August 2023

A lot has gone into earning your wealth. We’ll make sure the same goes into helping you manage it.

As successful as you are, we understand there’s still more you have to do. Liber Lincoln Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors has the experience to craft a plan to help you reach those goals. Find out how we can help you with your investment plan.

PUBLISHERS

Mark Edelstein and Dr. Mark Moss

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jacqueline Bull

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Makayla Hoppe

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Eileen Sondak

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Donna D’Angelo

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Ronnie Weisberg

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Emily Bartell, Linda Bennett, Leorah Gavidor, Emily Gould, Judith Fein (Senior Travel Correspondent), Paul Ross (Senior Travel Photographer), Patricia Goldblatt, Pat Launer, Sharon Rosen Leib, Andrea Simantov, Marnie Macauley, Rabbi Jacob Rupp, Saul Levine, Rachael Eden, Sybil Kaplan.

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

Alan Moss | Palm Springs

EDITORIAL editor@sdjewishjournal.com

ADVERTISING marke@sdjewishjournal.com

CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS

ronniew@sdjewishjournal.com

ART DEPARTMENT art@sdjewishjournal.com

LISTINGS & CALENDAR assistant@sdjewishjournal.com

SDJJ is published monthly by San Diego Jewish Journal, LLC. Subscription rate is $24 for one year (12 issues). Send subscription requests to SDJJ, 7742 Herschel Ave., Suite H, La Jolla, CA 92037. The San Diego Jewish Journal is a free and open forum for the expression of opinions. The opinions expressed herein are solely the opinion of the author and in no way reflect the opinions of the publishers, sta or advertisers. The San Diego Jewish Journal is not responsible for the accuracy of any and all information within advertisements. The San Diego Jewish Journal reserves the right to edit all submitted materials, including press releases, letters to the editor, articles and calendar listings for brevity and clarity. The Journal is not legally responsible for the accuracy of calendar or directory listings, nor is it responsible for possible postponements, cancellations or changes in venue. Manuscripts, letters, documents and photographs sent to the Journal become the physical property of the publication, which is not responsible for the return or loss of such material. All contents ©2023 by San Diego Jewish Journal. The San Diego Jewish Journal is a member of the American Jewish Press Association and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

San Diego Jewish Journal

(858) 638-9818 | fax: (858) 263-4310

#SDJewishJournal SanDiegoJewishJournal sdjewishjournal.com

You are not alone.

Is there rental assistanceavailable?

I don’t have enough to pay my rent. I’m worried about getting evicted.

Where can Ifind help withgettingfood?

Even while stretching my budget, I don’t have enough for groceries.

Where can I turn for support? I feel like I’m heading towards a crisis. I don’t even know where to start.

You, along with many others in our community, may be experiencing financial and emotional distress and have never been in this position before. We know asking for support can feel uncomfortable.

Our dedicated staff are here to listen without judgement, help address your immediate needs, and develop a personalized plan so that you can move forward.

Services include:

•Basic Needs & Financial Assistance

•Coordinating Resources and Referrals

•Coping Skills & Mental Health Support

•Housing Resource Navigation

Care

•Care Coordination for Holocaust Survivors

Your dignity is important to us. All information is confidential. This is a free service.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact us at (858) 637-3018

www.CenterForJewishCare.org

The Center for Jewish Care is here for you.

Making critically important family decisions in the aftermath of emotional life changes can be extremely difficult. Our dedicated family law attorneys can help you navigate the complex divorce process with clarity.

Making critically important family decisions in the aftermath of emotional life changes can be extremely difficult. Our dedicated family law attorneys can help you navigate the complex divorce process with clarity.

Divorce, high conflict child custody, alternative dispute resolution, and more.

Making critically important family decisions in the aftermath of emotional life changes can be extremely difficult. Our dedicated family law attorneys can help you navigate the complex divorce process with clarity.

Divorce, high conflict child custody, alternative dispute resolution, and more.

Divorce, high conflict child custody, alternative dispute resolution, and more.

Legal Experts with Humanity

Legal Experts with Humanity

Founder Myra Chack Fleischer

Founder Myra Chack Fleischer

Founder Myra Chack Fleischer

e Green-Eyed Monster Under the Bed

More and more, our society is becoming invested in the concepts of fairness and justice. Where we as individuals fall on many topics du jour, I’ve been thinking lately, has to do with our relationship to the concept of envy. It is determined by how we cope with our own envy and the types of things that we envy. Take, for example, student loan forgiveness. This is a prime example of intergenerational envy. The older generations (specifically those who needed loans) are envious of the idea of the younger generations having their loans forgiven because they had to pay theirs. The younger generations are envious of the older generations having been able to attend college at a much proportionally more a ordable rate in a more favorable economic landscape.

You can look at wealth inequality under the lens of envy, too. There is the obvious element where the poorer classes are envious of the richer classes because they have things that are unobtainable to them. And there is also (to some) an envy the richer classes have to the poor because of a perception of an easy life aided by social services. (We must be careful of the elaborate fantasies we create of our imagined ‘other’ because they can become caricatures that only function to increase our envy and our rage).

Envy feels like this invisible force behind so much discord that is both ubiquitous and yet not addressed. It is a basic part of the human experience, but because we have so much shame shrouding it, we hide it or transform it. A lot of hatred is borne out of transforming envy. Many antisemitic stereotypes come from a place of envying artistic ability, social esteem, etc. You see a lot of misogynistic talking points come from envying women’s decision-making power in social spheres. I think if we have the courage to bring envy out into the sunlight, it would be less powerful.

As social creatures capable of comparison, envy will always exist. This does not make it an evil force. Envy can be a helpful tool. It is an informative twinge that can tell us what we want.

While it is not evil, lessening the experience of envy is to our benefit. And something that is an antidote to envy is learning. Teaching is saying “These are the gifts of knowledge that I have and I want to give them to you.” It benefits both the teacher and the student because both are receiving in the exchange and giving something that is not taken from them. When you give knowledge, it is not finite, you keep it for yourself, too.

Education, like all acts of altruism, helps assuage our envy because we are focused on what we can give to others, rather than what we can take. A

About San Diego’s Holocaust Exhibit

HONORING THEIR LEGACY

San Diego County once again has a Holocaust exhibit. Created and curated by Sandra Scheller, daughter of Holocaust survivors, this display is being funded by a Neighborhood Reinvestment Grant of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Jewish Federation of San Diego worked with Sandra to help secure the $25,000 grant received from San Diego County that makes this exhibit possible. In addition to its fiscal sponsorship, Federation is activating its vast network in directing a variety of individuals and groups to visit and experience this powerful exhibit firsthand.

This exhibit entitled “RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust” is divided into two parts. San Diego County Holocaust survivors still with us today are in lifesize form as well as the history and stories of Holocaust survivors that first came to San Diego after the war. The second part is a separate room that shares

the last moments of the world’s greatest atrocity facing a gas chamber along with Holocaust memorabilia that has been collected by her family and families that donated Holocaust and WWII artifacts such as documents, stars, books, and Nazi memorabilia. These items are used to educate when giving personal tours and speaking engagements. Tangible items from Holocaust survivors ensure that their legacy and memory live on for future generations. Holocaust memorabilia is a passion of Sandra’s. So much has been lost and tossed. With the help of the community, Sandra hopes to see a permanent Holocaust museum, ensuring that Holocaust artifacts are safe and secure.

The exhibit is open during library hours at 11555 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon, 92019. Sandra is at the library every Thursday from 10:30am-2:00pm giving tours and meeting with Holocaust survivors to document their stories of survival. Her youtube channel, Sandra Scheller, features Holocaust survivors and Holocaust-related stories.

For a personal tour or to donate Holocaust memorabilia, contact Sandra directly at 619-422-3429 or rememberustheholocaust@gmail.com.

Latin American Jewish and Muslim umbrella groups gather for landmark meeting

by Juan Melamed, JTA News

In what both organizations are touting as a milestone moment for South American religious groups, leaders from the World Jewish Congress’ Latin American chapter met with leaders from the Muslim World League.

Over 40 members of the groups from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela, along with three representatives of the Muslim World League based in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, met in Buenos Aires. They discussed ways to collaborate and published a “decalogue” of agreements, which includes future interfaith programming in South American schools and invitations to members of each group to participate in holiday services of the other faith.

