Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, March 2, 1956, Part 4

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff

The Red Cross and You (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press, March 2, 1956, Page 7

All through the year, American people call upon the Red Cross for help.  Once each year the Red Cross asks the people for support.

This year, which marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the American Red Cross, men and women of san Diego will join the nearly 2,000,000 volunteers all over the country who will be calling upon us for the means to carry on the agency’s proud record of providing assistance wherever and whenever it’s needed. The fund drive begins March 1.

Although disaster did not strike with force in Southern California as it did in other parts of the country, every person here who contributed to Red Cross aided in Red Cross disaster services The Eastern States flood, and the disastrous Christmas flood in the Western States area were the most severe of the disasters in which Red Cross aided.

During 1955, Rd  Cross Home Service answered over 18,000 families requests for assistance in addition to aid given to approximately 95,000 veterans.

Because San Diego County is such an important military center, the National Red Cross spends more than $1,100,000 here annually. The San Diego 1956 fund campaign goal is $519,681.

With your help in the 1956 campaign, the Red Cross will stay on the job.  “Join and serve” so tht the future will be as bright as the past 75 years have been.

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Imagination and Humility (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press, March 2, 1956, Page 7

The crisis confronting Israel today holds, by common consent, the greatest dangers to the young State since the War of Independence.  The Czech-Egyptian arms deal  on the one hand, and the wooing of the Arabs by the West, on the other, have placed Israel in a position of isolation unprecedented in her history. What the Powers intend to do about preventing a Middle East conflagration—which will involve more than the Middle East alone—remains to be seen.

There is no doubt at all about the intentions of the Arabs. Though they have acquired little fame for veracity and in describing their military exploits they have known to be highly imaginative, there has been an unusual consistency in their utterances on Israel: the aim is to wipe this “scourge” off the face of the earth. And if words are only words, there is the overwhelming evidence of their aggressive acts – uninterrupted, unrelenting, and savage.

It is easy enough to cluck one’s tongue when Israel occasionally reacts to a whole series of attacks on its citizens with a counterattack of its own. It is easy enough—when one sits far from the scene and reads the bleak, impersonal figures of death tolls and casualty lists. It is much less easy for the Israelis themselves, each of whom has been, at some time, brushed by death and many of whom have had a brother or sister, a relative or friend, among the fallen. For the young settlers of Kissufim and Nirim on the Gaza border – as for dozens of other communities—Arab hostility is not simply a subject for discussion and analysis at a meeting.  Throughout the years of their existence as communities, week after week, they have had to contend with Arab infiltrators, stealing their produce and work implements, cars blowing up as they pass over mined roads, machine-gun and mortar fire from across the border, houses being dynamited. And all this in addition to the “normal” difficulties of Negev pioneering.

As Ambassador Abba Eban declared before the Security Council, it requires an act of “imagination and humility” to understand what seven years of continuous harassment and violent attack by the surrounding Arab States have meant for Israel and its people. – From “Israel Speaks”

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As the Psychologist Sees You
Southwestern Jewish Press, March 2, 1956, Page 7

(By Irving R. Stone)

On my trip last summer, I purchased a piece of sculpture which was carved out of wood by the natives of one of the tribes in the Philippines.  The piece lacked beauty but what it did not possess in aesthetic value it had in strength and character.  It reflected the personality of the native whose life was expressed in that carving.  It was the creation of a man whose life was filled with strife, deprivation and yet it reflected one who feared nothing and no one.

All of us create “A Piece of Sculpture” in everything we do.  It may not be a fine carving or a creation of clay.  Yet, it may be as satisfying as that ugly “warrior’s head” which I purchased was to me.  The sculpture we create lies in the good deeds we do, the happiness of our families, and the growth in our children from dependent infants to mature and responsible adults.

We even use familiar phrases to reflect our accomplishments.  We say that we create a good or bad impression on others; our  features are as hard as a rock when we are angry; we are as unbending as though we were made of stone; or we are carving a  niche for ourselves.  We reflect our personalities in our words, our actions, our strivings and our reaction to frustration.

Our piece of sculpture is centered in our children for they reflect our own personalities. They become the symbol of what we do for them. The strength of their security is measured by our own security.

We are constantly creating – new friends, new accomplishments, new hopes. In all of these we reflect ourselves. We should take pride in our creation, our piece of sculpture, but only if it fills our needs and ambitions.

