Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, November 15, 1957, Part 3

The Yo-Ma-Co Club is sponsoring a rummage sale, the entire proceeds of which will be given to the Jewish Community Center to aid the center in providing extensive programs for all children, from the nursery group through the teen-agers and young adults, etc.  The sale takes place November 19^th and 20^th at the American Legion Hall, 27^th and B Sts.  On the committee are Mrs. Pearl Strauss, Mr. and Mrs. Byron Sharpe, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Solomon, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Brisker and Vic Silverstein.

Every member of the Jewish Community Center is asked to support their Center by contributing rummage for this sale. Anything can be used … just so it is salable … pots, pans, dishes, clothes, costume jewelry, furniture, linens, pictures, tools, etc.

Rummage can be dropped off at the Center on University or call, AT-1-7744, for pick-ups.

Ernest J. Billman, San Diego business and civic leader, has been named vice president and manager of the San Diego office of Security Title Insurance Company, William Breliant, chairman of the board of directors, made known yesterday.
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Billman, veteran title insurance man with 32 years experience in the industry, assumes managership of the Security Title Insurance Company office on November 1.

“The date is Sunday, Dec. 1, 1957.  The place is the El Cortez Hotel.

The event is dinner with Drew Pearson. Don’t miss it. For reservations call Belmont 4-6681.”

Egon Pollak, formerly with Bohemian Bakery, has opened a new Bake Shop at 7077 University Ave. in the Visa La Mesa shopping center.

Mr. Pollak, who learned the bakery trade in Vienna, will specialize in Jewish bread and groceries.  He will also carry a full line of the many varieties of hot doughnuts.  Bread and rolls will be baked continuously daily so that a fresh supply will be available at all times.

Mr. Pollak offers free deliveries on orders over $2.50 and special discounts to organizations. The Vienna Bake Shop will be open Sundays and daily 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Frank Janowsky, 37, of 5882 Adams Ave., passed away on November 7^th. He was a native San Diegan and attended school here.  He was a member of the Optimist Club, California Society of Accountants and B’nai B’rith.

Funeral services were held at the Lewis Colonial Mortuary with Rabbi Morton J. Cohn officiating. Burial followed in Greenwood Memorial Park.

Mr. Janowsky leaves his widow, Ruth Janowsky, four children, Aaron, Maxine, Zeena and Jeri Janowsky, his mother, Mrs. Anna Janowsky and a brother, Edward Janowsky.

Mrs. Isaac Domnitz, Chairman of the Pioneer Women Israel Bond Drive, has recently returned from Boston, Mass., where she attended the National Convention of the Pioneer Women.

Mrs. Domnitz reported that the major address at the convention was delivered by Ambassador Abba Eban, who pointed out the vital role being played by the Pioneer Women in America.

Another major address was delivered by Mrs. Dvora Rotbard who serves as National Israel Bond Chairman for the Pioneer Women.  Mrs. Rotbard announced that as of November, 1957, the Pioneeer Women have sold nationally over $10,500,000 in Israel Bonds which represents one of the largest organizational sales records in the United States.

Mrs. Domnitz has returned to San Diego and has taken up her role as Board Chairman with renewed effort.  Within the next few weeks she expects to visit over 75 potential Israel Bond buyers and will deliver a first hand message on the current need for Bonds.

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LONDON—Israel will become self supporting with seven to ten years, David Horowitz, governor of the Bank of Israel, predicted here last month.

Guests at the Senior Adult Monthly Social sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women on Tuesday, November 267 at 1 p.m. will enjoy a trip to Europe.  Without leaving their comfortable seats at the Jewish Community Center, 4056 University Ave., they will retrace the journey along with Mrs. Paul Belkin as she shows the films of her recent trip to Europe.  Her commentary on places of interest and her personal experiences will add to the enjoyment of the afternoon, according to Mrs. Herbert Mally, Senior Adult Chairman.

Mrs. Mally invites all senior citizens to join in this afternoon of travel and fun.  Refreshments will be served and those guests celebrating birthdays in November will be honored. There is no charge.

Mrs. Fritz Lavendar will act as general chairman of the meeting. MRs. Herbert Reder is Vice-President in charge of this program.

At the recent meeting of the Beth Jacob Men’s Club the following were elected to office for 1958: William Penn, president; Al Kaye, Bob Penn and Sid Ulansky, vice presidents; Rubin Aved, recording secretary, Norman Gelman, corresponding secretary; Bernie Passel, treasurer, and Sammy Stein, sgt-at-arms.