Young Jews are demanding action on climate change

by Shira Nathan, JTA News

As the climate crisis and the global response to it intensifies, many Jewish teens are utilizing the intersections of Jewish and environmentalist teachings as impetus for activism. Through participating in groups like Jewish Youth Climate Movement, Dayenu and Jewish Climate Action Network, teens are strengthening their connection to Judaism and deepening their sense of community.

Values like Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof (“justice, justice you shall pursue”), Tikkun Olam (“repairing the world”) and L’Dor V’Dor (“from generation to generation”) fuel their activism. These activists bring a unique perspective to the movement, combining the fervor of young changemakers with the tradition of the Jewish people.

by Jackie Hajdenberg, JTA News

Fran Drescher is one of the most prominent advocates for organized labor–and it’s hardly a joke. The union she has led since 2021, the Screen Actors Guild, last week launched a strike over their treatment by studios in an age of digital streaming. Joining with the union representing writers, which is also on strike, the guild has e ectively caused Hollywood to grind to a halt — and Drescher is leading the charge.

In leading the 160,000-member union through the strike, Drescher joins a long list of Jewish women labor activists. In 1909, Clara Lemlich, a 23-year-old Jewish garment worker, gave an impassioned speech– also in Yiddish– that ignited a 20,000 person general strike consisting mostly of women, reshaping her industry and strengthening the power of unions.

The “Great Revolt,” referring to a separate 50,000 person, mostly male garment worker’s strike that followed, is seen as a watershed moment in labor history. “That’s really the critical thing: the women launch the Great Revolt,” said Pamela Nadell, director of the Jewish studies program at American University and author of “America’s Jewish Women: A History from Colonial Times to Today.”

SAG strike puts its brash Jewish president, Fran Drescher, squarely in the spotlight

Our Town

by Linda Bennett and Emily Bartell

The 30th Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival, “JFEST 2023,” was a highly entertaining and successful event, o ering extraordinary programming at a variety of locations throughout San Diego. At the many di erent programs we attended, some of those we ran into were Barbara Mandel, Sandy & Barbara Rosenthal, Merle Brodie, Sharon & Robert Russako , Holly & David Hazon, Penny & Paul Arenson, Bobby Laufer, Jackie & David Gmach, and Suzanne & Lawrence Hess

Seacrest Foundation Women’s Auxiliary Ruby Jubilee 80th Anniversary Gala on July 8 in the gardens at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Carlsbad, was an exquisite celebration. Gala Committee Co-Chairs, Robin & Leo Eisenberg, Merrill & Robert Haimsohn and Erica & Steven Ratner, along with Women’s Auxiliary President Mary Epsten and the Gala Committee, truly outdid themselves in creating a superb evening, which was only enhanced by a gorgeous summer night under the stars.

The evening’s programming was indeed a glorious occasion in honor of Pam Ferris, President & CEO, Seacrest Village. Pam has been an exemplary community advocate and leader in the Seacrest Foundation for several decades — providing a safe and secure home for those in need has always been her passion.

The evening’s emcee, Rory Devine, and entertainment by Bonnie Foster Productions, provided a beautiful atmosphere. We had such a fabulous time and loved

seeing so many others on the scene like Alana Addleson Schi , Claire & David Ellman, Marge Katleman, Shari & Fred Schenk, Jane & Colin Scher, Marcia & Don Wolochow, Linda & Wayne Otchis, Bebe & Marvin Zigman, Hamilton Loeb, Susan & Mark Edelstein, Ellen & Ernie Addleson, Hildi Beyor, Barbara & Howard Milstein, Janis & Steve Boner, Emily & Dan Einhorn, Beverlee Greene, Sara & Len Gregory, Susan & David Kabako , Shelle Orlansky, Jane Ottenstein, Charles Rosen, Peter Stovin, Ruth Strauss and Susan & Richard Ulevitch

Mazel Tov to Jessica & Danny Bloom of Alpine, on the birth of their third child, Logan Je rey Bloom. Logan was joyfully welcomed on June 2 by his twin brothers, Mason and Wyatt. Thrilled grandparents are Yvonne & Je Bloom and & Je Mustard

Mazel Tov to Doug Grosmark for receiving the “Kavod Award” for his many years of community service, at the Temple EmanuEl Annual Meeting.

Mazel Tov to Minh Le on the publication of his new book, “Real to Me.”

Mazel Tov to Nita Steinberg and Keke & Bruce Steinberg on the marriage of their daughter, Jamie Steinberg to Bill McDaniel. The happy couple were wed on January 14 in Thailand.

Yom Huledets Sameach to...

Morris Gold celebrating his 92nd birthday.

Nancy Geist celebrating her 90th birthday.

Brice Westphall celebrating his 83rd birthday.

Michael Schwartz celebrating his 80th birthday.

Sam Jacobs celebrating his 80th birthday.

CELEBRATING Wedding Anniversaries

with infinite love & happiness, Mazel Tov to…

Phyllis & Morris Gold, 67 years.

Ilene & Robert Gruder, 66 years.

Anne & Ronald Simon, 63 years.

Marilynn & Richard Rowen, 63 years.

Naomi & Larry Rivkin, 62 years.

Marilyn & Charles Perrin, 59 years.

Shelley & Paul Michelson, 56 years.

Mary Ann & George Scher, 56 years.

Judith & Paul Braun, 56 years.

Nancy & Ross Rudolph, 56 years.

Sheila & Je Lipinsky, 55 years.

Sherrie & Jonathan Benumof, 55 years.

Joyce & James Spievak, 55 years.

The Scene

Seacrest Foundation’s 80th Anniversary Ruby Jubilee Gala

Top photo: Pam & Walter Ferris

Middle: Mary & Jon Epsten

Bottom: Bonnie Foster Productions.

LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE

by Andrea Simantov | andreasimantov@gmail.com

Prayer Book Serenade

“Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes.”

— Anonymous

Although not such a fan of bathroom humor, the joke occasionally haunts me, especially as I stand knee-deep in that all-to-brief season called summer.

Not so long ago, two months at sleepaway camp tethered me to every other facet of existence. Rife with songs, friendships, rivalries and life lessons, those eight weeks would serve as my raison d’etre, while I merely endured the remaining ten months of existence until, praise G-d, we would pack a du el bag and, once again, meet around the bonfire and at the lakefront.

So precious, that thing called “time.” Am I the only mother who gazes upon her dark-skinned, bearded son in his mid-30s and still sees (really!) the rich, blond curls of his toddlerhood? And that little girl whom I taught to peel carrots and tie her shoes? Wearing oversized spectacles, she perused the sides of cereal boxes until she could, unassisted, read whole storybooks by the age of five. Today that little girl is mother to nine children, but I still worry that she gets enough sleep, eats her vegetables and flosses before bed.

This morning I awakened to the realization that it was my aliyah anniversary; 28 years since returning

home to Israel. I so clearly remember that first terrible year when, without Hebrew language, without any understanding of the culture, without friends or family upon which to find a soft shoulder to cry upon, I stoically/ artificially remained upright for the sake of my trusting children. I didn’t want to return to America. I just wanted the sadness and insecurity to stop. I wanted things to feel the same.

But nothing was the same except for my daily prayers. Before boarding the plane in 1995, I’d hit the local Judaica store to purchase a few critical books, perhaps thinking that the Holy Land wouldn’t have enough religious reading material. Artscroll was relatively new on the scene and although we already owned an impressive dark blue Five Books of Moses volume (Chumash) and our synagogue had already replaced most

of the antiquated Hertz siddurim with the handsome Artscroll ones, I wanted a small edition for the daily prayers that I could discreetly keep in my purse. My little siddur is 4x6 inches and fits nicely in the back pocket of my jeans when necessary or the small zipper section of the computer bag when traveling.

On the anniversary of my aliyah, a dear friend gifted me with a stunning volume of the most current popular prayer book. She had hosted my goingaway party in 1995 and has seen me with the same siddur since before I left the States. This new siddur boasts both the daily prayers and those for all of the holidays, Torah readings for special days, “Guide to the Perplexed” and “Ethics of Our Fathers.” It is a miracle book and even without the prayers, the commentaries and accompanying essays

continues on page 21 >>

Under the Microscope: Creating the Medicine of the Future

Recently, medical research has taken massive strides in tackling some of humanity’s most challenging illnesses. Exciting breakthroughs have been achieved in the treatment of cancers and the development and use of new vaccination technologies played a crucial role with COVID-19. But fully understanding the intricate workings of the brain has remained elusive.

