaten the Egyptian regime, presumably in control of the Sinai. Analysts say that these weapons bear signs of being Iranian.

In a place where there are multiple lines of animosity and enough troublemakers to provide weapons, the optimist must work hard to define conditions that may promote agreements, and then harder to encourage some actors who may be inclined to accommodations without provoking others to another spurt of violence.

Each rocket reminds Abbas what part of his constituency thinks about peace, and reminds Netanyahu of the same thing. Abbas and his coterie may have signed on to the principle of peace, but support throughout Palestine and other Muslim countries is sufficiently problematic to make any Israel wonder about the merits of an investment.

We heard on prime time television the principal Palestinian negotiator describing what he said was the most generous offer Palestinians had ever made to Israel. Then a commentator noted that it was similar to what some Palestinians, seemingly in the ruling circle, had offered in 2000, then other Palestinians, even closer to power, had rejected. 

The most difficult issues include the 50,000 or so Israelis living in the West Bank beyond the major settlements that are candidates for land swaps; control of Palestine’s eastern border; Palestinian demand for refugee rights; Jerusalem, especially the Old City and even more especially what Jews call the Temple Mount and Muslims Haram esh Sharif or Noble Sanctuary. There is a longer list that includes Palestinian demilitarization, water, sewage, solid waste and other environmental controls, compensation for perceived wrongs done over the course of a century or more, and perhaps several others. Only inhabitants of a fairy land can think that any of this is easy, or that the details can be handled by technicians without reference to implications for security, national feelings, personal ego, and the next election.

*
Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, November 12, 1954, Part 1

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staffSouthwestern Jewish Press, November 12, 1954, Pages 1,6, 7

Salute To Tijuana and Ensenada: Jewish Community of San Diego Greets Neighbors

Because of the short distance between San Diego and the Mexican border, Jews of Tijuana and Lower California feel a great deal closer to the Jews of San Diego than they do to any group in Mexico, including those in Mexico City.  Their desire to establish friendships on both sides of the border has brought the organized Jewish community of Tijuana and Ensenada into the fold of the Jewish community organizations of San Diego – the United Jewish Fund and the Federation of Jewish Agencies—as an active group within their framework.

Supporting community activities both financially and morally, the Jewish community of Tijuana receives in return support of their activities from many members of the Jewish community and the services rendered by the agencies of the Jewish community of San Diego.

The Jews of lower California – Tijuana and Ensenada—are a fine group of people with a warmth toward Judaism and in many cases a high degree of Jewish learning. They have exceptionally strong group feelings which leads them to support all good Jewish causes.  Besides their own contributions to the United Jewish Fund, they support many Jewish causes for national agencies, overseas and for Israel. 

It is because of this strong group feeling and the feeling of belonging to the Jewish people that the Jews of Tijuana and Ensenada have formed themselves into social clubs. The Hatikvah Club and the Mogen David Club are both flourishing community centers and supply the social needs of the people. Club meetings are held on Wednesday evenings, starting about 9:30 p.m. and very often guests from San Diego are present and participate in their activities.

From time to time, the Jewish community of Tijuana has large and gracious celebrations to which San Diegans have always been invited and which many San Diegans have attended.

It is our hope in San Diego and the hope of the insiders of the Jewish community of Tijuana that a closer relationship will be established between the two communities. Jews who live so close to each other, even though in different countries, should have a friendly and warm feeling toward each other; should work together, and should aid each other whenever necessary. Both San Diego and Tijuana Jewry can well be proud of their long record of mutual aid and assistance as well as the friendships that have existed for many years.   – Albert A. Hutler, Exec. Dir., United Jewish Fund and Federation of San Diego

*
A Dream Coming True!: $69,385.00 Raised by Center Board in Pre-Opening Drive
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 12, 1954, Pages 1, 4

Last night, 31 board members of the Jewish Community Center, in an unprecedented gesture, pledged $69,385.00 toward the new building.

Board members of the Jewish Community Center of San Diego expressed their belief that the ten-year dream of San Diego Jewry will come true by pledging almost $70,000 to the building fund at a pre-campaign dinner last Wednesday at the San Diego Hotel.

The goal of $269,000 will make certain of the first section of the Center building which when completely erected will cost over half-million dollars, according to Edward Breitbard, president.

The campaign, which opens next week, is headed by Harry Wax, chairman; Leo Beck, Morris Douglas, Rodin Horrow and Louis Steinman, co-chairmen.  All outstanding business men and Jewish community leaders, they expect to put the Center drive over before the end of the year by heard work, good gifts and enthusiasm. 

Chaired by two outstanding Center workers, Sidney Rose and Morris Kraus, who shared responsibility for pledges of Center board members, the dinner was attended by over forty members of the board of directors and their wives.  Besides making their own gift, each member of the board pledged his time, and energy and work to this community cause, and reported that enthusiasm in the entire community was running high with the hope of beginning to build sometime in late 1955.

“The board of directors dinner was held prior to the November 15^th campaign opening date,” Breitbard said, “because campaign leaders felt that the Center could not go to the community for a Center building fund unless its board members indicated their willingness, not only to work, but to give as magnanimously as possible to this cause.”

