By GREER FAY CASHMAN
AT THE shloshim of Begin Heritage Center founder Harry Hurwitz, there was such a large crowd that extra chairs were brought out. Speakers who extolled his virtues included relatives and friends who had known Hurwitz more than half a century ago in South Africa as a leader of Betar and the Revisionist Movement; as editor of the South African Herald; and as a passionate and eloquent orator during his service to Israel in Washington; and in Israel during and after his determined effort to establish a fitting memorial to his friend and leader Menachem Begin. Among those in attendance were Benny Begin, who has just reentered the political arena; former cabinet secretaries in the Menachem Begin-led government Arye Naor and Dan Meridor; and Begin's long-time secretary and bureau chief Yechiel Kadishai.
Several speakers referred to the avuncular Hurwitz as a true Betarite and ever the gentleman, and also noted that his wife, Freda, was always quietly and supportively at his side. Two of the most moving tributes were from people two generations removed: his granddaughter Sharon Wohlgelernter and Moshe Fucksman-Shaal, the BHC deputy director-general who described his relationship with Hurwitz as being of Pygmalion nature, with Hurwitz as Professor Higgins to this Haifa-born Sabra's Eliza Doolittle. He could not even begin to describe how much he had learned from Hurwitz, said Fucksman-Shaal.
OF THE women who came to join Bertha Porush in celebrating her 105th birthday, the closest to her in age was her daughter Naomi's mother-in-law Rachel Leibler, who is 96. Both women, who are joint great-great-grandmothers, were well coiffed and smartly dressed and, to some extent, the envy of the guests who could not get over their abundant manes of hair. They were even more amazed at Porush's glorious and almost wrinkle-free complexion, enhanced by a radiant smile. Although German-born Porush and Belgian-born Leibler lived in Australia for well over half their respective lifetimes and speak English as if it were their first language, neither has forgotten her mother tongue. So when guests asked Porush if she remembered her favorite childhood song, she promptly launched into a German ditty that began, "Hänschen klein ging allein in die weite welt hinein." This was immediately followed by a rendition of "O Tannenbaum."
Porush was joined by several of the guests, as well as her daughter. Not to be outdone, Leibler began singing children's songs in French.
Much as she enjoyed the singing, the best part of the celebration for the birthday lady was the fact that no dietary restrictions were imposed on her that day. That meant she could have a slice of Black Forest cake and could savor the chocolate liqueur.
ALTHOUGH HADASSAH is the largest women's Zionist organization in America with a deeply devoted membership, let it not be said that its fund-raising efforts are solely women's work. While indeed, "women's work" is never done at Hadassah because the organization is forever introducing new projects, the men's contribution cannot be overlooked. While Hadassah does not have male members, it does have male associates - husbands, brothers, fathers, uncles and cousins of Hadassah activists who, appreciative of what their womenfolk are doing, are no less keen to be involved. That's how Hadassah Associates came into being in 1966. Though not members, they come on Hadassah missions to Israel and initiate and support numerous Hadassah educational, medical and community projects.
The president of the National Committee of Hadassah Associates is Chicago-certified accountant and real estate developer Howard Kaplan, who last week led a mission to Israel for a first-hand inspection of Hadassah projects across the country, a visit to an army base, meetings with Israeli businesspeople at the Tefen Industrial Park and a host of other experiences. Mission members were particularly impressed by the progress on the Davidson Tower, which is part of the Hadassah Ein Kerem complex and, when completed, will provide patients with the latest state-of-the-art care, blending compassion with medical science and the most modern of medical technologies. The group also met with Hadassah Medical Center director Prof. Shlomo Mor-Yosef, who briefed them on what the $200 million Davidson Tower would encompass, following its completion in 2012.
WHEN THE Jerusalem Foundation opened the Konrad Adenauer Conference Center in Mishkenot Sha'ananim in March 2001, no one imagined that other than at the overcrowded inauguration ceremony attended by former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, the auditorium would be too small to accommodate the audiences that flocked to the numerous events held there, especially those hosted by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. There were so many people there this week to listen to Dieter Althaus, the minister president of the Federal German State of Thuringia, that the overload was a safety hazard. Lars Hansel, the director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Israel, thanked the yekkes who had made the effort to come in from Haifa and Tel Aviv, and lauded them as bridge builders between Israel and Germany.
Because Thuringia is located in the former German Democratic Republic, namely Eastern Germany, it is only since the reunification of Germany that East Germans, who previously did not recognize Israel, have begun to familiarize themselves with the country, its history, its people and its achievements. Next year Thuringia, along with other German states, will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which will be on November 9, the same date on which the 71st anniversary of the infamous Kristallnacht will be commemorated.
This is but one of many reminders for the residents of Thuringia of the darkest days in German history. The fact that the former Buchenwald concentration camp is also located in Thuringia is another reminder. While there is a strong Holocaust awareness and sense of guilt and shame in Thuringia, there is also a positive side, remarked Althaus, who noted that Jews have been connected with Germany's and Thuringia's development for more than 1,000 years.
More than a decade ago, in the Thuringian city of Erfurt, in what had centuries earlier been the Jewish Quarter, contractors who were digging to lay the foundations for an office and residential complex discovered a synagogue dating back to the 11th century. It has since been restored and turned into a museum complex - not for lack of Jews to pray in it but because the Jewish community was already making use of more modern structures. Prior to the reunification of Germany, said Althaus, there were only 30 Jews in Thuringia. Now there are more than 800, and the community is flourishing. Like other German leaders, he is a firm believer in rapprochement, and Thuringia is therefore involved in various exchange programs and twin city relationships with Israel.
MEDIA ATTENTION has barely focused on Jerusalem satellite communities in the upcoming elections because the identity of the next mayor of Israel's capital is considered to be much more important. However, Harry Bloomfield, a prominent Montreal lawyer and philanthropist, was more keen to tour Mevaseret than Jerusalem. Part of the reason was that his long-time friend Dr. Haim Iluz Ayalon is running for mayor on the Mevaseret B'rama Aheret (A Different Standard for Mevaseret) ticket. The Bloomfield Fund, which is headed by Bloomfield, has already donated generously to Jerusalem by way of the Science Museum. It has also made significant contributions to educational and medical institutions throughout the country but is best known for the Bloomfield Stadium, which was inaugurated when Bloomfield was a child. His parents, Bernard and Neri Bloomfield, were heavily committed to Israel and involved in many phases of its development.
Ayalon and Bloomfield toured Mevaseret and were joined by Alon Liel, a former director-general at the Foreign Ministry, who has second spot on Ayalon's list. Ayalon made Bloomfield aware of projects that are needed in Mevaseret. Chances are that if he wins the election, the Bloomfield Fund will come to the party.
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store