On the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s (HU) Edmond J. Safra Givat Ram campus, the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC) houses some of the world’s leading innovators in neurological research. ELSC’s mission is to “develop a thriving interface between theory and experimentation in cognitive, biological, and computational neuroscience, paving the way to innovative discoveries in brain research.” Achieving that vision relies upon the experience, knowledge, and talent of hundreds of world-renowned scientists, decorated faculty, and brilliant students from disciplines including neurology, behavioral science, and computer science, among others.

Biological research at ELSC is primarily focused on developing new therapies to address Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, addiction, and neurological diseases. In a recent groundbreaking study, HU neuroscientists Hermona Soreq and Yonatan Lowenstein reported the discovery of a molecular mechanism which leads to accelerated cognitive deterioration in female Alzheimer’s patients. This study, along with others at HU, will be instrumental in helping to develop the drugs needed to treat this debilitating condition and improve the lives of patients and families in the years ahead.

With Cognitive Science, researchers work to explain how the brain functions in key areas of acquiring language and speech faculties, perception, decision-making, creativity, and stimuli awareness. Current ELSC research tackles topics such as sensation, perception, and awareness in health and disease; how brains generate and control movement; and the characterization and repair of a diseased brain. The diversity of this research is relevant to a wide range of academic applications, including psychology, linguistics, and computer engineering.

The interdisciplinary nature of Cognitive Science has seen many benefits from advancements in artificial and

biological intelligence. The new Hebrew University Center for Computational Medicine recognizes this potential and will dedicate much of its attention to harnessing computational power to better understand and mimic human neurological processes. Providing vital insights into disease genesis and identifying potential targets for therapy and protocols for prevention, the Center’s research will pave the path for the next generation of computationally trained doctors and researchers. By using machine learning, computational medicine o ers a more personalized approach by addressing an illness or disease and treating the patient with more individualized and e ective care.

The benefit of computational expertise is evident in Prof. Ofra Benny’s lab. She explains, “In recent years we’ve developed a new technology…by using AI and machine learning, we can predict behaviors of cancer cells. This is the kind of big technological advance that computational biology allows. We can help people live longer and have a better quality of life.”

To learn more, please contact Justin Pressman, AFHU Western Region Executive Director at western@afhu.org or 310.843.3100.

by Rabbi Jacob Rupp | rabbirupp@gmail.com

A Creator World

Crazy secret: After not eating it for over two decades, I still think about eating shrimp. And here’s the crazy thing: It’s not because I think it would be delicious (which it would be). For me it represents a sort of freedom to do whatever I want–to be completely unrestrained.

I know some of you would say, “C’mon man, get more exciting vices.” But the truth is that for some of us, we can find all of the “rebellion” we might or might not seek right around the corner. So how have I made it this long without it?

Truth is that it is one of those secrets to success. You assign greater value to where you’re going (how I am cultivating my spirituality) and lesser value to what you have now (wanting that shrimp taco). The same principle applies in business and fitness.

What am I willing to do now for where I’m going? I’m willing to literally do anything. What are you willing to do?

Part of what I have worked to create over my life is a sense of creation — creation in my physical health, financial health, mental health and spiritual health. The idea of being a creator is both an incredibly personal one and also a Jewish one.

When we consider “G-d’s Image” this particular idea is a reference to the aspect or element of G-d that is pure creative expression. G-d created the physical world out of nothing. That ability to create ourselves and to create

our world is what we were uniquely created to do.

So why is it that creation is so hard and things become so rigid? Our thoughts seemed fixed. We’re up or down, depressed, anxious, abundant, etc. Our finances seem fixed. Our bodies seem fixed. Why is it that we can be essentially creative beings living a very “created” experience, where our surroundings are fixed?

Perhaps we can start by asking ourselves who fixed them. Was it G-d/the Universe/the Patriarchy/the Government? If so, then anything out of our liking reflects badly on the Creator. Or perhaps we created our reality with all the tools, skills and mindsets? And as we start to shift or create the lens through which we take in reality, does the reality itself become far more elusive or permeable?

It’s certainly a compelling question that puts the spotlight on us instead of the world. And then perhaps ask yourself, are there people in your life that you admire or look up to as having the life that you think you’d want?

And no, it doesn’t mean their exact life, as that is a copout. Look at the things you want that someone else has achieved and start to study their mindset.

It’s a framework expressed in the Talmud: that there were always people who broke the rules. Yosef, the patriarch, was the most perfect physical specimen (pick your heartthrob) and had all of the women available to him, yet created tremendous spiritual, moral boundaries around his intimate life. Hillel had no money, but was willing to spend all of his time studying and not using lack of funds as an excuse. Rebbe had all the funds available, but never let his wealth be an excuse not to grow.

See, the point is for every rule, there is an exception. And most of the people we admire are the exception.

The question is more: what do you want to see? And if you want that as badly as you need the air you breathe, you can have it. And chances are if you put that amount of e ort into it and you don’t get it, the person you became in the process was worth the trouble. A

For every rule, there is an exception. And most of the people we admire are the exception.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND JUDAISM

THIS WAY TO EDEN

by Rachel Eden | rachel.s.eden@gmail.com

For Hannah, I’m Grateful

Hannah was a true ice queen. I met her several years ago when she moved nearby. I immediately noticed her clear eyes, ultra composed and polished demeanor and the decisive and self-certain way she spoke. She gave o an energy with intersecting points of perfection and aloofness. I envisioned Hannah in a parade, with a tiara, doing the royal wave. I introduced myself to Hannah sweetly and made conversation for a few minutes. I watched her interact with others from the corner of my eye. People were attracted to her and she was brimming with charisma and self-assuredness. I decided to stay friendly but keep a distance — and sprinkle the relationship with a pinch of social media stalking.

Until one day, when Hannah showed up at my speaking engagement unannounced. Why would she come? Seated in the audience, making a grand late entrance, I found my whole body go sti at the very sight of her. I was tired and tongue-tied. Scratch that. I was burnt out and extremely self-conscious. The evening felt like an unequivocal disaster after that and while I could point to lots of reasons (uh, perhaps myself?) I positioned the blame squarely on Hannah’s doorstep. Of course, she knew nothing of my internal ruminations.

A few months later, I would be her seatmate on a flight where we were both slated to appear on a leadership panel. It was a bit of a joke, really. Hannah had a wardrobe full of gorgeous clothes, a

Were we of the same species? Did she ever overthink? Did she always beam? How did she get her teeth that white?

large and adoring following and was a jetsetter. I was lucky to leave the house, boasted less than three friends (and two were immediate relatives) and had to spot-treat something remotely presentable to wear. When I found my gate at the airport, I also discovered Hannah taking selfies in a line to buy co ee while I unabashedly stared at her in all her glory. Still, I steadied myself and greeted her. I also promptly confessed that I was nervous about how I’d do on the panel. She waved away my insecurity and asked if I wanted to stop for a manicure on the way from the airport. I found myself saying I did. I found myself wondering: Were we of the same species? Did she ever overthink? Did she always beam? How did she get her teeth that white?

Hannah caught my glance mid-manicure and smiled at me mischievously. She wanted to know

if we could make a quick Target shopping spree stop. I found myself uncharacteristically amenable again. This woman seemed to su er from a severe case of joie de vivre and Target only exacerbated her condition. She oohed and aahed at a rose pink sweater with gold etched flowers and insisted I must get it (I did). She touched a soft long scarf to her face as though she was just being introduced to wool for the first time. And when we got to the jewelry and sunglasses? Fuhgeddaboudit.

The next few days went by in a blur. I don’t think anyone has ever struck me with as much confidence as Hannah. By the time the trip was almost over, I saw just a caricature of her in my mind and I couldn’t find any depth or substance. I felt frustrated by the large gap my mind had created.

After the conference cleared out, Hannah and I had a late-night conversation that unexpectedly went from light to heavy. She brought up her father. A self-proclaimed daddy’s girl, she told me her father became very sick and died many years earlier. He made it to her wedding, but was in a wheelchair and the fact that her children never had a chance to know her beloved father pained her. I asked Hannah why she took so long to share something vulnerable and she answered that trust is hard-earned and not something she wanted to o er everyone. She said she continues on next page >>

Personal Development cont.

was treated poorly in school by teachers and administrators for not fitting the mold and being a ringleader in ways that disrupted their old norms. She also said that motherhood came harder to her than she thought it would because her children were so di erent from her. Suddenly, the ice melted and the gap between us felt less prominent.

