Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, December 13, 1957, Part 1

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Fund 24th Meeting Honors Leaders … Will Elect Twenty Directors
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 13, 1957, Page 1

San Diego’s Jewish community will honor two of its leading citizens this Sunday, December 15, at the Annual Dinner Meeting of the United Jewish Fund.

Dr. Walter Ornstein
Dr. Walter Ornstein
Milton Y. Roberts
Milton Y. Roberts

The 24th Annual membership meeting in the Cotillion Room of the El Cortez Hotel, will serve as a testimonial to Dr. Walter Ornstein and Victor Schulman of the 1957 Drive, according to Milton Y. Roberts, Fund President.

Honored along with Schulman and Ornstein will be Richard A. Nelson, who led the Christian Committee section of the Fund appeal.  Mr. Nelson is a widely acclaimed community leader, as well as National President of the Goodwill Industries.

victor schulman
Victor Schulman

Business of the Annual Meeting will consist of the election of twenty directors to serve a two year term on the Fund Board: Philip Abrams, Abraham Abramson, Mrs. Gabriel Berg, Edward Breier, William Colt, Avrom I. Dickman, Isaac Domnitz, Carl M. Esenoff, Julius Kahn, Larry Lawrence, Dr. A.P. Nasatir, Joseph Pasternak, Milton Y. Roberts, Norman Smith, Harry Snyder, Mrs. Lewis Solomon, Robert Spiegel, David Stotsky, Samuel A. Sussman and Elmer Wohl.

Other business to be discussed and acted upon will be the acceptance in principal of the merger of the United Jewish Fund and the San Diego Federation of Jewish Agencies.

Eli H. Levenson will act as Chairman for the evening.

“Reservations will continue to be accepted,” Levenson said, “until Sunday morning. They may be made by calling BE-2-5172.”

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Jewish Center Plans Set At Annual Dinner
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 13, 1957, Pages 1, 12

william_b_schwartz
William B. Schwartz

Over 200 guests, including city, county officials and community leaders attended the 12th Annual Dinner meeting of the Jewish Community Center on Sunday, December 8, and responded enthusiastically to the announcement by William B. Schwartz, Center President, that the new $600,000 building would officially open on April 1.

Supervisor Frank Gibson, City Councilman George Kerrigan, Rabbi Baruch Stern and Commander Elihu Rickel , USN (CC) were among the notables present. The assembled guests unanimously accepted Schwartz’s recommendation to conduct a “Building Completion Fund” campaign immediately following the United Fund Drive.

In his presidential report, MR. Schwartz stated, “An additional minimum of $150,000 in cash is needed to furnish and equip the new Center and to provide for the swimming pool area in time for the opening. An all out campaign will be conducted beginning January 1 with the permission of the Community Chest. We are a Chest agency.”

He reported that the funds raised in a previous campaign were used to purchase the site on 54th Street and University Avenue, and to begin development of one phase of a three-phase building program. Schwartz described the first phase as including the cost of land, construction of the building and swimming pool area.  “Due to the rise in construction costs,” he added, “all of the presently available money must be used for the bare building.”

Albert A. Hutler, Executive Director of the San Diego Federation of Jewish Agencies, introduced a dramatic note to the evening during his annual report when he pointed out that the new community building was part of a resolution to consolidate all of the Jewish agencies in one area as in integrated community development. “These plans were made eleven years ago by the directors of the United Jewish Fund,” Hutler stated, “and tonight, before our very eyes, we are witnessing the actual realization of those plans.”  He announced, “the new Center is a contribution from the Jewish community to the whole of San Diego.”

Mr. Hutler stressed the need for a continuation of the “Blood, sweat and tears” that helped carry out the plans to the present day.  “However,” he added, “bricks and mortar do not make a Jewish Community Center. Although the Center is for all people, it is the fundamental responsibility of the Jewish community to provide the necessities for the Center. We must work and we must give to complete the building, so that it will be available for the community in time for the opening.”

Morris W. Douglas, dinner chairman, presented a program that depicted the progress of the Center through reports given by Maury Novak, Sidney Rose, Philip Abrams and Mrs. Norman Gelman, chairmen of the program, building, membership and Women’s League committees.  They revealed the time and energy required over the years to develop the center to its present position as an organization “dedicated to the principles of American democracy and Judaism, serving people of all ages and from all walks of life.”

As an inspiring contrast, a sample board of directors meeting followed with glowing descriptions  of future programs and activities to take place in the new Center upon its opening.