Campaign leaders agreed that if the results of the Center board dinner were any indication of the feeling of San Diego Jewry with relation to the Center, the campaign would be a tremendous success in a short period of time.  With contributions payable over a period of five years, the Center expects to receive some of the largest gifts in the history of Jewish giving in our community, according to Wax.

The campaign goal of $269,000 will make sure of the beginning of a modern building arising on the 2 ½ acre site on 54^th St. just north of University Avenue in late 1955 or early 1956 according to Breitbard. He stated that the plans of the building committee were to build the Center in sections as money was available.  It has been estimated that $269,000 in pledges will be necessary to construct the first section, which will provide all the sorely needed facilities for a Jewish Community building in San Diego including athletic and swimming facilities as well as meeting rooms, library and offices for all of the Jewish agencies in San Diego. When completed the Jewish community will own a building worth over $500,000.

Sandy Ratner and Leoni Leichtag have accepted the chairmanship voluntarily joining the campaign committee to organize a young people’s division so that the younger group will be able to hve a stake in the new building.

Chairman Wax also announced that plans are now underway to hold the community kick-off dinner this month and to bring San Diego an outstanding personality for that meeting.

*
Notice of Nomination Board of Jewish Fund
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 12, 1954, Pages 1, 4

As part of the regular business of the Annual Meeting of the United Jewish Fund on Sunday, December 12, 6:30 p.m., at the San Diego Hotel, the Nominating Committee will present the following list to the membership as nominees for the Board of Directors for a two year term, 1955 and 1956:

David Block, Mrs. Ted Brav, Zel Camiel, Mack Esterson, Manuel S. Fisher, Mrs. Dora Friedman, Irving Friedman, Arthur Goodman, Ben Harris, Harry Mallen, Jerome Niederman, Maury Novak, Dr. Walter Ornstein, Sol Price, Seymour Rabin, Mrs. Abe Ratner, Dr. Joshua Rittoff, David Sapp, Harry Sugarman and Harry Wax.

Other members of the United Jewish Fund may be nominated according to Article X, Section IV of the By-Laws as follows:

“The Nominating Committee shall receive written petition of nominations made by five members, and containing the name or names of any other member or members for presentation at the Annual Meeting as nominees for the election of directors. The names of the person or persons nominated by petition shall be filed with the secretary of the United Jewish Fund, and be accompanied by the written acceptance of such nominees not later than five days preceding the Annual Meeting.”

Carl M. Esenoff, Chairman
Morris Douglas
Murray D. Goodrich
Eli H. Levenson
Sol Price
Victor Schulman
Ruben Umansky

*

Welcome Delegates: Committee Prepares Hospitality for JWB Conference; First Time in San Diego
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 12, 1954, Pages 1, 10

The Jewish community of San Diego has prepared a gala welcome to the Western Region Annual Conference of National Jewish Welfare Board (JWB), it was announced jointly by Morris W. Douglas and Carl M. Esenoff, co-chairmen of the San Diego Conference Committee, JWB.

The JWB Conference will be held at El Cortez Hotel on November 12^th through 14^th. Several hundred lay leaders, military and civilian rabbis, armed services personnel, Jewish Center executives, and special guests from over 40 communities in the 11 Western states will meet to discuss the Armed Services religious, morale and welfare problems, as well as the rapidly emerging developments in the Jewish Community Center field.

The revered General of the Army Omar N. Bradley, will share the rostrum with Samuel D. Gershovitz, JWB executive vice-president, at the banquet on Saturday evening, in delivering an address of momentous impact. Col. Harry D. Henshel, National Chairman of JWB’s Armed Services Division, will keynote the delegates’ talks for 1955 at the Sunday summation luncheon.

Edward A. Breitbard, president of the San Diego Jewish Community Center, Congregation Tifereth Israel, is serving as Program Chairman of the Community Center aspects of the Conference.

The synagogue and their rabbis have declared JWB Sabbath for the Conference weekend.  Rabbi William Z. Dalin, San Francisco area JWB chaplain, will occupy Rabbi Cohn’s pulpit at Temple Beth Israel. At Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Rabbi Samuel W. Chomsky, Los Angeles area JWB Chaplain, will address the congregation from Rabbi Levens’ pulpit.  Rabbi Baruch Stern of Congregation Beth Jacob will conduct a Havdalah service at the hotel just prior to the banquet on Saturday evening.

A coffee lounge in the Terrace Room where delegates may relax and talk Center and Armed Services business, will be operated throughout the Conference by the Women’s League of San Diego Center.  A delegates’ information desk will be manned by Mmes. Tom Turner, Joseph Spatz, Geo. Katz, Henry Weinberger, Harold Garvin, Dora Friedman and Max Rabinowitz.  Mrs. Rose Neumann and a special committee of greeters will receive guests at the cocktail reception.

All Conference Sessions are open to San Diegans the Conference chairman emphasized. A special package deal for non-delegates has been set up for main banquet. The banquet dinner, addressed by Gen. Bradley and followed by the Conference Ball, featuring Billy Carmens’ Aristocrats, is available at $5.00 per person. Further information regarding the Conference may be obtained by calling Conference Headquarters at Belmont 9-3712.