After that night, I saw Hannah in a new light. She was still the magnetic woman who loved life, but I saw where she felt clumsy and challenged too. She smiled for the selfie (and some people found her positivity to be toxic), but I knew the smile was real. In getting to know Hannah, I have become a more expansive, accepting and loving human being. In my mind, Hannah transformed from an ice queen caricature to a textured, warm painting of a dynamic, multi-dimensional woman. So, for Hannah, I’m grateful. A

Israeli Lifestyle cont.

can suitably jump-start an education for anyone seeking a crash-course in Jewish thought and practice. This thick and handsome book, embossed with my name in gold, is a publishing masterpiece. It also measures 4x6 inches in size.

But like a threadbare, velvet dressing gown or well-worn pair of leather moccasins, my little prayer book has provided succor on the roughest of days for almost three decades. Lipstick stains from pre-dawn visits to the Western Wall during a time that saw the disintegration of my marriage and alienation from children. A few pages are puckered from years of huge, salty tears which unapologetically fell as I beseeched G-d to make miracles for my dying father and others whom I dearly loved. And the pages that list personal prayers for finding a soulmate for me and others, improving one’s livelihood,

and robust health are dog-eared and particularly thin from over-exposure. My siddur has kept airplanes aloft; it has been shared hand-to-hand to those neighbors who wished to commune with Heaven as we huddled together in the bomb shelter, together, under siege from enemy missiles.

Jews need no intermediaries in order to storm the Heavens with heartfelt requests and expressions of our souls. Fonts, layout, paper-thickness, cover art and publishing date matter little. What remains constant and comforting are heartfelt expressions that traverse something as ephemeral as time and mirror the entreaties of our forefathers and foremothers. A

One School, One Community Zvi Weiss Talks Unifying Student Body Through Major Changes

by Jacqueline Bull

When I talked to Zvi Weiss, Head of School at SDJA, it was the middle of their first summer of camp and he took some time to get on a Zoom with me from Israel. The students returning in the fall would be the main focus of our talk, but I couldn’t resist asking to see how their first summer was going.

They had about 120 students enrolled and saw many kids who were enrolled in just one session (one week) come back

for multiple sessions and bring their friends.

“Just walking on campus in the morning and watching all the kids arriving, playing and the excitement, the signing, the games, the storytelling, the jokes — it really feels like camp,” Zvi Weiss said.

SDJA has seen massive growth in the last couple years. They have added whole new buildings, new programs, new

classes and grown their student body and number of teachers. Integrating all these changes and still maintaining the feeling of being one unified school instead of separate departments and continuing to deepen the curriculum year after year have all been priorities for Zvi and the sta . To keep the sta and the students all working toward the same goal, they’ve instituted value-based programming called Keshet Middot.

The keshet middot values help keep the school unified and create bridges across the entire community.

“Our Keshet Middot which is our rainbow of attributes/character traits that we’ve been focusing on (across all levels of the school) to help students really think about what it means to be a citizen of the world today, and to focus on how they feel and what their responsibilities are and that’s gone over really, really well. We have seven di erent attributes that were selected by the community that we’ve really been working on throughout the curriculum and emphasizing it — whether it be in the upper school through all the extracurriculars that we do or through day-to-day instruction. You know our teachers are front line workers with students...and they have a finger on the pulse and they often hear things parents don’t hear and they are there to really be there for our students and partner with parents in making sure they are really growing and thriving,” Zvi said.

“Where keshet middot comes in is we have core values of the school that go beyond the mission statement...which is being a good person, but what does that really mean and really ri ng o of that value and creating mensches,” he added.

Working through being more specific about what attributes make up a mensch, they started with 50 di erent attributes and took feedback from parents, teachers and students to come up with the seven. The goal is for them to switch out a couple every few years, to give the students adequate time to internalize them, but not so long they become rigid.

“Every program that is designed keeps those attributes in mind...That has really come to define in many ways the overarching framework for our social and emotional learning,” Zvi said.

The keshet middot values help keep the school unified, but they are not the only aspects that help create bridges across the entire community.

In the monthly all-sta meeting, teachers from di erent disciplines are partnered up (e.g. a lower school science teacher and upper school English teacher) to talk about keshet middot values “to break down silos and get into some really deep and meaningful discussions.”

They’ve also created bridges between the younger and older students. In a toy designing project, the upper students

got feedback for the projects from their younger ‘clients.’ Reading-age students read stories to the preschoolers to practice. Sometimes middle school students can be teaching assistants to the P.E. teachers. Another important bridge is their alumni board which emphasizes community building across generations. The alumni board fundraises for the school, plans events and functions as a focus group to give feedback on programming. Their yearly Thanksgiving reunion helps glue together past students in the community.

“I was at a bar mitzvah a month or so ago and at the Sunday lunch after the ceremony, there were seven or eight boys who got up and talked about the bar mitzvah boy. And one of their fathers looked at me and said, ‘That’s why I’m at this school. I went to this school when I was a kid and I have the same group of seven or eight boys and they are still my best friends today.’ We have 20% of our school where at least one parent is an alum,” Zvi said.

The alumni to parent rate is one of things Zvi is proudest of and proof of how valuable students have found the school, while I also think a community where the head of your school would attend your bar mitzvah is also a great endorsement.

The passion and commitment the sta have for their students is shown in how they continue to elevate their own standards — not resting on their laurels — and are always looking forward.

“School hasn’t remained static. It’s a living, fluid being which is always responding to the needs of the community,” Zvi said.  A

A Sense of CommUNITY

by Makayla Hoppe

For the first time since 2006, Jewish Federation embarked on a global trip with members of the San Diego community. Federation, along with over 200 travelers, visited some of the most memorable parts of Israel, with several people choosing an additional excursion to the United Arab Emirates. Heidi Gantwerk, President and CEO of Jewish Federation of San Diego, geared the trip for both first-time and repeat visitors to Israel with the goal of strengthening community.

“On this trip, we had 70 people for whom it was their first trip and we did have special activities that were really designed for those folks — you know, an optional trip to Masada and the Dead Sea and a tour of the Old City. And we wanted people who were there for the first time to have those special experiences. But we also wanted this to be a trip for people who’ve been 20 times or more,” Heidi said. “I would say that travel — and I’ve

known this and I’ve seen it, but to have experienced it again in this way — is an unbelievably powerful community builder. There will be relationships and leadership opportunities and connections that are formed out of this trip that are going to last years.”

The Israel leg of the trip spanned 10 days and covered Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Sha’ar HaNegev, San Diego’s sister city. This year marks the 25th anniversary of San Diego’s partnership with Sha’ar HaNegev and Heidi was eager to talk about their visit there.

“It’s about an hour south of Tel Aviv and it’s directly on the border with Gaza. If you’re trying to understand where this sits in reference to Gaza, you can see into their fields and you can see their watchtowers,” Heidi said. “And so when you hear about rockets coming from Gaza, this is where they’re landing and at the same time, [Sha’ar HaNegev] can’t build housing fast enough. They were

incredibly desirous of moving to these kibbutzim because of how they take care of people and the sense of community.”

While visiting Sha’ar HaNegev, Heidi and the other travelers were able to see new community additions that Federation has helped build half a world over. San Diego raised nearly $3 million to help the city construct a new community center.

“We had the chance to dedicate the new basketball court which is entirely shielded. So if there was a rocket attack, the basketball court and most of the community center is safe; you don’t have to run for shelter. And the peace that provides...it’s an enormous benefit to this community,” said Heidi. “So we went to the shielded basketball court and we dedicated that in honor of Michael Jeser — his family was there. Then we played a basketball game of Sha’ar HaNegev versus San Diego to sort of

continues on page 27>>

commemorate it because Michael loved sports and he loved Sha’ar HaNegev and it was beautiful.”

While visiting Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, the group created its own music ceremony featuring the Violins of Hope, a concert project that collects violins, violas and cellos from Jewish musicians during and before World War II. Rabbi David Kornberg from Beth Am brought along a Torah that had originally come from Roudnice, a city destroyed during the Holocaust. Federation Campaign Chair Sonia Israel showed everyone her family artifacts on display in the museum, including her grandfather’s pocket watch.

