Peninsula Jewish Community Center Your Center for Life! Spring 2010 • Adar / Nisan / Iyar 5770
CenterView PJCC Member Swam for Legendary Pre-Holocaust Vienna Team
PJCC volunteer Peter Karlton presents Edith Foyer with a DVD of Watermarks.
Hakoah-Vienna was Austria’s celebrated Jewish athletic club, founded in 1909 in response to the notorious Aryan Paragraph forbidding sports clubs from accepting Jewish athletes. Hakoah, (“the Strength” in Hebrew) boasted many renowned athletes, including the champion women’s swim team profiled in the 2004 documentary, Watermarks. Recently, the PJCC showed Watermarks and discovered that audience and Center Member Edith Foyer was actually a member of the Know a member of our community with an interesting story? Let us know at editor@pjcc.com.
legendary swim team. Born in Vienna, Edith was just 11 years old in 1934 when she joined Hakoah. “I was too young for the upper division, but participated in all meets,” she says. “My specialty was the backstroke.” Edith practiced daily until her final night in 1938. “Hitler arrived the very next morning,” she remembers. “Soon afterwards, my family relocated to Bolivia.” Today the San Mateo resident remains active with yoga and hopes to resume swimming. “I still enjoy it,” she says.
Whether or not you join a legendary swim team like our friend Edith Foyer, swimming can improve your health. That’s because swimming: • Improves your cardiovascular system • Burns body fat effectively • Burns a high number of calories • Relieves stress • Treats your joints gently • Is fun whether you are 8 or 88! Learn more about the PJCC’s award-winning swim programs—call 650.378.2782.
Repairing the World (One Shoe at a Time) by Deborah Pinsky, Executive Director The PJCC has a passionate social action committee that helps direct our efforts in Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). I’ve invited Stephanie Levin, PJCC Youth and Family Director, to introduce you to one such endeavor.
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Pink Converse® High Tops by guest columnist Stephanie Levin HANI E EP
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I was in third grade, and these were the shoes I really wanted. Lucky for me, my parents were able to buy them and I wore them to school every day. I was fortunate because my parents could provide me with the things I needed and wanted. But in the state of California, over 40% of children are low-income, the majority with educated, working parents who are struggling to make ends meet and provide for their children. Despite their best efforts, these parents might be unable to purchase even simple things, such as pink Converse® high tops.
The PJCC recently forged a new partnership with My New Red Shoes, a local non-profit organization. They provide brand new clothing and shoes to underprivileged children in the Bay Area, enabling thousands of local youth to start their first day of school with pride. The PJCC will have several opportunities each year for members and guests to get involved with this important work and I hope you’ll join us. To learn more or get involved, please contact me at 650.378.2762 or slevin@pjcc.org. PJCC Guiding Principles
Jewish Life
חוויה יהודית
Chavaya Yehudit
עיקרים
Ikkarim
Welcoming All
Our Community of Family and Friends
Wholeness of Body, Mind and Spirit
Repairing the World
Hachnasat Or’chim
Kehilla u’Mishpacha
Shleimut
Tikkun Olam
הכנסת אורחים
קהילה ומשפחה
שלמות
תקון עולם