*
UJF Leaders to Allocate Funds
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 12, 1954, Page 1

Work on the process of distributing the funds raised in the 1954 Combined Jewish Appeal of San Diego’s United Jewish Fund was under way this week as the open hearings were completed last Sunday according to the timetable. Final recommendations as to allocation to the national and overseas agencies will be ready,  William Colt and Leonard Drogin, chairman and co-chairman, announced , for submission to the next United Jewish Fund board meeting and will be announced at the annual meeting of the United Jewish Fund on Sunday, December 12.

At the next meeting on November 15, the Allocations Committee, which has been studying the over 100 organizations submitting requests to share in the proceeds of the campaign, will be faced with making equitable allocations and, at the same time, achieving an over-all cut of at least 10 percent, according to Colt and Drogin.

*
National Jewish Welfare Program of Events
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 12, 1954, Page 1

Friday, November 12

9:00 a.m.—Registration, El “Cortez Hotel
12:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m. – Luncheon—Don Room (sponsored by USO-JWB Armed Services Committee, San Diego)
2:30 p.m-4:30 p.m.—1) Workshop Center Division—Franciscan Room – Subject: “Are You Building a Center?”

8:00 p.m. –Religious Services (JWB guest speakers—Community Synagogues)

Saturday, November 13

1:30 p.m-4:00 p.m –Oneg Shabbat – Don Room – Subject: Sabbath practices in centers – its relationship to “service to our youth in civilian and military life – what and how it should be provided.”

6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. – Reception and social hour – Franciscan Room and Patio

7:00 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. – Havdalah services conducted by Rabbi Baruch Stern, San Diego

7:15 p.m.—10 p.m. – Conference Banquet – Don Room – Invocation: Rabbi Morton J. Cohn, San Diego – Speakers: Gen. Omar N. Bradley, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, USA, Retired; Samuel D. Gershovitz, Exec Vice-Pres, NJWB

10:00 p.m. –Conference Ball – Don Room.

Sunday, November 14

9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. – Workshops – 1) Workshop—Franciscan Room – Subject: Clinic on Center Problems.

12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – Luncheon – Don Room

*
To See or not To See
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 12, 1954, Page 2

By Berenice Soule

Our Premiere—The 77 small cities throughout the country that will see Paul Gregory’s “3 For Tonight’ should be pleased with it.  He has brought together Marge and Gower Champion, Harry Belafonte, and the Walter Schumann “Voices”—artists that ordinarily would not appear on a concert stage alone – but as Gregory put it, “deserve to be heard and seen.”

In an informal interview with Paul Gregory just before the premiere of “3 For Tonight’ last week, he said that “the theatre” in his opinion “should not have a message or moralize, but entertain.”

Only because we have come to expect great things from Gregory does this pleasant evening seem to fall short. As producer, with Charles Laughton, of Don Juan in Hell, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, John Brown’s Body, Gregory is in the unenviable position of a producer of masterpieces whose audiences will never be satisfied with less.  “3 For Tonight” is less and because it is produced by the young genius of the theatre it is disappointing.

But, it is a pleasant evening. The Champions are gay, and young and delightful, but could use on real “dress-up” number.  Belafonte is virile and magnetic needing only a little more variety in his selections; and the Walter Schumann Choir is a joy. There’s no doubt that it should be classed as “entertainment” and that is what the producers meant it to be, so perhaps it’s rapacious to expect “entertainment from Gregory and Laughton to be entertainment!Paul Gregory, himself, is attractive and cordial, but according to him, can be otherwise when irked by pomposity or sham.  He looks like a younger (33, to be exact) Gregory Peck. The marked resemblance simplified the problem of choosing a new name – normal procedure for Hollywood. It was while he was under contract to MGM and cast as Peck’s younger brother that he took Peck’s name, made the minor changes and adopted it as his own.

It would have been profitable to have bought stock in this young man starting with his first theatrical production, when he booked Winston Churchill for a speech at his college in Georgia.  Upon departure, Churchill presented the coming impresario with his (Churchill’s) coat of arms on a chain.  The talisman has proved an open sesame any place in England for Gregory when worn around his (Gregory’s) neck.

The famous “cocktail party” interview in New York that was reprinted throughout the country quoting him as saying he was through with the theatre and would henceforth devote full time to movies caused mild hysteria among theatre devotees. So it was natural (at a cocktail party, here) to ask for an explanation of the disputed quote. For the record, and for evermore to clear Paul Gregory’s good name—he declared that his remarks had been, “If I always had to work with actors like H___ F____, I wouldn’t produce another show.”  (Meet me under Jessop’s clock at noon and for a fee I shall divulge the name of H___ F____). Now that that’s been cleared up, theatre-manes like us can sleep soundly once more.

