Jewish Community Center Season of Fun in Progress-Activities Serving the Entire Family
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 3, 1956, Page 2
The Jewish Community Center is becoming a Family Agency serving the social, recreational and cultural needs of every individual in the family. A season of fun is now in progress and out of the Center building on El Cajon Blvd. The program involves a great variety of activities to interest the individual…
Registration for the season in many of the activities are now in progress. These include the Creative Dance and Ballet class for 5 to 12 year olds, the Rhythmic Exercise Class for women, the Arts and Crafts Class for 5 to 12 year olds, the 5 and 6 grade girls’ club (Busy Bees), the Arts Class for Senior Adults, the Leadership-Skills training course and the advanced Quard Dance group.
Active branch programs for children and adults are now in progress in the North Shore area (Clairemont, Pacific Beach, Linda Vista and Kearny Mesa) and in Point Loma (Loma Portal, Ocean Beach and Mission Beach). The North Shore Jewish Community Center organization is under the presidency of Mr.Sol Winner. The Point Loma Organization has Mrs. Dora Eber as acting chairman. Both branches are developing program by self-determination and self-help within the framework of the Jewish Community Center policy.
Another fast growing activity is the Senior Adult group. They meet in their own club room in the Hebrew Home for the Aged on 54th Street every Sunday afternoon and conduct other activities during the week. The club room program involves a “drop in” lounge for relaxation, reading, playing games. Special programs are in progress every week such as Arts and Crafts, Folk Dancing, discussions, movies, dinners, etc. The club room is not large enough for the special programs and the Board Room is also used. The El Cajon building was found to be wholly inadequate for this particular program.
The Cooperative Nursery School operates to the limit of its State license and has a waiting list at all times.
Junior High and Teenage high school youth crowd the Center on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Active parents’ groups cooperate in both programs by arranging refreshments and helping the staff in running the programs.
The Young Adults (Gaylarks) under the presidency of Burt Epstein, is the Tuesday evening feature in the center with a special monthly program.
The Community Center Couples Club has more than doubled its membership this season. Each session of the group finds new couples joining the program
The Women’s League under the co-chairmansip of Mrs. Thelma Selten and Mrs. Ruth Bobrof, use the Cener for committee meetings and as a baby sitting service to its members during their monthly meetings. The attendance at their meetings has increased to a point where they cannot be held at the Center.
The single adults “Fiesta” Club group continue to hold parties in homes. A relatively new group called the Wamus (spelled backward – Single, Unattached Men and Women—over 35 years) plan relaxed evenings of fun, socials and refreshments.
The fact that just as much program is being carried out in homes, garages and park and recreation buildings and other rented facilities as is being carried out at the actual Center is indicative of the growth of the programs and the need for adequate facilities.
New programs and activities for various ages will be announced as facilities and leadership become available.
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Single Adults Active
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 3, 1956, Page 2
Single Adults of the Jewish Community Center now include three groups: “Gaylarks” for young adults 19 to 25; “Fiesta Club” for adults 25-35 years and “Wamus” for single and unattached men and women 35 and older.
The “Gaylarks” meet every Tuesday evening in the Center on El Cajon Blvd. The “Fiesta Club” and “Wamus” groups meet once a month., The next “Fiesta” session will be held on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 4:30 p.m. in the home of Marvin Poverny, 4816 Winona Ave. The next “Wamus” session is a social event on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 8:00 p.m. in the Center. R.S.V.P.’s are in order for the “Wamus” group. Phone AT-1-9284 evenings or weekends. All single adults are encourage to participate in these Center groups.
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Adult Drama Launched
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 3, 1956, Page 2
The Adult Dramatic Group of the Jewish Community Center will launch its program on Monday, Feb. 20, at 8:00 p.m. in the Cottage of Israel, Balboa Park. Workshops, readings, classes and a one act play will be started at this session. Experienced dramatic personnel are working as a committee to give leadership to the group. Anyone interested in any phase of dramatics and dramatic production is encouraged to attend the first session. It is expected that the Adult Dramatic Group will play an important role the Center’s activities in the near future.
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Dance Classes Open
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 3, 1956, Page 2
Registrations are now being taken for the new series of activities in the Center. These include Creative Dance and Ballet for 5 to 12 year olds on Wednesdays after school; Rhythmic Exercise Class for women on Thursdays at 10 a.m. and Arts and Crafts for children, 5 to 12 years on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
Thee groups have just started a series of twelve sessions for the spring term. Others can register now at the Center, 3227 El Cajon Blvd.
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Training in Skills
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 3, 1956, Page 2
The leadership skills training course for staff , committee chairmen, camp counselors and others interested in future leadership will start on Monday evening, Feb. 20, at 7:45 p.m. in the Center. The skills to be covered included dramatic games, music, arts and crafts, campcraft, discussion leading dance and others. An application and interview is necessary before the first session. Succeeding sessions in this course will be announced at the first session.
