Jewish Herald-Voice (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 101, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 23, 2009 Page: 1 of 36
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The Texas Gulf Coast’s Jewish Newspaper Since 1908
April 23, 2009 - 29 Nisan 5769_sC*_Volume Cl - Number 3_ft_Houston, Texas_sC*_Two Sections_ft_$1 Per Copy
Houston celebrates Israel’s anniversary
Join together as Houston celebrates
Israel@61 Wednesday, April 29, 4:30 to 7 p.m.
at the Jewish Community Center, 5601 S.
Braeswood Blvd. There will be arts and crafts
for young children, music for dancing and lots
of spirit.
“How do you top Israel@60?” asked JCC
program director, Marilyn Hassid. “You don’t.
But that doesn’t mean the community shouldn’t come together to
celebrate the day.”
At 7:30 p.m., an Israeli film will be screened, and Cafe at the J will
stay open a bit later to accommodate all those wanting to enjoy a falafel
sandwich or other foods.
On Thursday night, April 30, the weekly Israeli dancing class
continues, beginning at 7:30 p.m., and led by Dee Jacobson and Shira
Moses. Drop-in fees apply.
“Every birthday is a reason to celebrate,” said Jonathan Fass, JCC
director of the Center for Jewish Living and Learning, “and even though
this year will be quite a bit more laid back, it’s still a time for the
community to gather in recognition of the miracle of the State of Israel.”
Israel @61 is presented by the Jewish Community Center, along with
the Bureau of Jewish Education of the Jewish Federation of Houston, the
Jewish Herald-Voice and Israeli House. For additional details, visit www.
jcchouston.org.
For more on Israel, see Section B. □
Ahmad jnejad accuses Israel of
genocide; Europeans march out
European diplomats walked out in protest as Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad attacks Israel during a speech April 20 at a UN conference in
Geneva.
GENEVA (JTA) - European
diplomats walked out of a session
of the Durban II conference when
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on
the world to unite against Israel.
In a speech at the United Nations-
sponsored anti-racism conference in
Geneva, the Iranian president first
blamed the West for injustice, then
went on the offensive against Israel,
calling it the “racist perpetrators of
genocide.”
“Under the pretext of Jewish
suffering, they have helped bring to
power the most oppressive, racist
regime in Palestine,” Ahmadinejad
said, to heavy applause from
Iranians in the upper gallery and
pockets of Muslims elsewhere
on the floor. “They have always
been silent about their crimes.”
He briefly was interrupted when
several protesters in rainbow wigs
yelled “Racist!”
At the first mention of “Jewish,”
representatives of the 23 European
Union countries that chose to
participate in the conference noisily
got up from their seats and marched
out the door - a move met by more
clapping from Iranian and Arab
delegates, while other diplomatic
delegations refrained. The walkout
dealt another blow to organizers
of the conference, which is being
boycotted by nine countries,
including the United States, Israel
and several European nations.
Ahmadinejad went on to criticize
the United States for the bloodshed
in Iraq and Afghanistan and for
the global economic crisis. Lie
railed against those who use their
“economic and political influence”
and control of the media to back
the “barbaric racism” of the “Zionist
regime.” He called for the world
to “put an end to abuses by the
Zionists” and the “conspiracies by
some powers and Zionist circles.”
During the speech, UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
remained in his seat, just behind
Ahmadinejad. □
Houstonians remember Holocaust victims
JHV: MICHAEL C. DUKE
Congregation Beth Israel hosted an emotional and uplifting Yom HaShoah Service
on April 20. Local Holocaust survivors and their families lit six yartzeit candles in
memory of the 6 million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust. Four generations
of the Roth family, led by Holocaust survivor Bertha Roth, were given the honor of
lighting the second candle: Eddie Ackerman, Bertha Roth, Ruzena Roth, Tomas
Ackerman (behind), Andrea Schlakman with infant Re my Schlakman, Michael
Gordon, Eva Ackerman, Abby Ackerman with infant Ariana Ackerman and Vojtech
Ackerman. The Yom HaShoah Service is an annual commemoration sponsored by
Holocaust Museum Houston. More than 800 people from across greater Houston
attended this year’s service. 1
Cemetery receives historic Texas designation
Beth Israel’s West Dallas Cemetery
The Texas Historical Commission
has designated Congregation Beth
Israel’s West Dallas Cemetery as
a Historic Cemetery. A dedication
ceremony will be held on Sunday,
April 26, at 2 p.m. at the West Dallas
location. Beth Israel’s Scout Troop
806 honor guard and distinguished
members of Houston’s City Council
will join the event.
Cemeteries, such as Beth Israel’s,
hold valuable historical information.
They often are the last reminders of
early settlements, historical events,
the city’s forefathers and religious
beliefs.
Beth Israel’s cemetery actually
started as an Orthodox cemetery in
1844. Located at 1207 West Dallas,
land for the cemetery was purchased
by Houston Jews who migrated here
from Bohemia and Bavaria in the
mid-19th century. The original grave
sites are in the northwest corner
of the cemetery. A mausoleum was
erected in 1936 as the members and
nonmembers buried in the ground
exceeded the original space.
Beth Israel’s was the first Jewish
cemetery in Texas, just as Beth Israel
was the first synagogue in Texas,
built in 1854, 10 years later.
The cemetery is rich in tradition
and houses the remains of prominent
Houston families, such as Sakowitz,
Battelstein, Gordon, Meyer, Levy,
Taub, Rosenstock, Bath, Pye, Ladin
and Nathan.
Beth Israel longtime librarian,
Kerry Hoffman, is recognized as
the one whose efforts made this
important designation possible.
The community is invited to
attend this historic event. □
Jewish prisoners were singing,
but were the Nazis listening?.....
SEARCH celebrates 20 years in Houston
Israel responds to Ahmadinejad’s
rhetoric at Durban II..........
Celebrations...............
Israel @ Sixty-one. ...........
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Section B
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Samuels, Jeanne F. Jewish Herald-Voice (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 101, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 23, 2009, newspaper, April 23, 2009; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth543920/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .