By Dora B. Krakower Santa Monica
I was in New Zealand in 1981 — the first woman cantor to sing at Temple Sholom in Auckland, a sister city of Los Angeles. I sang “Start Today In The L.A. Way” over Radio New Zealand. Mayor Colin Kay gave my (late) husband a beautiful pair of cufflinks and me a lovely silver tray engraved with the Auckland coat of arms. I learned about Princess Te Puea, a great Maori leader.
It was wonderful having New Zealand here in my home-town (“A tribe on a quest,” Feb. 6, page 1). My Santa Monica song, “The Madonna of Santa Monica,” was performed by the Santa Monica Boy’s Club Choir during a historical pageant honoring Santa Monica.
Maybe I’ll go back to New Zealand, but (for now) I’m going to the beach here.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 12, 2007. Read the original PDF.