Of course, what brought this all on, is the fact that Gregory is producing movie, too.  His first, The Night of the Hunter, will be released in March. It stars Robert Mitchum with Lillian Gish, Shelley Winters and Agnes Moorehead. Shooting was done on the RKO lot and along the Ohio River.  Production will start next spring on his second, The Naked and the Dead, also starring Robert Mitchum for which the budget is a nice round two and a quarter million.

Amusingly Yours – A comedy-farce about prize-winning novels, clubwomen and college professors, Accidentally Yours, is uniformly easy and agreeable under the direction of Betsy Young for the Alpha Omega Players. The Pauline Williams play was well cast and played for laughs in which it abounded.

Dorothy Haven and John Thompson play the college professor-author and his wife: he has written a children’s book so becomes a genius in the eyes of his wife who, perforce, demands a best-seller from his uninspired pen.

With delivery to match the dry humor of her lines, RoseMarie Schwiegen, as the professor’s niece, with Jack Aaronson as a bonafide author, provide the love interest in an off-beat romance.  Nilva Quint delightfully portrayed a Helen Hokinson-type clubwoman and Ethel Swanton was tremendously amusing as a maid who would undoubtedly find difficulty in finding similar employment off-stage.

In a role that suited his talents probably better than any he has had in the past, Elton Ellis as properly indignant, frustrated and crushed in turn.

Others in the cast are Florence Cameron, Ginny Morgan, Doris Smith, Hilbert Smith, Robert McKenna, Carleton Barker and Harry Morgan who was excellent in a small role.  Accidentally Yours can be seen at the Parish Hall Theatre, 1531 Tyler St., Nov. 12, 13, 18.

Keeping Track—The latest news about actor Stephen Elliott is that he can e seen in the movie, 3 Hours to Kill, which should be released here soon. Elliott had done a great deal of excellent work on TV and is appearing in this western with Dana Andrews and Donna Reed. His most avid fans, his parents, are Mr. and Mrs. Louis Stitzel.

Originals—The fourth annual Festival of Original One-Act Plays sponsored by the Little Theatre League of San Diego County will be staged in the Puppet Theatre in Balboa Park Friday and Saturday, Nov. 12 and 13. Curtain time is 8:15 p.m.

Many local writers will be represented, among whom are Virginia Anderson, Bob Gunderson, Ruth Purkey, Dorothy Bonsignore,  Specer Purkey, and Georgette Rankin. Different plays will be presented on each night so it should be interesting to attend both evenings.

(Personal note: if only one evening’s attendance is possible, may I suggest Friday, and that you applaud like mad for the character of Linda in Virina Anderson’s You May See A Stranger.)

*
Ice Cycles of 1955 Here Nov. 16-23
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 12, 1954, Page 2

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” which in its picture form has already had four releases since its original release and the biggest grosser of all time, is now repeating for its first time on ice.  The demand for its return to the ice has been equally great, but this is the first time that the Ice Cycles production schedule would permit its repeat.

This production can be seen at San Diego Glacier Garden anytime from November 16^th thru 23^rd with performances nightly except Sunday plus a 2:15 Saturday matinee and matinee on Sunday at 1:30 and 5:30.  Tickets are now available at the Glacier Garden Box Office either in person or through the mail.

*
Rex Miller Next Speaker At Forum
Southwestern Jewish Press, November 12, 1954, Page 2

Rex Miller, former American Embassy official in Turkey and Belgium, and a member of the Christian Science Monitor editorial board, will be the next speaker at the San Diego Open
Forum, on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 8:00 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church, 6th and Date Sts.

Mr. Miller, frequently heard on radio and television, will speak on “Can Western Europe Stick Together?”

*
“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.  

The Jews Down Under~News of the Jews of Australia and New Zealand

Garry Fabian

Compiled by Garry Fabian

Jewish congregation prepares to sue New Zealand government over shechita

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 23 July 2010 (Press Release)–The Working Group on shechita of the Auckland Hebrew Congregation has tried to engage further with theMinister of Agriculture.

The Minister is firm in his resolve to preserve his position, which does not give the Jewishcommunity a secure continuing supply of kosher meat, and only offered an unacceptable short term option. Accordingly agreement could not be reached. This is disappointing and has meant turning to progress the work on a legal action.

A leading law firm has been engaged and has prepared draft proceedings. These are currently being reviewed by a QC and a final decision will
be made following receipt of his advice.

Resources are being put in place to fund this course of action. We will continue to keep you informed of progress.

Garth Cohen, Michael Stiassny, Geoff Levy respectively,  President AHC, Chair AHCTB, Chair NZJC

B’nai B’rith Australia/New Zealand has taken a  lead donating A$ 5000 to the New Zealand Jewish  Community to assist in financing the legal  challenge, which is estimated to costs in excess of NZ$350,000

*
Israel a marker in Australian elections

SYDNEY, 28 July –  Malcolm Turnbull reaffirmed his “unequivocal support” for Israel at a New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies plenum on Tuesday night.

Turnbull, the incumbent, presented his credentials for the upcoming federal election, alongside his fellow candidates in Wentworth, the ALP’s Steven Lewis and the Greens’ Matthew Robertson.

The men did not debate each other, rather each was given an opportunity to address the gathering, which also included a question and answer session.