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“Come on In”
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 3, 1956, Pages 2, 3
Kimeron in Yiddish means “Come on in.” Young married couples and newcomers to San Diego are urged to call the Center at AT-1-7744 and say, “I want to kimeron.” Other newcomers and young marrieds are interested in getting together for social, recreational and educational programs, They want to know who will Kimeron.
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Waiting for Room
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 3, 1956, Page 3
Several activity groups are waiting for room clearance or staff before they begin programs.
These groups include a Bridge Class, Hebrew Language Class, Adult Discussion Group, Adult and Children’s Theatre Group, Beginners’ Square Dance, Modern Social Dance Classes for Youth and Adults, the 10-11 year old group and more area neighborhood fun groups for children.
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The Jewish Community Center and the National Council of Jewish Women are cooperating in sponsoring the Senior Adult program. A joint committee of the organization is to be responsible for the development of this phase of the Center Activities.
The program and activities will be determined by the members of the Senior-Adult group which meets every Sunday in their club rooms in the Hebrew Home for the Aged, 4075 53th St. mary Imberman is the group worker in charge of coordinating the work and in training of volunteers. At present two art classes are being conducted with Mr. Robert Imberman as the art instructor. There are plans to have an art exhibition later this season.
A variety show is being discussed as a future program. Many skilled members were discovered in this gourp. Weekly special programs are a feature in the Senior-Adult program.
Persons interested in a volunteer course for working with senior Adutls should call on Edith Reder, JU-2-4360.
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A Challenge for 1956 (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 3, 1956, Page 3
The annual meeting of the United Jewish Fund last week revealed, thru reports, several interesting facts which should receive serious consideration, not only by the Board of Directors, but also by the entire Jewish Community.
The facts are these:
1. With more population now than in 1948 (when we raised $271,000) we not only failed to meet our modest goal last year, but we only raised $163,000. This was $100,000 less than our peak year.
2. According to the record, we fell down sharply in the “Big Gifts” categories. Leaders of the Fund Drive did not give as much as before and in some cases pledges were cut.
3. Other campaigns may have hurt the Fun Drive, such as the Bonds for Israel, Jewish Community Center, Hebrew Home for the Aged, and the Hebrew University. The Fund Committee has been studying these facts and will shortly make several decisions regarding this year’s campaign in the Spring.
More alarming is the obvious lack of spirit in our recent campaigns. Each year, since 1948, we have raised less and less money even though the need has been demonstrated in dramatic form. We hope that the Fund Committee will come up with the answers that should vitally concern all of us.
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With the Guardians
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 3, 1956, Page 3
By Morrie Pomeranz
Charter member Jay Levin’s embryonic plans for a new office building – long dormant – have begun to materialize. This will be the really first important commercial structure in San Diego in some twenty-five years. The building, a ten story affair (a block or two to the new court house) will be a lasting tribute to the hard working and popular Jay.
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At the last Board of Directors meeting held at the Mission Valley Club on Jan. 19th, serious consideration was given to a money-raising affair to assist the Hebrew Home for the Aged. A committee, chairmanned by Sam Fisher and composed of Harry Snyder, Murray Goodrich, Allie Ferrer, Eddie Bland and Al DeSure, will formulate plans for a “spectacular” within the next two or three months. Knowing that this energetic committee will settle only for the finest entertainment we suggest that you watch this column for further announcements. (Tentative plans at this early date call for an outstanding Hollywood talent!) This much is unequivocal – the first Guardian affair in several years will be worth waiting for.
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The ubiquitous Mickey Fredman outdid his customary sartorial splendor last week with the following ensemble: (Several other Guardians can corroborate this): a speckled robin eg blue jacket, gold trousers, a fuschia shirt, orchid tie with purple polka dots and two toned suede shoes. Mickey was simply illuminating.
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One of our younger Guardians, recently married, tells of his wife’s simple request at one of the larger super markets. The wife living in an era of frozen foods and instant meals, casually asked the startled butcher for “two large slices of breaded veal cutlets.”
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Enviable comments have oft been made relative to Dave Block’s perpetual all year tan. Personally we feel that he is a walking ad for the Heaven on Earth Club. However, jealousy can and does lead to some vitriolic statements, for witness the remark made at the luncheon table at Lipton’s last Tuesday. Dave walked by – flashing his generous smile – his white teeth set off against a beautiful tan. Said the pale-faced Guardian bitterly: “I really wonder if Dave is Jewish.”
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Book Review
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 3, 1956, Page 3
The Jewish Gauchos of the Pamaps by Alberto Gerchunoff; translated by Prudencio de Pereda. Alelard-Schuman, New York — $3.00 -169 pg.
By A.P. Nasatir
Fantastic though it may sound there are Texan cowboys now in Israel. More fantastic and even less known is the fact that Jewish gauchos were and are today in the Argentine pampas. It is hard to realize or imagine a Jewish gaucho. … A Spanish speaking cowboy and rancher. In the latter part of the 19th century Baron Moses de Hirsch purchased land in the fertile Entre Rios provinces of Argentina and established colonies of Russian Jews harassed by pogroms. They are today the basis of the more than a third of a million Jews in Argentina. These harassed, tormented, poverty stricken Russian Jews became farmers and ranchers, solid Argentine citizens – Jewish gauchos.