Norman Gelman, out-going president, received a rousing ovation for a tremendously fruitful year.  Installation of officers will take place at the annual dinner dance Saturday, Jan. 18 at Town and Country Club according to Morrie Kraus, chairman.

The Beth Jacob Men’s Club meets the first Monday of every month.

The City of Hope Senior Auxiliary will hold its Annual “Break the Bank” Luncheon on Tuesday, November 19^th at 12 noon, at the Beth Jacob Center.  Esther Schwartz, Past President, will chair this event. A City of Hope Bank admits you free—those without banks will pay a nominal admission fee.  A completely social afternoon will be the agenda for the day.

The City of Hope auxiliary extends a warm welcome to all those interested in becoming members at this time.  This City-Wide Membership Campaign is wholeheartedly endorsed by the United Fund, which we are now a part of. Anyone interested in joining us will be our guest at the Break-the-Bank Luncheon.  Please come and bring your friends!

“Seldom will we have an opportunity to hear from a man who knows so much about U.S. and world affairs as does Drew Pearson.  Hear him at the dinner Dec. 1, 1957.  For reservations call Belmont 4-6681.”

Three San Diego Jewish Community leaders will take active roles in the 26^th General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, it was announced this week by Herbert R. Abels of Newark, Council president.  They include Eli H. Levenson, who will act as chairman of the workshop on “Changing Neighborhoods”; “Murray Novak and Albert A. Hutler, Executive Director of the United Jewish Fund who will act as the consultant to the workshop entitled “Informing the Community.”

Levenson is a National vice president of the Council, a former president of its Western Region, and of the United Jewish Fund  Novak, who will be one of San Diego’s two delegates to the Conference, is a member of the Fund’s Executive Committee, vice president of the Jewish Community Center, and a director of the board of the Hebrew Home.

Central focus of the Annual Assembly Dinner which is a feature of the National Meeting for the major social issues facing American Jewry with Irving Kane, well known Cleveland and national Jewish leader as the principal speaker.

More than 850 Jewish communal leaders from all parts of the United States and Canada are expected  at the General Assembly which will take place at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans.  Mr. Abels will conduct the meeting.

Discussions for delegates will include such topics as “Jews in the Changing South,” “Ten Years of Aid to Israel,” “Social Services for the Small Community,” “Metropolitan Planning,” “Planning 1958 Campaign” and “Year Round Interpretation for the Community.”

On Thursday, October 31, Mrs. Jan Peerce, wife of the man many critics call the greatest tenor of our generation, spoke at a tea at the home of Mrs. William Penn, 4516 Lucille Dr., San Diego.

The tea was called on short notice since Mrs. Peerce’s schedule permitted her a brief half-day visit to San Diego.

She spoke about her recent visit to Soviet Russia with her husband while he was on a State Department tour.  Her impressions of life in the Soviet Union and particularly the position of Jews within the country created the feeling that everything possible should be done to affect their immigration into Israel.

Mrs. Peerce also told of the work that is going on in Israel as a result of the Israel Bond investments pouring into that country. She also stressed the role that women can play in assuring the success of Bond drives throughout the country and particularly in San Diego.  Mrs. Peerce is herself Chairman of the Women’s Division of Greater New York for Israel Bonds.

Mrs. Morton Thaler was chairlady at the tea in Mrs. Penn’s home.  Also in attendance were: Mmes. I. Rottman, Louis Stizel, Rose Weitzman, J. Aronoff, Howard Kaufman, Harry Schwartz, Doris Parnett, H. Parrell, Same Laevin, Florence Lebb, Rose Brooker, Phil Abrams, Bo Mallen, J. Richlin, Charles Press, Seymour Gates and Richard Lustig.

(By Ernest Michel)

The menu:
Cold borscht with sour cream
Creplach soup
Cheese blintzes and
Apple strudel.

Sounds like a good Jewish dinner on a hot day? Right.

But what do you say when it is served to you in Tokyo in a building which was once the residence of a wealthy Japanese nobleman and warlord?

The place where this menu was served is now the Jewish Community Center of Japan, located in the residential section of the largest city in the world, which Tokyo claims, with some nine million inhabitants.

The Center has a sanctuary, meeting halls, classrooms, two beautiful swimming pools, and claims the only Jewish restaurant in the entire Orient.

I had an invitation to be dinner guest of the Treasurer of the Jewish Community, Mr. Alex Triguboff.  Mr. Triguboff comes from Russia and has lived in Tokyo some sixteen years. He is in the export and import business.