In keeping with the new developments, 24 directors were elected at the meeting. Elected for three year terms were: Bernard Arenson, Norman Gelman, Samuel Bennett, MRs. Lester Friedman, Edmund Herman, Edward Haimsohn, Maxwell Kaufman, Al Kaye, Dr. Walter Ornstein, Henry Price, Sam Rassin, Herman Reder, Sidney Rose, Mrs. Jack Stern and William B. Schwartz.  Mrs. Leroy Cohn, Manuel S. Fisher, Mrs. Hyman Kitaen, Ben Press and Victor Schulman were elected for two year terms and MRs. Simon Reznikoff, Mrs. E. Al Slayen, Mrs. Jack Spivak and Rabbi Baruch Stern for one year.

Organization plans for the Building Completion Fund campaign will be announced at an early date.
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Center Panel Has No Secrets From Community
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 13, 1957, Pages 1, 12

Panel of Community Center experts discuss plans to make new Jewish Community Center an outstanding addition to San Diego's recreational and cultural activities.  Shown above are Morrie Douglas, Seymour Rabin, Sidney Rose, Mack Esterson, Irving Mortin, Maury Novak and Norman Gelman
Panel of Community Center experts discuss plans to make new Jewish Community Center an outstanding addition to San Diego’s recreational and cultural activities. Shown above are Morrie Douglas, Seymour Rabin, Sidney Rose, Mack Esterson, Irving Mortin, Maury Novak and Norman Gelman

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Plans Set for Completion of Jewish Center Campaign
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 13, 1957, Pages 1, 3

Preparations have been formulated for the Building Completion Fund Campaign of the Jewish Community Center, as Seymour Rabin, Campaign Chairman, announced that all places of leadership have been filled by top community leaders.

Because of his tremendous interest in the Jewish Community Center, Harry Sugarman accepted the most important post of Special Gifts Chairman dealing with top gifts including “Memorials.”  Mr. Sugarman is one of San Diego’s top citizens and investment executives and has played a major role in many community endeavors.

He will be aided by Irving Friedman, who chairs the “Corporate and Foundation” Gifts Division.  President of Guadalupe Clinic and a past president of theSan Diego Boys Club and the Jnuior Chamber of Commerce, Friedman has led many community efforts.

Big Gifts Division will be led by two old time campaigners, active in B’nai B’rith and in the United Jewih Fund in the persons of Abraham Sklar and Harry Wax, business executives.

Al Solomon and Norman Gelman will lead the “Brick Division;” while Philip Abrams and Herbert Reder will chair the “Mortar Division.” Organization gifts will be spearheaded by Morris W. Douglas and E. A;l Slayen.

Other members of the campaign cabinet are William B. Schwartz, Bernard Arenson, Sidney Rose, Maury Novak, Sidney Silverman, Henry Price, Rodin Horrow, Carl M. Esenoff, Max Rabinowitz, Mack Esterson, William Starr, Louis Steinman and Edward Breitbard.

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Gerald L.K. Smith Loses Fight To Go On Ballot
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 13, 1957, Page 1

Gerald L.K. Smith, the West’s foremost anti-Semite, and his Christian Nationalist Party, lost their fight in the State Supreme Court to appear on the California ballot.

The high court handed down a decision upholding a judgment of dismissal of a lawsuit filed by the party in Los Angeles.
Smith, who was his party’s presidential candidate in 1956, charged in his action that the Election Code provisions for attaining a place on the ballot were so stringent as to be an unconstitutional limitation on the right of suffrage.  Under the code the party would be obligated to obgtain 41,000 registrants or file a petition signed by 410,000 voters to place on the 1958 ballot.

The Supreme Court ruled that the code’s restrictions were reasonable.

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Natalie Veitzer Engaged
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 13, 1957, Page 2

“Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Veitzer, San Diego, announce the engagement of their daughter Natalie to Gary Mintz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Mintz of Oakland.

Mis Veitzer is a graduate of Hoover High School, and is now a junior at the University of California at Berkeley, where she is a member of the Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority.

Mr. Mintz also attends the University and is a member of Kappa Nu Fraternithy. The wedding will take place next June following the graduation of Mr. Mintz.

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Personals
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 13, 1957, Page 2

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Haas wish their friends to know that they recently moved to thier new home at 4835 Barbarossa.

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Mr. and MRs. LeRoy Cohn enjoyed a happy 10th Wedding Anniversary on Nov. 30 at the Marine Room, La Jolla.  Joining the couple at a no-host dinner were Messrs & Mmes. Morris Naiman, Ben Press, Norman Kolkey, Edwin Hoffman, Herb Seltzer, Cal Lawrence, George Ziedell and Al Breitbard; also Mrs. Cohn’s sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Kravitz.

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New residents in San Diego are Rabbi and Mrs. Charles Temkin who will no longer have to cross the country to visit their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Wohl and their family.

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A birthday party will be held for Mrs. Anna Horrow on December 14 at 2:30 p.m. in the Hebrew Home for the Age. Host and hostess will be Mr. andMRs. Rodin Horrow. Friends are cordially invited to attend.

