Shorts: Bay Area

Poland taps native son Taube as honorary consul

When Tad Taube was fleeing his native Poland on the eve of the Nazi invasion that started World War II, it's unlikely he thought he would one day be a representative of the Polish government.

Taube was recently named an honorary consul in recognition of his ongoing philanthropic efforts to better the lives of Poland's Jews and others and shine a light on the history of Polish Jewry other than its abrupt near-extermination during the Holocaust.

"I'd like to see American Jews, particularly the 70 percent who have Polish roots, to know more about their cultural history other than simply viewing Poland as a cemetery," he said.

His new position is "essentially comparable to a regular consular position.

"I'm a representative of the government of Poland connected with inquiries that Americans or Poles or anyone else has in relation to issues or problems that relate to Poland," he said. "I'm going to have a staff of people empowered to deal with these issues."

Taube's family foundation is the only American Jewish foundation with a permanent presence in Poland. He also serves as the president of the Bay Area-based Koret Foundation and, in 2004, was awarded the Commander's Cross — Poland's highest civilian medal for civilians — by Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.




Newsom made member of Wallenberg Foundation

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation has named San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom as one of its honorary members. The mayor joins a roll call that includes more than 200 dignitaries, including Elie Wiesel, Rudolph Guiliani and the Dalai Lama. Newsom will serve as a liaison between the foundation and the people of San Francisco.

The IRWF is a public, nonprofit organization that develops educational programs and campaigns to commemorate heroes from the Holocaust like Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved 100,000 lives during World War II by issuing Swedish protective documents and offering safe houses.




Kol Shofar, neighbors to talk on own accord

In the ongoing legal morass between Congregation Kol Shofar and its neighbors, no possibility of good news goes unnoticed.

When representatives of the synagogue and the neighbors who sued the city of Tiburon in an effort to alter the Conservative temple's expansion plans met June 13, it was solely out of a legal obligation to do so.

But they were under no obligation to meet a second time, but agreed to do so anyway Friday, June 22. A confidentiality agreement prevented both sides from disclosing any further details.

"Personally, I think it's good to stay in conversation. Other than that, I can't comment," said Diane Zack, Kol Shofar's president, who attended the June 13 meeting.