Turnbull said there may be occasions when “we may not agree with the tactics” of the IDF, but stressed there was a big distinction between the
strategic issues Israel faces and tactics used by the IDF.

“It is not realistic for us sitting here in  Sydney in the safety of Australia to try and second guess and critique how the IDF handles a particular mission,” he said.

“Where Israel needs our support is in the fundamental strategic question, and that is in ensuring that Israel’s security is protected.”

Turnbull slammed the Rudd-Gillard Government’s record on Israel, singling out Australia’s abstention at a United Nations vote on war crimes in Gaza.

Turning his attention to local issues, Turnbull criticised Labor for its failure to introduce an emissions trading scheme, its bungled insulation program and “the billions wasted” in the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program.

In response, Lewis outlined the many benefits that the BER brought to Sydney’s Jewish schools, while defending the Labor Party’s record on Israel.

“The Australian Labor Party has been and remains a friend and strong ally of Israel,” he said, pointing out Australia diplomat “Doc” Evatt’s role in the establishment of Israel and the Government’s resolution last year in
congratulating Israel on its 60th anniversary.

Lewis also pointed out Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s efforts, as education minister, in getting Holocaust studies included in the draft national school curriculum.

He warned the meeting that a vote for Turnbull was really a vote for Abbott. “I have a genuine fear that this country, led by Tony Abbott, will take a path down a conservative road that will not be in the interest of all of us,” he said. “I ask that you vote for me and ensure that Julia Gillard can return and continue the good work that she has started.”

Greens candidate Matthew Robertson expressed his gratitude at being given the opportunity toaddress the forum before outlining the need for
“urgent action” on climate change.

Conspicuously, Robertson did not mention Israel. When asked during question time about the Greens’ policy in light of their frequent criticism of
Israel, Robertson said the Greens supported “the right of the Israeli people to live within safe and secure UN-mandated borders”.

“The Greens take support from the core principle of peace and nonviolence, and we wish to see a safe and secure resolution to the conflict in the Middle East,” he said

*
Jewish Veterans at mainstream venue

MELBOURNE, 29 July –  Victoria’s Jewish ex-servicemen and women will find their diaries filling quickly, as the organisation representing
them tries for a new lease on life.

To set the ball rolling, the Victorian Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women (VAJEX) is planning its first ever military “pilgrimage” service at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance on August 1.

“It’s to commemorate the Jewish dead who fell in war. The thinking is that VAJEX, in its 81 years, has never, as far as we know, had a service at
the Shrine. We’ve taken a step forward with this, and it has been in the planning for a year,” VAJEX president Ben Hirsh told The AJN.

Addressing the initiatives that will hopefully inject new vigour into the association, Hirsh said: “To keep going, we’ve changed the rules to
admit non-service members, and we’re hoping many more who had relatives in the forces will join. It’s to keep alive a Jewish organisation that’s being going since 1929.”

The service will feature a shofar-blowing ceremony by Rabbi Phillip Heilbrunn, and will include VAJEX patron Major General Jeffrey
Rosenfeld and chaplain Rabbi Dovid Gutnick. The gathering will take place beneath a VAJEX flag, which will fly from dawn to sundown, and the organisation’s banner.

Other events planned in the coming months include a commemoration at the graveside of Sergeant Issy Smith of the Imperial Army’s Manchester Regiment in Fawkner Cemetery on September 12, and a gathering at Brighton Cemetery on October 8 to honour the memory of Australia’s greatest
military figure, Sir John Monash, 79 years after his death.

The organisation will also be taking part in the annual Monash commemoration at State Parliament on August 6.

*
Church vs State

CANBERRA, 30 July – As the roof body of Australian churches urges its members to consider A boycott of goods produced by Israeli settlements,
tensions have flared  between Christian and Jewish leaders. Are interfaith relations heading to a new low?

Australia’s roof Christian body is urging Australian churches to boycott goods produced by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The motion, which also calls for a end to the blockade of Gaza, was passed by the National Council of
Churches in Australia (NCAA) in Canberra last week. Affirming the solidarity of the NCAA with Palestinian Christians, the resolution states that the NCAA will advocate and act for the end of the occupation of the Palestinian people.
It also “calls on the member-churches of the NCAA and the wider Australian community to consider a boycott of goods produced by Israeli settlements
in the occupied Palestinian territories”.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) president Robert Goot said in a letter to the NCAA that the motion came “as a complete and most unpleasant surprise.”

“We feel that we have been badly let down by people we have long thought as our friends”, Goot said. ECAJ vice-president and president of the ACT Jewish Community, Dr Anita Shroot had addressed the forum on behalf of the ECAJ.  “I felt welcomed when I was there and then I was shocked and reeling when I got a note from Robert about what happened”, she said. “Frankly I have
quite a few real friends who were there, but there is obviously an element that swung the motion”.

NCAA general secretary Reverend Tara Curlewis said this motion does not mean the NCAA  supports theboycott. “We were asked to consider this by the
heads of the churches of the Middle East, so we are asking our churches to consider the proposal by looking at the positives and negatives of it”, Rev Curlewis said.