A Minyon will be observed on Decewmber 21 and the community is urged to attend.

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A happy family reunion took place recently with the arrival of Miss Henrietta Cysner, from London, England.  She is the daughter of Mrs. Chaja Cysner and sister of cantor Joseph Cysner.  Mother and daughter and another brother, living in Los Angeles, have not seen each other for twenty years.

Miss Cysner is now making her home with the Cantor and his family and is hoping  to relocate herself in her profession as a dental nurse.

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A new publication by Dr. A.P. Nasatir called “Research in Local History” has recently been published. Dr. Nasatir left yesterday for New York City where he will attend a meeting of the American Historical Society and the United Jewish Appeal’s Annual Meeting. Mrs. Nasatir will spend the holidays with her family in San Francisco.

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Off on a Mediterranean Cruise are Mr. and Mrs. Jack Gross and Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Kahn.  They will celebrate the New Year on the high seas.

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Speech Dept.  — Three hundred students from 23 schools participated in the Invitational High School Speech Tournament held at San Diego State College last week. Among those winning awards and participating in the finals were Adrian Cantor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Cantor, who received four gold cups, one for Outstanding Speaker, and three for being first in Impromptu, Original Oratory and Extemporaneous.  Linda Hess, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Hess, won a silver medal in Original Oratory; Richard Elihu Miller, son of Dr. and Mrs. David Miller, won a bronze medal for Extemporaneous Speech and Morton J. Cohn Jr. received an award for making the finals in the Radio event.

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Dr. Daniel H. Harris, Psychologist, has recently extended his practice to El Cajon, where he will share offices with Dr. Hugh Frank.  Dr. Harris, who has 20 years experience in clinical and counseling psychology, holds the Diploma in Clinical Psychology awarded by the American Board of Examiners in professional psychology.  He is a Past President of the San Diego Personnel and Guidance Association and Commander with the Medical Corps U.S.N.R.

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On December 22, Rabbi and Mrs. Morton J. Cohn will be en route to Detroit, Michigan, to visit family and friends. From there they will go to Sharon, Penn., where Rabbi Cohn will officiate at the wedding of his niece, Carol Applebaum.  On their return trip, they will attend the Convention of  the Western Association of Reform Rabbis, at the El Dorado Ranch in Tucson.  Rabbi Cohn is Vice President of the association.

Julia Abraham, aunt of the bride to be will also attend the wedding in Sharon.

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Newcomers to San Diego are Dr. and Mrs. Edward Buchner, who will reside at 4358 51st St.  Dr. Buchner, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Buchner of the city, has opened offices for the practice of internal medicine.

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Hostesses Doris Borenstein, Kay Kraus, Thelma Selten and Zelah Kahn have set a precedent for winners of Cadillacs.  Under the name of “Panco,” they won the Cadillac at the recent benefit golf tournament held in San Diego.  Over 120 guests shared their good fortune at a Champagne Breakfast, on December 3, at the Mission Valley Country Club.

The clever invitations were only a forerunner of the originality show by the hostesses. After champagne served in the Club’s spacious lounge, the guests were ushered to their seats at tables arranged in the shape of a wheel.  On the table representing the hub of the wheel, there was a large floral arrangement of chrysanthemums from which a constant stream of bubbles  rose.  Interspersed between other floral arrangements on the individual tables were miniature white cars. A social afternoon of cards followed the brunch.

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Nate Feinberg wishes to thank his friends for the consideration shown him during h is recent illness.

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Miss Reitha Stokes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Stokes, is home for the Chanukah holidays and is looking forward to seeing her many friends. Miss Stokes is a teacher in Oakland.

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Samuel DeSure wants to offer thanks to his friends for their solicitations and cards while he was hospitalized.

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Betrothal Told
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 13, 1957, Page 2

Mr. and Mrs. Yael Rozenstain of La Mesa announce the engagement of their son, Horace Meyer, to Shari Schoenholz, of San Leandro.  Miss Schoenholz is the daughter of Mrs. Rose Kramer of Brooklyn, New York.  A June marriage is planned.  The couple will reside in San Diego.

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J.C.C. Women’s League
Southwestern Jewish Press, December 13, 1957, Page 2

The bowlign team of the Women’s League of the J.C.C. meets every Monday at the Bowlero in Mission Valley from 12 noon to 3 p.m.  Age seems to be no barrier as playing side by side are Mothers and Grandmothers enjoying the game. A new team is being formed and all those interested are urged to call the center, AT-1-7744 or Esther Brisker, AT-4-3363.

The next board meeting of the league is scheduled for January 7 at the Hebrew Home for the Aged. In order to help raise funds to complete the new Center library a portable TV set is being raffled by the members. Additional books may be obtained by calling the Center.

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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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