Israel's 31st Birthday SHOFAR THE e Israeli The In the Beginning nd work B'nai B'rith Youth Organization How Israel Was Born the by Morry Schreiber in ALEPH ZADIK ALEPH (AZA) farmers B'NAI B'RITH GIRLS (BBG) The birth of the state of Israel thirty-one The Jewish neighborhood in downtown although years ago has been dramatized in plays, Haifa where I lived at the time bordered on being novels, movies, which have thrilled mil- an Arab neighborhood soon to become of our lions of readers and spectators. But what headquarters for the Arab forces in the ition to April, 1979 was it like for the ordinary person living in area (Arab children who lived in that neigh- weekly that land before, during, and after the birth borhood at the time became leading figures tz life as of the Jewish state? Was it thrilling, uplifting, in the PLO in later years). It soon became ntinuing harrowing, or was it an ordinary experience dangerous to walk out of the house as Arab evel, and not unlike any other time in history? snipers positioned on nearby rooftops began with the AZA'ers Reach Out As a native Israeli who lived through that to shoot at Jewish passersby. Looking back, period, I remember it as being all those I realize that my mother, like all Jewish ve come me as a sidering to Forgotten Elderly Makers of History dations program The busload of AZAers of Southwestern do it right." ting the Region, District 4, could be heard for blocks When the Alephs got off the bus at e'd love in each direction. The Alephs amused them- Temple Beth Shalom they were greeted with selves as well as the advisors onboard with open arms by more than 60 local residents a variety of off-color songs complete with who had come as far as 30 miles away to original lyrics. see the first young people to come to their As sunset approached the bus pulled up synagogue in many years. The youngest to the shell of what was once a $1 million member of the Jewish community in Lake synogogue in the heart of the vacation com- Elsinore is the 68-year-old president of the l'hitraot munity of Lake Elsinore, approximately 75 congregation, Dr. Harvey Engel. Rosen miles from downtown Los Angeles. The Regional Jewish Awareness Chairman mood of the AZAers suddenly turned Marty Kudler conducted a creative Havdalah serious. service for the Orthodox congregation and The bus was silent as field worker Dan Sztraicher delivered a sermon on the mean- Aznoff explained that 25 years of anti-Semi- ing and purpose of BBYO. Alephs and Elsi- tisim in the community was capped in March nore residents sat together during the wor- 1978 when an escaped mental patient started ship and then walked often arm-in-arm- blaze in the sanctuary by setting fire to the into the social hall for a deli-buffet dinner Torahs. brought by the AZAers. Although the group was already behind "I can't believe that young people sin- $135.00 schedule, the Alephs demanded to get off of cerely care about us," said Eugene Carter, $100.00 the bus to inspect the damage. It had been the 75-year-old president of the burned $100.00 apparent that the fire had simply been con- down synagogue. "What is being done here $100.00 tained to protect surrounding structures and is better than any gift of money. It is really a $100.00 no attempt had been made to save the build- gift of life." ing or its contents. Other members of the elderly community $100.00 Aznoff, who works full-time as an investi- echoed Carter's remarks, including one gative reporter for a daily newspaper, told woman who asked the regional leadership $100.00 the group that firefighters arrived to fight the when they were going to ask for donations. $100.00 fire within minutes after it had been reported, She was shocked when they were told there $100.00 but somehow the fire hydrant on the corner would be no plea for money. $150.00 had been left without water pressure. "You mean these young people are simply $100.00 With tears in their eyes, the Alephs got doing this out of the kindness of their Men of courage have led Israel from its birth to this day. Ben Gurion (above, left) $103.00 back on the bus for the short ride over to the hearts?" she said with a tear in her eye. proclaimed the state in 1948 against incredible odds. President Truman (above, $100.00 second Jewish congregation in the city of "This is the first time that anybody has taken right), answering appeals from Jewish leaders such as B'nai B'rith President 3,600. time to show us any consideration in many Frank Goldman (seated, right), signed U.S. recognition of new state (also in $100.00 Regional Godol, Gus Sztraicher told the years." picture, Eddie Jacobson, Truman's former business partner and member of B'nai $111.11 $100.00 members of his region, "It looks like we A survey of the congregation showed that B'rith, and B.B. Secretary Maurice Bisgyer). Below, Prime Minister Menachem have a job to do. This is important, SO let's (continued on p. 3) Begin greets local Jewry as he arrives at Washington to sign peace treaty with Egypt. $100.00 $100.00 "From Many, One" $300.00 $100.00 1979 International things, at once a turning point in history and mothers in the neighborhood, must have $125.00 an ordinary time with all the ordinary every- been worried sick each time I stepped out of Convention day life experiences. the house. I, on the other hand, found my- $434.14 When Israel was born I was nine years old. self caught up in the excitement of playing $100.00 The day after the United Nations vote on war games with my friends in the neigh- $100.00 $121.27 Yes BBYO, there is an International Convention and it promises to be the greatest yet. the partition of Palestine into a Jewish and borhood courtyards, staircases, and alleys, $288.77 Convention will be held August 16th through 22nd at beautiful B'nai B'rith Perlman Camp. an Arab state, we had an assembly in the while live bullets and shells whizzed over- $322.07 We have been working hard to bring you a Convention that will be beneficial, spirited, and school yard and we danced the horah in head. Once, standing on our second floor $211.07 most of all, fun. honor of the occasion. I recall thinking to apartment balcony, I saw a Haganah man $391.77 $163.63 The theme for this year's Convention is "FROM MANY, ONE," symbolizing our many myself that now that we finally had our own who had just been hit by Arab bullets run $326.38 individuals, Chapters, Regions and Districts coming together to form one order. state we were all going to live happily ever for shelter. The sight of blood running down Convention will include the usual moving and traditional programs, from the respective after, like in a fairy tale, or in one of those his face made my knees shake. My panic States of the Orders to International Life Ceremonies, including the Sam Beber and Anita Hollywood movies which my friends and I lasted for a few moments when I heard my Perlman Distinguished Alumni Awards, the Memorial Grove Dedication in honor of Golda $150.00 went to see once a week. My teacher, as mother's call to get ready to go to school. $100.00 Meir, election of the 1979-1980 International Officers, and installations. In addition, Dis- soon as we stopped dancing, set me straight Life, war or no war, went on. $100.00 trict Champions will compete in the International AZA and BBG Oratory and Storytelling on the matter. She told us that there were My hometown, Haifa, a major seaport, Competition, ISF awards will be presented, Henry Monsky Outstanding AZA Chapters, difficult times ahead. Our Arab neighbors was a key to the survival of the newly born Miriam Albert BBG Chapter Honor Roll, and BBYO Outstanding Chapters will be an- did not take kindly to the U.N. resolution, state. My father owned and operated a (continued on p. 8) and there was going to be a war. (continued on p. 2)