The Australian Christians Supporting Israel is one organisation that was not happy with the motion.

*
Opposition Leader criticises Government policy on Israel

MELBOURNE, 30 July –   Speaking at an Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce lunch in Melbourne lastt week Opposition Leader Tony
Abbott took the opportunity to criticise the Rudd-Gillard Government’s record towards Israel.

“I have to say that it’s a little disappointing, given the deep affinity between the Australian people and the Israeli people that the current Australian Government has somewhat weakened our longstanding bipartisanship on Israel,” Abbott said before the crowd of more than 1000 businesspeople and Liberal Party faithful.

“I want to reiterate here today, the Coalition’s unshakable commitment to Israel’s security and I want to assure you that a Coalition government
would never support a one-sided United Nations resolution against Israel to curry favour with an anti-Israel majority in the General Assembly,” he said.

He continued: “And we would never overreact to any international incident, because we appreciate that Israel is under existential threat in a way
that almost no other country in the world is.”

He told guests, including dozens of the nation’s finest journalists, who were following Abbott’s campaign trail, that Australia needs to appreciate that “a diminished Israel diminishes the West”.

The Opposition Leader also used the opportunity to pay tribute to the achievements of the local Jewish community. He commented that Australia is
the only country in the world, apart from Israel, where Jewish people have occupied the highest offices, including as the governor-general.

Among guests at the Crown Casino lunch were Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey, Shadow Minister for Finance Andrew Robb, Victorian Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu and former treasurer Peter Costello.

Costello, who travelled with Julia Gillard to Israel last year for the Australia-Israel Leadership Forum, delivered the vote of thanks, endorsing his former cabinet colleague’s tilt at the top job.

“Tony Abbott is a man of commitment and a man of drive,” Costello said. “I know he was party of a very successful government, I don’t know that about Julia Gillard.”

*

Major boost for school security

CANBERRA, 2 August – The $20 million fund for school security has been topped up with another $15 million, much of it likely to be given to Jewish schools.

Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor announced the program extension at Melbourne’s Beth Rivkah Ladies College on Tuesday.

Joining him for the announcement were ALP incumbent in Melbourne Ports Michael Danby, and fellow Jewish Labor MP Mark Dreyfus, who is re-contesting the seat of Isaacs.

The announcement received bipartisan support, ensuring it would be a done deal whoever becomes prime minister.

“The Government must intervene where necessary to assist schools that have more danger or more risk associated with them,” O’Connor told a school
assembly of senior Beth Rivkah girls. “It ensures that those schools are able to dedicate more resources to the primary purpose of education.”

A Liberal party spokesperson confirmed that a formal announcement regarding its own promise will be made by the Coalition in coming weeks.

Like the previous rounds of funding distributed over the past two years, the program will continue to support those schools at risk of racist or religiously motivated attacks.

“This will allow our schools to use education funding for education purposes,” co-chair of the Australian Council for Jewish Schools Nechama Bendet told the minister. For Jewish schools, she emphasised, spending money on protecting students was “not as a matter of a choice, but of necessity”.

Danby personally thanked the minister for his assistance and praised his party for its commitment to education.

“Brendan, I really appreciate the seriousness with which you and your advisers address this issue,” he remarked.

“If you were looking objectively at the amount of resources either in building classrooms, beautifying playgrounds, funding for some of these schools that didn’t get their correct allocation, like Yeshivah and Beth Rivkah, or
programs like the security funding, you’d have to say this was a golden period of government support for all schools in Australia, including Jewish schools.”

Dreyfus commented that a week earlier had been the anniversary of the bombing of a Jewish centre in Argentina, which killed 85 people in 1994.

“I wish that had never happened, but having been to Buenos Aires since then, I can say that I don’t want to see in Australia the kind of security arrangements that every single communal facility – every school, every synagogue, everymeeting place – of that very large Jewish community has, I never want to see that in Australia.

“One way in which we can deal with that is the kind of additional expenditure met by the Government for security arrangements in our schools.”

*
Habonim celebrates seven decades

MELBOURNE–Habonim Dror will commemorate 70 years in Australia next month with celebrations planned for Melbourne and Sydney.

Melbourne’s reunion event at the Glen Eira Town Hall on August 7 will feature a show and light supper, while Sydney will be treated to dinner
and dancing on August 28 at a yet-to-be-decided venue.

Melbourne organiser Robyn Davis said the event is for people who have attended Habonim anywhere in the world.

“It will be an opportunity for all past members of Habonim to get together, talk, dance, celebrate and talk about their time at Habonim,” she said. “It’s a very special event to signify the role that Habonim [has] played within the
Jewish community – it also has demonstrated that it has been a community in itself.”

Head of Sydney’s Parents and Friends of Habonim Peter Royal said the initial venue chosen for the gala reunion is now too small.

“We have been bowled over by the level of response from people,” he said.

He said around 300 people are expected to attend, adding that absolutely anyone who has been involved with Habonim worldwide, including in
South Africa and South America are welcome to join the celebration.