“If you haven’t been to Yad Vashem, you really go through the history of World War II and the Holocaust, both physically and intellectually,” Heidi said. “When you come out, you come out looking over the most magnificent view of Jerusalem in the hills and the whole thing is designed to lead you to this panoramic view of modern Israel.”

Groups are given days of chosen electives in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Activities range from exploring local

food, seeing the local art scene, speaking with women entrepreneurs and taking an inside look at the area’s technology.

If they desired, travelers could continue their trip to the UAE to see how Jewish life has grown there over the last several years. About 30 people continued on with their trip.

“It’s fascinating because in 1990 there was nothing there, right? In 1970, the country didn’t even exist. And now there is an astonishing amount of development and money and infrastructure and the speed of it is mind-boggling. The scale and the speed of what has happened in Dubai in particular, but also in Abu Dhabi. It really boggles the mind,” Heidi said.

According to Heidi, a million Israelis have visited Dubai over the last two years and there are approximately 3,500 Jews living there, as well.

“The reason we chose to go there was the development that has happened since the implementation of the Abraham Accords two years ago; it is astonishing. And you get to see the Jewish community being birthed right in a place where it was absolutely

nonexistent two years ago; they had no relationship with Israel,” she said. “We visited a synagogue in Abu Dhabi, which is part of something called the Abrahamic Houses. It’s the first synagogue built in the Gulf — in the entire Gulf — in 100 years, the second in 500 years and it’s built with government support. It’s in a space that’s co-located with a mosque and a church. They share a visitor center and they program together.”

Federation plans to make these global trips a more regular event. They have partnered with JDC Entwine to take 25 young adults to Budapest next year. There are also plans to visit Mexico, “to really understand the connections between the Jewish communities in San Diego and Mexico City.” Heidi is also working on a women’s solidarity mission sometime in 2024.

“In four or five years (to be determined) we are going to repeat this; we want to bring another several hundred people back [to Israel]. I think every trip will be di erent and so people will go over and over again because no two trips are the same,” Heidi said. A

Travel is an unbelievably powerful community builder.

A Look at Jewish Surrealism Through Franz Ka a

by T.S. McNeil

It is always the odd ones. Any innovations one cares to name originated with those who were seen as others, as out of step with the rest of the culture. Which makes sense as it is only by defying norms of the establishment that they could be changed. A theme the turnof-the-century, German-speaking, Austrian-Czech author Franz Ka a took farther than most.

Ka a didn’t write much before he died of tuberculosis at the age of 40, almost all of it is published posthumously. Only three book-length works, including “The Metamorphosis,” and a smattering of short-storievs were deemed good enough to be published. A near-pathological perfectionism that could have made literature much poorer, had his friend, Max Brod, actually followed through on Ka a’s request to burn all of the author’s unpublished manuscripts. Thankfully, Brod didn’t listen and works such as “The Trial” and “The Castle” were preserved for future generations.

Generally seen as a bit of a fatalist, with absolutely no trust in authority, only the second assumption is likely true. Despite the depth, power and terror of the bureaucracy in his works, in either the human or celestial sense, a closer look at the actual content reveals a mocking spirit of criticism beyond most satirists.

There are no real ‘villains’ in Ka a’s tales, at least in terms of characters who intentionally do evil, or even just annoying, things that go against the interests of the hero. There are antagonists to be sure, but always cast

as little more than pawns of a greater, unseen authority, the government in “The Trial” and the monarchs in “The Castle.”

Generally considered sister works, (both books deal with characters going by similar names) many think are the same character in di erent iterations, dealing with aggressive if ine able authorities. Each rooted in institutions most modern readers can still identify as part of the world, if in an exaggerated form, making the familiar feel surreal.

No better or worse as individuals than the embattled hero, who often has little idea what is going on. The only answer they ever get is something along the lines of ‘it is what it is.’

Even most within the structure don’t know why they are doing what they are doing beyond that than those higher than them in the structure have demanded it. There is almost always someone above everyone else with no particular ‘top’ in

continues on next page >>

A closer look at the actual content reveals a mocking spirit of criticism beyond most satirists.

sight. Basically, a reversal of Bertrand Russell’s comment about ‘elephants all the way down’ in terms of describing the impossibility of absolute zero. There is no top and no bottom, no beginning or end, nothing anyone does has much rhyme or reason outside orders from those on high, who no one has actually ever met.

Much has been made about the fact that Ka a worked most of his life as a bureaucrat. After training in law, he went into insurance, first at a private insurance company and then for the Worker’s Accident Insurance Institute, basically the Worker’s Compensation of its day, which was run by the Kingdom of Bohemia. It definitely had some influence, particularly in terms of “The Trial,” but there is something else that likely had an influence on his creative process.

Ka a’s parents, Hermann and Julie Ka a, were both Ashkenazi Jews

and spoke Yiddish as well as German. Mostly middle class and generally well respected, The Ka as’ heritage did not cause them a problem, until it did.

The first seeds of Austrian Nationalism, planted as a Catholic dissident group during the Napoleonic wars, really started to take root in 1901. Marches, speeches, vandalism and worse perpetrated by black-clad men propagated the idea of a strong Austrian people, free from influence by ‘foreign elements’ (Slavs and Jews of particular concern). Letting the then 17-year-old Ka a see the ugly side of politics and power structures first-hand.

By 1918 the Kingdom of Bohemia had been dissolved, leaving Ka a with Czech citizenship as he was born in Prague — a fundamental change in how he was seen by the powers that be that he had absolutely no control over.

Fully distrustful, if not outright disdainful, of the very idea of power

structures, such sentiments couldn’t help but come through in Ka a’s writing. The possible government response to such direct and brutal criticism was part of why he was so shy about publishing, lest it tarnish his already shaky reputation; Franz was generally seen as half the man Hermann was, and not just because of the former’s di culty putting on weight.

Despite this initial reticence, some of Ka a’s best and best-known-works, stands as a testament to an author who could see things for what they were, far more clearly than most at the time. Cutting to the heart of the absurdity of power and bureaucracy more sharply than most ever do. His keen sense of ‘otherness’ rooted in his Judaism at a time and in place when antisemitism was hitting a particular high in Europe, indirectly leading to the loss of Ka a’s initial nationality, no doubt contributed to his peculiar level of perceptiveness. A

Adrienne understands the challenges faced by aspiring entrepreneurs and offers practical solutions with a touch of lightheartedness. Unlike traditional business books

infuses her writing with humor, wit, and relatability, making the learning experience enjoyable.

Confronting a Tay-Sachs Diagnosis

by Cookie Arnett

Imagine that you take your baby to the doctor for listlessness. The doctor does an examination and runs some tests. You are then told that your baby has TaySachs disorder. You begin to ask question after question. As the doctor explains this new diagnosis, the devastation starts to set in. You suddenly realize that this is something your baby will not overcome and your heart begins to break.

Tay-Sachs develops in children who lack a crucial enzyme that helps break down fatty substances in the body. This fatty matter builds up in the brain and spinal cord and hinders normal nerve function. The e ects of this typically begin to show up in infants between the ages of three to six months when muscles begin to weaken.

As Tay-Sachs progresses, it hinders normal development and usually leads to hearing and vision loss. Paralysis and seizures are common disorders that often accompany this degenerative disease. Most children who develop Tay-Sachs do not survive more than a few years. Because they have di culty swallowing and the nervous system eventually shuts

Though most children do not survive more than a few years, leading a life involving a Tay-Sachs diagnosis does not have to be all tears and sadness.

down, it is impossible for those with the disease to live very long.

Occasionally, a child with Tay-Sachs will make it into the teen years. Their lives are never easy though. Since their nerves and muscles aren’t working properly, they can be quite clumsy. They will have extreme di culty carrying out basic daily activities. Behavior problems are often noticed in these children and they may even develop psychiatric disorders.

Coping with Tay-Sachs

Living with Tay-Sachs is a di cult, heartbreaking process for everyone involved. For the child who has TaySachs, every move takes monumental e ort. Swallowing is just as di cult and great care must be taken to prevent choking. Even to simply breathe can be a constant fight.

Fortunately, Tay-Sachs is rare because both parents must carry the gene in order for a child to be born with the disorder.

Leading a life involving a Tay-Sachs diagnosis does not have to be all tears and sadness though. Many happy moments have been experienced by children diagnosed with the disease and those closest to them. Smiling faces are often posted by proud parents on Facebook support group pages. Those who join these groups are vigilante to help each other out with information and encouraging thoughts.