Among the many Jews raised on the de Hirsch colonies was Alberto Gerchunoff, whose father migrated to the de Hirsch settlement. Alberto became an outstanding newspaperman in South America; a vigorous writer, and greatly interested in, and concerned with his fellow Jews and their way of life in the new country, Argentina. In 1910, h wrote in Spanish The Jewish Gauchos of the Pampas. It is now in its 21st edition and has had an unusual history of reprints and translations but has never before appeared in English.
In this brilliant collection of stories, Gerchunoff lets the colonists tell their own story of the bitter, colorful and successful efforts of these rich scholars and poor jewelers to get back to the soil and bring it to life using plows, basic livestock and huts donated by the Baron de Hirsch. One reads about Old Guedali who was glad that his sons and grandsons ere back working the land, no matter what dangers lurked in the dark eyes of the Argentine girls. Favel Dulgach was called “The Poet” and he did look fantastic in his costume of wide gaucho trousers and black Jewish coat, but his great feeling for the old Israelite heroes was matched only by his profound admiration for the daring Gaucho herdsmen… Then there was the beautiful Miriam who breaks her father’s heart when she runs off with a Gaucho boy, and the colorful festivals held so frequently everywhere. There was the time when the president of the local synagogue made a great speech: “I remember,” he said, that in the city of Kishinev, after that most terrible of pogroms, we closed our synagogues. We did not want to have to bless the Czar. Here, in our new country, nobody forces us to bless anyone. That’s why we bless the Republic! That’s why we bless the President!” Nobody knew who the President was, but that didn’t seem to matter.
In this author, Gerchunoff, one scan see a pride in his Jewishness and a real interest and love for the gaucho, a fighting Argentine democrat and a great writer of more than 25 books and novels. He felt, and wrote about the Jewish persecutions keenly, but in the moments that he felt his pain, he also felt the hope for the creation of a national Jewish homeland in Palestine. No Latin American Jew has been as helpful as Gerchunoff in the founding of the State of Israel. He was an idealist who wanted others to share his ideals. He was convinced that a writer – besides realizing himself through his work – had a social mission to perform as well. He believed that a writer should serve his people, not through flattery, but through demonstrating the truth of great thoughts to them, and thus lead them by way of the simple, forceful and often beautiful word.
The Jewish Gauchos of the Pampas has become a classic. This is a collection of unique stories most interestingly told in flawless translation. It deserves wide reading.
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(Marriage Court)
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 3, 1956, Page 3
There’s the one which concerns a fellow hauled before the Jewish Board of Arbitration as a wife deserter. The social worker berates him severely by saing, “Who ever heard of a Jewish wife deserter?” Replies the long suffering fella, “Lady, I ain’t a deserter – I’m a refugee!”
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As the Psychologist Sees You
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 3, 1956, Page 3
By Irving R. Stone, Psychological Consultant
What’s Normal?
Many years ago one of the familiar sights of staid New England were the wooden pillories in which stood offenders of the law. Punishment was given for infractions that today would be considered as part of our customary behavior. Thus, the changing times have modified our concepts of conduct.
When we consider “What’s Normal?” we must first ask ourselves the question of what, where and when. Normality is not a fixed factor but is a flexible, ever-changing condition. It is based upon many factors including those of culture, economics and science.
Let’s take the matter of bathing suits, even though the weather does not warrant its consideration. In days gone by normal beach attire consisted of far more covering than we consider normal today. But even our mid-twentieth century, western, American laws of modesty do not conform with those of other places. The widely discussed Bikini is more normal for the shores of southern France than they are for those of New England or even California.
Consider for a moment the factor of furniture. In colonial days, furniture styles were pretty standardized. However, tastes are more individual now and while we find great interest in the modern, it is just as normal to have any of the other popular furniture trends. Thus, although what was completely normal for one period may be accepted in another period, side by side with those developed in this later era.
There are natives of some countries who eat only fruits and vegetables. There are others who eat only rice and other vegetables. Still others limit themselves to meat and potatoes. Yet, each custom is normal for that group of people. In the same manner, it is more normal for the Englishman to drink tea and for us to drink coffee. A child drinks mil in his normal diet but as he grows older we consider it quite normal for him to indulge in coffee. The Eskimo dresses in Parka and heavy fur boots whereas the natives near the Equator walk around in loin cloth.,
We must take all these things into account when we consider what is normal. We must be able to adjust to changing conditions brought about by new inventions, new laws, new techniques of operation, new thoughts about man’s behavior. We must consider normality as being based upon the behavior and the needs of the majority, whenever, wherever and whatever the situation demands. Oh yes, one final word: what’s normal at one age level may not be normal for another.
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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