“The idea is to try and have anyone who had any association with the movement participate in the Habonim 70th, to have a fun time and to get
together, and get to know other people who were in the past movement or in the present movement,” he said.

Royal said it is important for all Jewish children to belong to a youth movement, whether or not it is Habonim.

“The whole idea is synagogues give you a reason for why you’re Jewish, schools teach you the history of the Jewish people and the youth
movements teach you how to have fun and be proud to be Jewish.”

*
Fabian is Australia bureau chief for San Diego Jewish World

Book Review: The Roman Wars-Was Josephus a Jewish hero or traitor?

Jerusalem’s Traitor: Josephus, Masada, and the Fall of Judea by Desmond Seward, Da Capo Press, Cambridge, MA; ISBN 978-0-306-81807-3, ©2009, $28.00, p. 275, plus maps, endnotes, and selected bibliography

By Fred Reiss, Ed.D.

Fred Reiss

WINCHESTER, California — Desmond Seward, noted historian and author, in his newest book, Jerusalem’s Traitor provides us with a biography of Joseph Ben Matityahu, known to the world as Josephus. A biography of Josephus is equivalent to an eye-witness history of the First Jewish War against Rome (66-70 CE).

During much of the first century of the Common Era, the land that we call Israel today, Judea, Samaria, and the Galilee, was a place of religious infighting as well as political and military turmoil with Rome. In 4 BCE, as Herod lay dying, two Jewish nationalists led their followers to the Temple where they tore down the Roman eagle from its gate. Herod ended the revolt and burned the ringleaders alive. Soon after Herod’s death, the people demanded a reckoning for this deed. One of Herod’s sons, Archelaus, now king, refused. A revolt broke out, which ended only after much bloodshed on both sides.

Archelaus died in 6 CE. Consequently, Rome ended Judea’s semi-autonomous status and it became part of the greater Roman Empire, as a sub-province of Syria.  The Syrian authorities conducted a national census on behalf of the Roman government for the purpose of taxation. This created immediate hostility as the head count brought home the people’s humiliating subjugation by Rome. In the Galilee, Judah the son of Hezekiah gathered an armed band of patriots from among the Pharisees, and began a campaign of terror against the Romans stationed there. They called themselves the Zealots.

Most Roman rulers had little regard for Jews and their sensitivities. Emperor Tiberius (14-37 CE) placed Pilate in charge of Judea. The ruthless Pontius Pilate ruled there from 26-36 CE. During his administration Zealots were summarily executed. He also attempted to expropriate the Temple treasure for secular construction projects, and he allowed Roman troops to bring imperial images into Jerusalem. The Jerusalemites fought back. Though they were brave in their efforts, they were no match for the well-trained Roman soldiers.

The new emperor, Caligula (37-41 CE), appointed a Jew, Agrippa, to be a king, On his arrival in Alexandria, a city of about one million Jews, the Alexandrian Greeks mocked him and demanded that the Jews place imperial statues in their synagogues. Flaccus Avillius, the Roman Perfect of Alexandria, supported the Greeks. When the Jews resisted, he issued an edict declaring the Jews to be aliens, and turned mobs of Greeks loose in the Jewish quarters.

The next emperor, Claudius, in 52 CE named Antonius Felix (52-60 CE), a former slave, to be procurator of Judea. Felix demonstrated extreme wantonness. As a result of his debauchery the Zealots gained more and more adherents. Even the devoutly religious joined. Whenever he captured Zealots, Felix would crucify them, which only added to the turmoil and the people’s hatred of Rome.

Nero appointed Porcius Festus (60-62 CE) as the new procurator. Although just in his actions, he was unable to reverse the passions stirred up against all that was Roman. On the death of Festus, Nero appointed Claudius Albinus (62-64 CE), who likewise offended the Jewish people with his unsavory actions and tactlessness. The final procurator, Gessius Florus (64-66 CE), was the worst. He robbed whole cities and annihilated entire communities. When he attempted to appropriate seventeen talents of gold from the Temple treasury, the Jerusalemites rebelled. Florus retaliated by letting loose a detachment of soldiers. Once again, the Jews fought bravely, capturing the Temple mount, and eventually, the citadel known as Antonia. In the meantime, a group of Zealots seized Masada. The Jewish war against Rome had begun.

Seward begins his narrative with the birth of Josephus, about 36 CE. Josephus, a scion of a notable Jewish priestly family, could trace his family roots back to the Maccabees.  Family members recognized his impressive intellect and provided him with a first-rate education.  As a young adult, he travelled to Rome to secure release of Jewish prisoners. While in Rome, he gained the favor of many important Romans, with the result that he lived there for many years, and traveled in the rarified air represented by the coterie to Emperor Nero and his wife, Poppaea. On his return, the Sanhedrin first appointed him the Governor of the Galilee, and as the storm clouds of rebellion appeared on the horizon, subsequently appointed him General of the Galilee.

When the rebellion first broke out, the rag-tag Jewish army held out against the Romans and their general, Vespasian. Vespasian and his soldiers advanced from Antioch, in Turkey, to the Galilee. There, he assembled between 45,000 and 60,000 troops. Josephus, on the other hand, depended on a rag-tag army and the citizens of each city to make a defense.