One of these participants, Julia Minchew, lost her son to Tay-Sachs. She has shared videos of her son on her

Facebook page to help others understand how helpful music therapy can be in enhancing the quality of life for those with the disorder. Like many other parents who have been handed this diagnosis, she counts it a blessing to have had the opportunity to spend a few brief moments with her son.

Julie encourages others to make good use of these support groups. She said, “There is a HUGE community of parents who are or have gone through this horrible journey and are just ready and waiting to help you all navigate through it.” She refers to a life with Tay-Sachs as an emotional roller coaster. She has invited others in the group to chat with her online and on the phone. Another participant in the group, Larry Beauchamp, has even posted his phone number in the group and repeatedly extended the invitation for others to call him for support.

On a broader scale, The National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Organization (NTSAD) assists individuals all over the world in navigating through the Tay-Sachs life. NTSAD provides information about the disease and helps people understand how the illness progresses and how to cope with the entire process from beginning to tragic end.

NTSAD not only helps with the medical aspect of Tay-Sachs such as testing and treatment, but they also assist with the “human” aspect of the process. They understand that living with a terminal disease is hard on the entire family and endeavor to ensure that each person involved gets the emotional and psychological support that is needed in order to deal with each stage of the disease.

There is no question that there are many twists and turns in the life of a child diagnosed with Tay-Sachs, but it can also be an enriching one with the proper support. Although families involved experience grief and loss, many of them are able to move forward to gain great joy and satisfaction in being able to help others through the tumultuous journey.  A

Another participant in the group has even posted his phone number and repeatedly extended the invitation to call for support.

If

or a loved one is struggling, Kindness Initiative can help. If you want to be a helping hand, consider volunteering or donating.

Trust the Chef: La Jolla Music Society’s Summerfest

JULY 28–AUGUST 26

by Jacqueline Bull

The theme for this year’s Summerfest is “The Great Unknown.” Inon Barnatan, Summerfest Music Director, in his welcome letter to the festival invites guests to delight in discovery and be open to the unexpected. “We will discover fantastical and otherworldly pieces, myths, fairy tales, dreams and more,” he wrote. The titles of the evenings reflect that: one night is called “Myths and Rites,” another is “Magic and Alchemy.”

He equates the o erings to a tasting menu — an omakase chef’s choice — and asks us to trust in his taste. And as his fifth year as musical director of this prominent event, I believe he’s earned it.

In addition to classical pieces, the festival also features Jazz and Synergy performances which bring together genres like spoken word poetry and dance.

DREAMS AND PRAYERS | AUG 4

This evening showcases composers with dual identities. Felix Mendelssohn’s music illuminates his Jewish heritage and Christian upbringing. Osvaldo Golijov’s compositions blend Argentinian features and “Jewish idioms.” A

THE TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL MASTERPIECE ABOUT EVA PERÓN, FIRST LADY OF ARGENTINA.

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics by Tim Rice

EXTENDED! Aug. 9 - Sep. 24, 2023

Tickets: 619.337.1525

First Lady. Actress. Icon.

EVITA EVITA EVITA

www.cygnettheatre.org

Is Barbie Jewish? The complex Jewish history of the doll, explained

by Shira Li Bartov, JTA News

Long before the craze over the upcoming “Barbie” movie, most people could conjure an image of the doll: She was the beauty standard and the popular girl, a perky, white, ever-smiling brand of Americana.

She was also the child of a hard-nosed Jewish businesswoman, Ruth Handler, whose family fled impoverishment and antisemitism in Poland. And some see the original Barbie as Jewish like Handler, a complex symbol of assimilation in the mid-20th-century United States.

The doll’s latest revival comes in Greta Gerwig’s hotly-anticipated “Barbie” movie, written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach and featuring a starstudded cast, including Margot Robbie as Barbie, Ryan Gosling as Ken and Will Ferrell as a fictional CEO of Mattel. The expected blockbuster could collect at least $70-80 million in just its opening weekend of July 21-23, according to “The Hollywood Reporter,” fueled in part by a relentless marketing machine.

Ruth Handler was born in 1916 in Denver, Colorado, the youngest of 10

children. Her father, Jacob Moskowitz (later changed to Mosko) had escaped conscription in the Russian army like many Jews at the turn of the century, and landed in the United States in 1907. Her mother Ida, who was illiterate, arrived the next year in the steerage section of a steamboat. Jacob was a blacksmith and moved the family to Denver, where new railroads were being built. A

Local O erings

BY EILEEN SONDAK

THE FLEET SCIENCE CENTER

fleetscience.org

The Fleet Science Center is unleashing an unforgettable adventure on local audiences. “The Worst-Case Scenario” — an interactive survival experience that challenges your lifesaving skills and escape tactics. If you’re up to it, you have until Sept. 24 to give it a shot.

Meanwhile, the Imax Dome is featuring the epic thriller, “Oppenheimer.”

LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE

lajollaplayhouse.org

THRU AUG. 6: Is It Thursday Yet?

The highly-personal work is co-created, choreographed, and performed by Jenn Freeman

LAMB’S PLAYERS THEATRE

lambsplayers.org

The Lamb’s Players Theatre is featuring “Cotton Patch Gospel” — a foot-stomping, rafter-raising musical. The show will be around through Aug. 20.

THE OLD GLOBE THEATRE

theoldglobe.org

THRU AUG. 13: Crime and Punishment, A Comedy

This zany new play re-imagines

Dostoyesky’s masterpiece in an uproarious comic romp. Gordon Greenberg co-wrote and directed this unique morality play as commissioned by the Globe.

THRU SEPT. 3:

The Merry Wives of Windsor

The production is being described as “‘I love Lucy’ meets Shakespeare.”

Angela Pierce as Mrs. Ford, Tom McGowan as Falsta and Ruibo Qian as Mrs. Page in The Old Globe’s production of Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” 2023. PHOTO BY RICH SOUBLET II.

“The Worst Case Scenario” at The Fleet.

NORTH COAST REP

northcoastrep.org

THRU AUG. 20: Pippin

NCR takes on “Pippin,” a musical that snared five Tonys in its day. The show is an exploration of reality and fantasy — with great music and an abundance of fun

THE ROUSTABOUTS THEATRE

theroustabouts.org

THRU SEPT. 30: The Savoyard Murders

This murder mystery features many big personalities trapped together in an Edwardian mansion. This world premiere by Omri Schein will play at the Scripps Ranch Theatre.

CYGNET THEATRE

cygnettheatre.com

AUG. 9-SEPT. 17: Evita Cygnet Theatre is rolling out one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most impressive musicals — the multiple Tony Award-winning “Evita.” Directed by Sean Murray, this masterpiece tells the rags-to-riches tale of Eva Perón, as she claws her way to the top as First Lady of Argentina. The music is brilliant, the dancing is unforgettable, and “Evita” is a must-see for theater-goers.

LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY

ljms.org

The La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest is back with a smorgasbord of o erings on the menu. Jazz @ The Jai features Luis Cato Trio on Aug. 17, followed on the 18th by a reimagined version of Carnival of the Animals. Aug. 19 brings American Classics: Cato/Dover/Lark/ Thurber to the mix.

BROADWAY SAN DIEGO

broadwaysd.com

AUG 15-20: Beetlejuice

Broadway-San Diego is importing a first-class production of “Beetlejuice” to the Civic Theatre. The high-voltage musical is based on Tim Burton’s othe-wall movie

CORONADO PLAYHOUSE

coronadoplayhouse.org

AUG. 25-SEPT. 10: Nunsense

A musical comedy with a playful streak.

Cast of “Pippin” at North Coast Rep.

PHOTO BY AARON RUMLEY.

Luis CatoTrio at LJMS.

Diversionary Theatre Announces Slate of New Sta

by Makayla Hoppe

Stephen Brotebeck will be serving as Interim Artistic Director for Diversionary Theatre while a nationwide search is done for a permanent position. Former Executive Artistic Director Matt M. Morrow took on a new role as Artistic Director of Walnut Creek’s Center Rep.

“It is an honor to help continue the artistic legacy of Diversionary Theatre through this exciting transition period,” says Brotebeck. “I am looking forward to working with Jenny Case and the amazing team of artists and sta that she and Matt have assembled.”