When he picked me up and asked how I would like to have a Jewish dinner, I could hardly believe him. With justifiable pride he showed me through the spacious Jewish Community Center, which is the official headquarters of the Japanese Jewish Community.  The building has belonged to them for about the past four years.

Tokyo has a Jewish population of approximately one hundred families, most of them originally Russian Jews who came via Siberia and Vienna to settle in Japan. The balance are German, Polish and other West European Jews who fled during the thirties to Shanghai and from there to Tokyo.

Alex Triguboff told me an interesting story about the beginning of the Jewish community in Tokyo.

One day in the thirties one of the Jewish businessmen received a wire from the Joint (American Joint Distribution Committee) that a convoy of Jewish refugees was arriving by boat, and would he please go meet them.

The businessman called a few of his Jewish friends. They went to the dock, met the refugees, and put them up in hotels, where they stayed until transportation was secured for them to go to the United States.

This was the beginning of the rescue operation which lasted until just a few years ago. Forced by the events in Europe, and aware of their responsibility towards their unfortunate brethren, the Jewish families in Tokyo, with the help of the JDC, organized themselves into a Jewish Community.

Since that beginning they have helped some 10,000 Jews who fled first from Hitler and later from Communism.  With funds provided by the American Jewish community through the JDC, and supplemented by their own contributions, the handful of Jewish families in Tokyo have been ever ready to help the needy who came to the shores of Japan.

Today, although no more Jewish refugees are arriving from China or Russia, they have turned their efforts towards Israel, and each year conduct their local UJA drive as well as a campaign for their own local needs.

Small as the community is they have written a glorious chapter in the story of Jewish survival and Jewish self-help.  It is a story that deserves to be known more fully.

Honoring the 50^th wedding anniversary celebration of MR. and Mrs. Morris Penn, Beth Jacob Congregation is extending a cordial invitation to the entire community to attend a dinner on Sunday evening, December 22^nd in the Synagogue’s Center. The honorees, devoted members of the congregation, will be the subject of a “Tjhis Is Your Life” program which promises many entertaining highlights.

Chairman for the event is Mrs. Robert S. Strauss. Cocktails will be served prior to the banquet at 5:30 pm., with dinner to commence at 6:30 p.m.

Rabbi Baruch Stern and President Philip Mollick join the committee in extending the invitation and suggest early reservations may be made with the Chairman or at the Synagogue.

When watching television, put your feet up on a stool; get up and walk around at least once an hour. That’s one of the recommendations for the care, prevention and treatment of varicose veins, according to a booklet entitled “Varicose Veins,” now available to residents of the area, without charge, from the San Diego County Heart Association.

Since more women than men are susceptible to varicose veins, the booklet stresses how the avoidance of certain habits while doing household work and the discontinuation of certain feminine foundation garments can help prevent varicose veins.

Copies of the booklet may be obtained by writing to the San Diego County Heart Association, 1651 Fourth Avenue, San Diego 1, California.

“The dinner on December 1, 1957 with Drew Pearson as guest speaker is an event of real significance.  Call BE-4-6681 for reservations.”

Rose Weitzman and Edith Gates, presidents of the Negba and Shoshana Groups of the Pioneer Women, announce that the annual bazaar of Pioneer Women is in the final stages of preparation.  Under the chairmanship of Mrs. Jennie Bloomfield, the Bazaar will be an outstanding event this year.  Many new departments will be in operation, special treats and events for the children will be featured.

The Beth Jacob Center, 4473 30^th St., has been taken for the entire day of Sunday, December 8, from 12 o’clock noon until midnight.  Merchandise suitable for Chanukah giving is being collected and the entire community is advised to hold off on their purchasing until they see what bargains will be available.  More information on the bazaar will be found in the next issue of the Press, this is the opportunity to save money and help Israel at the same time.

“Cultural Activities in San Diego” will be the topic of discussion at the Dinner Meeting of the Community Service Group at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 19 at the Mission Valley Inn. The talk by Mr. Jim Bishop will be followed by a question and answer period.

Commencing its fourth year of activities the Community Service Group is made up of young Jewish men interested in becoming trained to fulfill positions of leadership wherever needed in the community at large. It is an affiliate of the Federation of Jewish Agencies.

Mr. Robert Shapiro succeeding Dr. Gerald Kobernick will preside at the next meeting. According to Mr. Shapiro, an increase of membership is anticipated to meet the needs for additional service volunteers in our growing community.

Information concerning membership and reservations for the dinner meeting can be had by calling Ben Press at JU-204801.