Joseph, Venice Beach regular, one time owner of Finjan Cafe on Ocean Front Walk and sometimes known as Veince’s only resident oud and dumbech master passed away on February 1st, just a few days before his 82nd birthday.

He was born February 9, 1929 in Baghdad, Iraq. He moved with his family to Israel in the 1950s, met and married Phyllis while she was visiting in Israel and in 1957 moved to London. He had difficulties there and returned to Israel shortly afterwards.

He separated and divorced from Phyllis in the mid-60s, eventually moving to Venice and later opening Finjan Cafe on Ocean Front Walk, serving Falafel and other mid-East and Israeli specialties. He could regularly be seen there entertaining customers and passers by on Dumbek, a mid-Eastern drum or playing oud, often for belly dancers.

After he gave up the cafe, he was still on Ocean Front Walk almost daily, selling, bartering, playing music and sometimes flirting with the women.

His is survived by his son Richard (Susan), grandchildren Hannah and Benjamin, by his daughter Susan (Jon) Carp and sister Flora.

Please leave comments, and see the remembrance and photos posted at http://josephbaruch.wordpress.com/

– Stan Strom