Wilfred Paloma has taken over as Director of Education and Community Engagement. Paloma previously worked on Diversionary’s TeenVersionary program, as well as performed on the Diversionary stage. His artistic practice spans opera, dance theater, musical theater, dramatic works to theater for social change.

“Stepping into this role at Diversionary feels like coming home,” says Paloma. “For years, I have been working in various programs, coming to this theater as a patron and performing here. The opportunity to bring my work as an educator and artist

together in service to this theater and our community is a huge honor,” Paloma said.

Diversionary’s new Artistic Producer is Kian Kline Chilton, a queer director who has worked on many projects at Diversionary. They are the founder of Patchwork Theatre Company and have a passion for pushing the boundaries of what theater can be by experimenting in its di erent forms. Recent credits include “Exotic Deadly: Or The MSG Play” and “Taming of the Shrew” at The Old Globe; “Life Sucks”, “La Cage Aux Folles,” and “The Wind and The Breeze” at Cygnet Theatre; “Walks of Life” with La Jolla Playhouse and Blindspot Collective.

“As a genderfluid artist, it is incredible to be given this opportunity to uplift the vast pool of queer talent and stories that are being made right now,” says Chilton. “Our community is so rich and in this time where people want us to disappear, let’s not shrink, but let’s continue to show the world how extraordinary and resilient we are. It’s a radical and beautiful time to be a queer artist.”

Jesse Marchese worked with Diversionary last fall as Production Dramaturg of “The Mystery of Irma Vep” and then as Donor and Patron

Services Manager. He has been promoted to Director of Development and Resident Dramaturg. Previously, Jesse served as Executive Director of Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) in Queens.

“I look forward to bringing everything I have learned in my career as a fundraiser, theater administrator, artist, dramaturg, and LGBTQIA+ theater historian to this position, which will allow me to connect the dots between our artistic programming and our fundraising e orts,” Marchese said.

MG Green has been working with Diversionary as an artist and stage manager over the last year and has recently been promoted to General Manager. They have been a company member, sta member and producer with several nonprofit theater and education companies including For Youth Inquiry, Erasing the Distance Theatre and Playmakers Laboratory.

“I feel excited and passionate to work with this (inter) stellar team of humans,” says Green. “It’s a privilege to nurture seeds of strength, representation, compassion and justice with and for our community!”

Jesse Marchese Kian Kline

MG Green

Stephen BrotebeckWilfred Paloma

$10K Given to College Avenue Center for Older Adults

The JFS College Avenue Center has received a grant from the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation. Along with 10 other senior centers and nonprofits, the College Avenue Center received $10K as part of the Empower San Diego Senior Center grant program. The grant helps JFS expand program o erings at College Avenue Center by compensating instructors. Current o erings for the East County community include tai chi and yoga.

“Our mission is to provide a strong and healthy community in which older San Diegans can thrive,” said Kristine Stensberg, senior director of Nutrition and Aging Care Services at JFS. “With the help of this grant, we will continue to make connections and provide the help and assistance seniors in our community need.”

SD Opera Finds New Chief Development O cer

Llewellyn Crain has been named the new Chief Development O cer for the San Diego Opera. Crain will work closely with General Director David Bennett and the board of directors. The development department includes generating membership and raising funds through major gifts. Crain has been the Director of Philanthropy at The Old Globe since 2016 where she increased the number of donors by over 200%, the annual fund by over 40%, and led a successful emergency fundraising campaign during the Globe’s closure due to COVID.

“I am thrilled to have Llewellyn Crain join our leadership team at San Diego Opera,” shares San Diego Opera General Director, David Bennett. “I’ve admired her work for a number of years and have witnessed her admirable successes leading the fundraising e orts at the Old Globe. Her wisdom, passion and enthusiasm will be a great benefit to San Diego Opera.”

AsHumanistic Jewish clergyI focus oneach couple’suniqueness andtheir love foreach other.I welcome Jewish, interfaith and same-sex couples.I also perform all life-cycleceremonies

Forfurtherinformation pleasecontact

www.deborahjdavis.com

Open House & Shabbat

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25TH, 5:00 P.M.

Enjoy meeting Rabbi Mathew Marko, our professional team, and our wonderful members, while learning more about us including:

•Silverman Preschool and Ginsburg Infant Center

•Gesher: Our new TK Class

•Abraham Ratner Torah School and Youth Groups

•Congregational programs, services, and activities

•Sisterhood and Men’s Club

We’ll share activities, pasta dinner, schmoozing, and a campfire style Shabbat service (casual, musical, relaxed, and good for all ages).

This is a sponsored complimentary event but your RSVP will assist us in being properly prepared. Visit our website or call the office to RSVP.

Be sure to ask us about sharing the High Holy Days with us!

Deborah Davis •619.275.1539

Letus worktogethertocreatea wedding ceremony that reflectsthe joyof your specialday.

AM ISRAEL MORTUARY

We Are San Diego’s ONLY All-Jewish Mortuary

Serving the community for over 40 years.

✡ Proudly Serving Jewish Families For Over 40 Years.

✡ Family Owned and Operated for Three Generations.

✡ Serving all Jewish Families, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform.

✡ Affiliated or Unaffiliated with a Synagogue.

✡ We can assist with At-need or Pre-need funeral planning. Purchasing cemetery plots or burial arrangements anywhere.

✡ We are here to help, call or email with any questions.

(619)583-8850

6316 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego

For

list

Fred Weitzen – Encinitas

Raisa Muchnick – San Diego

Hilda Roller – Poway

Lida Hardegree – San Diego

Ruth Landecker – La Jolla

Albert Algazi – La Jolla

Selma Sigelman – La Jolla

Jerome Morrow – Carlsbad

Victor Moreno – La Jolla

Nancy Feigelson – San Diego

Sidney Bernsen – San Diego

Melvin Cohn – San Diego

Ronald Freifeld – Chula Vista

Maria Malamant – San Diego

Lawrence Oster – La Jolla

Elena Zimmerman – Bonita

William Appenzeller – San Diego

Ira Israel – San Diego

Miriam Schraer – San Diego

Henry Abarbanel – Del Mar

Jenny Epstein – El Cajon

Beverly Pollock – National City

Support our

military

Support Naval

Hospital San Diego & Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton • and much more...

Aron Blumenthal – South eld, Detroit

Kaylen Ricks – San Diego

Marc Nehamkin – Vista

40 | SDJEWISHJOURNAL.COM August 2023

by Micah Siva noshwithmicah.com

Tahini Mexican Street Corn

Mexican street corn, or elotes, is one of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh, sweet corn. It’s an all around crowd-pleaser and perfect for summer gatherings and get-togethers. Rich and nutty tahini is the perfect complement to sweet and juicy corn, seasoned with fragrant za’atar and a hint of lemon. Instead of cotija cheese, I use a salty, sheep’s milk feta and a healthy sprinkle of parsley for a familiar dish with a levantine flair. Serve this in a cup or bowl for esquites-style, for anyone who doesn’t like to gnaw the kernels o the cob.

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS:

•4 cobs of corn, husks removed

•1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

•¼ cup tahini

•¼ cup water

•2 tbsp. sour cream or crema

•¼ tsp. lemon zest

•2 tbsp. lemon juice

•1 tsp. za’atar

•¼ tsp. sea salt

•¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled

•¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

•½ tsp. Aleppo chili flakes

PREPARATION:

1.Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Brush the corn with olive oil and sprinkle it with salt. Grill the corn for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally until fully cooked.

2. While the corn is cooking, make the sauce: In a medium bowl or jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the tahini, water, sour cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, za’atar and sea salt, shaking or whisking to combine. The sauce will thicken, so add 1 to 2 tablespoons additional water, as needed.

3. When ready to serve, drizzle the corn with the tahini sauce and top with feta cheese, parsley and Aleppo chili flakes.

4. Enjoy.

by Marnie Macauley, M.S. | marniemacauley@gmail.com

Jewish Parent Quotes On Education

My dear San Diegans: The year was 2007 and my book “Yiddish Mamas: The Truth About the Jewish Mother” was hitting the bookstores. When our Editor told us to write about education, I scoured my files for some of the anecdotes I heard during interviews that took place several years before the book’s completion. These were memorable because certainly at the time, “education” of the children was a strong ethnotype of Jewish families..