Vespasian began his conquest of northern Israel with the city of Gadara. As he marched, the Roman fifth, tenth, and fifteenth legions destroyed much of the countryside and killed thousands of defenders. Josephus and the rebels withstood the assault on the city of Jotapata for six weeks before being forced to surrender due to lack of food and water. Josephus hid in a cistern, but was eventually captured. He saved his life by telling Vespasian that he was a prophet, and predicted that one day in the not too distant future Vespasian would become the Emperor of Rome. Vespasian, who believed that Jews did have the power of prophecy, spared Josephus’ life and Josephus became an advisor to Vespasian.  Later, after the Roman Senate named Vespasian the Emperor, he advised the newly chosen general, Titus, who was Vespasian’s son.  That Flavius Josephus is a traitor to the Jewish people is well-established belief. Yet, belief is not fact, nor is it truth. Through Seward’s account, the reader comes to understand the fear with which Josephus lived in the Roman camp. Were it not for the protection of the future emperors, Josephus would have been killed by the chiefs-of-staff.

To present Jerusalem’s Traitor, Seward synthesizes the major works of Josephus—The Jewish War (in five volumes), Jewish Antiquities, and Vita. He also draws on The Histories and the Annals by the Roman historian Tacitus. Josephus is considered the Benedict Arnold of the First Jewish War by first ill preparing the defense of the Galilee and second, at the brink of defeat at the Battle of Jotapata, offering his services to the Romans. Yet, because so much of Jerusalem’s Traitor is from the perspective of Josephus, one gets the impression that it is not Josephus who is the traitor. Indeed, Josephus portrays himself as an oracle and prophet who predicts the defeat of the Jews. On more than one occasion Seward quotes Josephus pleading with the Zealots to abandon the rebellion.

Josephus writes about the mercy that both Vespasian and Titus were willing to offer the rebels even up to the last moment—the capture of Jerusalem. Seward argues that since the Emperor funded the publication of The Jewish Wars, and surely read the manuscript, it is quite likely that Josephus placed the two generals in a flattering light. Seward also notes on numerous occasions when he suspects that Josephus is exaggerating his claims.

The real enemies, according to Josephus, are the Zealots, whom he calls sicarii, meaning assassins who kill by knife because they killed wealthy Jews and dissenters that way, and their leader John of Gischala (Jonathan of Gish-halab). Josephus tells of the brutal civil war taking place among the Zealots in Jerusalem even as the Romans were literally at the gates. There, murder and starvation at Jewish hands were the handmaidens of the Romans. Sward relies on Josephus who wrote proudly of the unrequited bravery of the Jews throughout the war, but especially in Jerusalem.

Seward recounts the tale told by Josephus of the awe and shock of the Romans soldiers at the courageousness of the Zealots at Masada. Historians did not accept Josephus’ story of the events at Masada, until the completed excavation of the sight in 1966. Now that we know the truth, it is no wonder that Rome celebrated the final defeat of the Jewish nation.

Jerusalem’s Traitor is a compelling read, and if one can get through the gore of the battles and the brutality of Jew against Jew, then what remains is a feeling of pride at the heroism and resourcefulness of the Judeans. What other tiny nation took on the mightiest army in the western world at the time, and held them at bay for more than five years.

Jerusalem’s Traitor is an excellent account of the First Jewish War as seen through the eyes of Josephus. Whether or not he is a traitor or a hero remains for the reader to decide.  One wonders how first century Jewry might have acted had they known the two thousand year consequences of their ill-conceived rebellion. What is certain is that the Jews contributed mightily to their own defeat and the destruction of the Temple. At the conclusion, there is the gut-wrenching feeling that King Solomon was quite astute when he wrote in his Book of Proverbs that one who troubles his own house inherits the wind.

*

Dr. Fred Reiss is a retired public and Hebrew school teacher and administrator. He is the author of The Standard Guide to the Jewish and Civil Calendars;  Ancient Secrets of Creation: Sepher Yetzira, the Book that Started Kabbalah, Revealed; and Reclaiming the Messiah. The author can be reached through his website, www.fredreissbooks.com.

Kassam missiles destroy three rooms of hydrotherapy center in Sha’ar Hanegev

Damage at hydrotherapy center is inspected by member of IDF

By Alon Schuster

Mayor, Sha’ar Hanegev

Mayor Schuster (foreground) inspects damage

SHA’AR HANEGEV, Israel — A rocket exploded Saturday night, July 31, on the roof of our Hydro Therapy Center. The center is situated in the educational campus, where the schools and Sapir Collage are located.

Fortunately, children with special needs were not in the facilitiy that they use to train their bodies and straighten their spirits.

Three rooms were completely destroyed. Huge damage was caused to the building and to expensive equipment.

Some hours later, I was very excited to see our old people who, as usual, came very early on morning to engage in physical activities.

Their determination and optimism fill me with determination and faith.

*
Schuster is mayor of Sha’ar Hanegev municipality which lies along Israel’s border with Gaza