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Letter to the Editor
Southwestern Jewish Press, March 2, 1956, Page 7

The Jewish Press
Gentlemen:

I am writing you regarding an unfortunate incident, which was the appearance in the daily San Diego paper of a bigotry classified advertisement which bore the name of this firm.

The insert of this advertisement was completely the action of a newly employed salesman, and was without any knowledge whatsoever of myself or any officer of this company.  The party responsible for the placement of this advertisement is no longer in our employ.

I deeply regret the occurrence of this incident. The import of the advertisement was completely foreign to my personal conviction and is contrary to the business policies of the company which I head.

I again wish to express my sincere apology for the occurrence of this incident

Yours very truly,
Tyson Pontiac Company
D.R. Tyson, President

(2011 editor’s note: In a previous issue of Southwestern Jewish Press, editors commented “you’ve got to be kidding” about an ad from Tyson that was directed to “Christians” rather than to the community at large.)

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Jewish Center News
Southwestern Jewish Press, March 2, 1956, Page 7

The parents of Teen Agers will meet at the JCC on Monday, March 12, 8:30 p.m  A discussion on “Codes and Standards” of teen age behavior will take place.  The discussion is a result of the large numbers of teen agers using the JCC.

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The North Shore JCC will have a meeting in the Park and Recreation Building on Thursday, March 8, at 8 p.m.  An interesting program will follow the short business meeting.

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The Wamus Group of single men and women will convene on Sunday, March 18, in the JCC at 7 p.m.  A demonstration lesson in social dancing will be a feature of the evening. This group is open to all in the community and new comers are welcome. 
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The Adult Dramatic Group will meet on Wednesday, March 7 at 8 p.m.  All adults interested in this group please call the Center, AT 1-7744.  The dramatic group is warking on 2 projects of one sence each.
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The Senior-Adult Group will have folk dancing led by Vivian Wohl on Sunday, March 4. Lester Himmel will hold a photography class on Sunday, March 11. Bring your camera.

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Adults are invited to the home of Murray Schwartz, 863 Moana Dr., on Sat. March 3, 8:30 p.m. for a film discussion led by Mr. R. Karen, instructor in psychology at S.D. Jr. College.  Informal dress will be in order.
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“Tweens Dinner Dance! Sunday, March 4, 5 to 9 p.m., Garden Ro0om, Lafayette Hotel  Be there!

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Don’t forget the “Teen Age Fashion Show” at the Lafayette Hotel, Friday, March 2nd, at 12 noon.

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With the Guardians

Southwestern Jewish Press, March 2, 1956, Page 7

By Morrie Pomeranz

Let’s set the scene of domestic and blissful tranquility 00 it is Sunday afternoon – the master of the household, at peace with the world, returns from a good game of golf at the MV Club – as is his practice, he pours (generously) a tall bourbon and 7-Up—retires to the bathroom for his ablutions – a leisurely shave and a relaxing bath – the tall, comforting drink nearby. He prepares his shaving gear – tips the glass comfortably to his parched lips and takes a full swallow.  The quietness of his home is racked by muffled screams – the frenzied wife crashes into the bathroom to find her husband, trembling, ashen and gasping for breath – he mutters fearfully: “Hon, I’ve been poisoned.”  Several anxious minutes drag by before Norma Gellens placates her worried Milt.  What happened?  The cleaning woman left some household ammonia in the 7-Ip bottle which was inadvertently placed in the refrigerator. Fortunately our Guardian suffered no ill effects.

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There is a big table at the back of Vallin’s which is daily reserved for a crowded greoup of Guardians – few outsiders can crash this formidable gathering – take the adjoining booth sometime and you will hear statements like this: “We turned dow n a fast 100 grand profit” – “he dropped $15,000 at the Desert Inn” – “we can buy the city of El Cajon at a price” –“So he still owes for his 2nd Cadillac.”  But, take this same group moments after they have been given their luncheon checks and you will hear: “How come that Lou charges 15 cents for a coke, that gonniff…:Just a minute, Miss, I didn’t have strudel” – “how come the sandwich is 75 cents—menu says 70 cents.”  And thus it is – from thousands to dimes at the drop of the waitress’s check.
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Mr. Dick Patton, veteran member of the Race Relations Committee for San Diego, genuinely enjoyed seeing the three men walk into the Grant Hotel—arm in arm.  No moral or objective lesson to be culled from this everyday vignette – just three men enjoying the camaraderie of adult companionship—the trio? – Murray Goodrich, Max Streicher and ‘twixt the two was the amiable Father Ahearn.

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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, located just above the masthead on the right hand side of the screen.

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