Education is an ethnotype. I used this word to di erentiate cultural characteristics from cliches. A cliché is a lazy generalization, often with negative connotations, for example: “All Jewish women are yentas (bigmouth gossipers)” or “Jewish businessmen are sneaky.” These idiotic generalities or cliches are nonsense and provide no real information about the culture. An ethnotype, however, is a cultural characteristic common to the group as a value, custom or belief. It has been so with Jews and education.

Study, Mamala! How sweet it is!

Education, particularly Jewish education, is deeply embedded in Jewish history and tradition. More, as a religious expectation for young boys in the shtetl, education also represented the very future of Judaism; a way to keep the boys and girls (who also learned the rudiments) safely in the fold.

Education was also a celebration! Picture it. A 19th-century mama, weeping with joy, dressed in little more than rags, carrying her six-year-old son in a prayer shawl, along with an apron filled with cake, honey, nuts and raisins, for his first day of cheder (school). After his first “Aleph” (the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet) the goodies are given out, with the child of the hour at the head of the line to celebrate his special day. The start of his formal learning. Such an occasion! One that set the Jewish community apart.

Here are some examples from my notes of Jewish parents and education.

DR RUTH GRUBER: “I was a permissive mother who sent both her children to Reform Sunday School. But I was always very concerned about education. Education is what counted, never a car,

a lethal instrument. I was raised with the compulsion to do the best,” says Dr. Gruber. “Why didnt you get 100? I was asked if I got a 99.”

THEODORE BIKEL: “I could do no wrong,” says Theodore Bikel. “According to my mother, I was a genius.” He adds that this particular characteristic was not always helpful. Though his mother was supportive of him performing, the truth is, her expectation of perfection was wrong. We all do wrong.

SIG LEIBERMAN: “25,000 miles! We drove a total of 25,000 miles–back and forth–from Coolidge to Tucson so our son could study for his bar mitzvah,” described Sig Lieberman, a former Arizona mayor with pioneer roots. “This is the sacrifice we made to keep the children involved in Judaism.”

MELANIE STRUG: “To me, school was most important. I thought you couldn’t make a career out of gymnastics.”

— Melanie Strug, mother of Kelli Strug, who, in addition to Olympic Gold, holds a B.A. in Communications and a master’s degree from Stanford.

ZORA ESSMAN (Susie Essman’s Mom): “I was educated. I brought my children with all those values: honesty and integrity,” says Zora Essman. “You have to model them.”

“Education” of the children is a strong ethnotype of Jewish families. Does this dedication work in the secular world? You bet.

RONA GINOTT: “Homework! If one of my girls missed a day of school, there I was,” chuckles Rona Ginott, “shlepping in the snow, the rain to get it for them. Heaven forbid they should miss something!” All that shlepping worked. Her oldest daughter is a Harvard graduate and Yale Law School graduate, with the real Anne Hathaway career in the Devil Wears Prada (but for a di erent company and her younger sister is not far behind).

MALLORY LEWIS (Daughter of Shari Lewis): “I scanned into my computer my son’s brilliant report cards and am happy to mail them to anyone who asks. Education is the most important thing in our family!” says Mallory Lewis.

Does this dedication work in the secular world? You bet. There are more Jewish doctors than Jewish children on work release.

Although Jews represent less than 1% of the world’s population, they have won about 20% of all Nobel Prizes awarded since its inception in 1901. A

Building future leaders: Jewish, successful,proud.

Rabbi Simcha Weiser Head of School

Special to the SDJJ – July 27, 2023 August Back-to School Issue

San Diego Hebrew Day Connects With Students

Children today are struggling, and coping with growing isolation. The solution found at San Diego Hebrew Day School is teachers able and committed to forging personal connections to each student.

We connect with one another through the channels of empathy, respect, and shared identity,” noted Yisroel Weiser, Director of School Culture. “Acceptance and feeling secure improve learning. It also opens the hearts of our children to the Jewish values we cherish and seek to strengthen.

Long recognized for its #feelslikehome warmth, and for instilling in children Jewish pride, San Diego Hebrew Day School takes seriously promoting wellness. Inside its unique learning environment children belong, feel safe, and therefore develop healthy, well-balanced attitudes. This foundation lasts a lifetime.Graduates become proud Jewish leaders. To enroll go to www.hebrewday.org. Classes begin August 24.

ReligiousSchool

REGISTRATION ISNOWOPEN

OurReligousSchoolpridesitselfonamulti-grade, cooportativeenvironmentwhereallchildrenfeel welcome.

Teachersemphaziseindividualstrengths.Judaism& Hebrewaretaughtthroughmusic,storytelling,art,and drama.

email principal@ohrshalom.org

SCHOOLBEGINS SEPTEMBER10

WeareauniqueSynagogueoffering arichculturalblendofConservative Judaismwithadiverseinternational flavor.

SCOTTMELTZER,Rabbi MARVINYUDKOVITZ,President MAGGYDUJOWICH,ReligiousSchoolPrincipal GILLIANARGOFF-TRESEDER,ExecutiveDirector

Nona’s Home Care

Chabad at La Costa Honors

“Grammy” Sheila Lebovitz for her Decades of Community Service

We pride ourselves in pairing the highest quality caregivers with our clients. Our care team will work with you to develop a client-specfic care plan, tailored to meet your needs.

For more than a quarter century Chabad at La Costa has been the beneficiary of the love and boundless energy of “Grammy” Sheila Lebovitz. Grammy moved to San Diego from Chicago over 30 years ago, and since that time has been heavily involved in the Jewish community bringing with her extraordinary talents, and a warm word and encouragement for everyone. One may be a stranger upon meeting Sheila, but will definitely leave the encounter as a friend (and probably having learned about 10,000 common friends and relatives). Sheila is just that kind of person.

Sheila first became involved with Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort, Director of Chabad at La Costa, when she was running a Kosher catering company and needed Rabbinic supervision. Since then Sheila has ‘adopted’ the Rabbi, his family, including his wife, eight children and 16 grandchildren, and the community of Chabad at La Costa as well. Sheila added the North County Coastal community to her collection of communities in every corner of San Diego.

Sheila is what one may call a true ‘people person’.

“Our community has benefited in countless ways from Sheila’s giving spirit,” explained Mrs. Nechama Eilfort, co-director of Chabad at La Costa. “Our Team discussed it, and it was unanimously decided to honor Sheila as we push forward with our capital campaign to complete our Educational Level,” Eilfort concluded.

The gala dinner and auction called, “A Night to Remember” is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, August 9. Further information can be found by calling the synagogue at 760-943-8891 or online at ChabadatLaCosta.com/gala.

Buy Judith’s new books, ‘The Lost Art of Dating’ & ‘Your Soul Mate Awaits’!

Judith’s thoughtful system is a fabulous guide, amust-read for every single!

DR. DIANA KIRSCHNER, Bestselling author of

‘Love in 90 Days’

Judith Gottesman, MSW

No one cares more about helping people than Judith.

GIL H. IN LA JOLLA

If I wouldn’t have contacted Judith, my life would be very different. I wanted to thank Judith for the time and persistence to find me the right person.

GIDEON S. IN SANDIEGO

I would recommend using Judith’s services in a heartbeat!

NEAL L. IN SAN DIEGO

Read testimonials & buy her books at

All ages and backgrounds

“A miraculous night of illusions, intrigue, sex and comedy.”

NOW – AUGUST 20

Book by ROGER O. HIRSON Music & Lyrics by STEPHEN SCHWARTZ

PIPPIN, winner of five Tony Awards, explores good and evil, and reality and fantasy in a highly theatrical and entertaining style. Exceptional music, dance, and boundless fun. We guarantee an unforgettable experience.

CATCH EVERY MOMENT

COMEDY, ROMANCE, AND MUSIC OF SEASON 42

Among the o erings are two world premieres, a beloved musical masterpiece, side-splitting comedies, an eerie Gothic thriller, a poignant drama, and a taut psychological study.

Three ways to buy tickets to our exciting new season:

For the lowest ticket price, buy our 7-play subscription package (Get 7 shows for the price of 6*!). Also receive $10 o our Variety Night shows including: TWO PIANOS FOUR HANDS and I’M NOT A COMEDIAN...I’M LENNY BRUCE. Buy 3 shows or more and receive $9 o each ticket*.

Buy an individual show at our regular price. (Senior, Student, Military receive $5 o ).

* Based on full price ticket