San Diego Jewish Journal June 2016

JUNE 2016 l IYAR • SIVAN 5776

NEW, NEW, NEW

LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE

FROM SADAT TO SHAKESPEARE:

ARTS issue

THE

Hershey Felder and Elizabeth Schwartz, just two

of the performers working under Todd Salovey’s artistic direction for this year’s

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A.R. Gurney’s The Cocktail Hour

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Mix two upper-class New Englanders, their over-privileged adult children and endless cocktails for a delightfully intoxicating evening of comedy.

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A New York Times Critic’s Pick in 2015, TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT is an engaging journey. Eccentric Aunt Augusta swoops in and shakes up the life of her staid bourgeois nephew and ignites the lust for adventure. Four highly versatile actors tackle more than 20 roles in this life-changing, offbeat odyssey. This is definitely a trip worth taking!

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From the gifted pen of America’s favorite playwright, Neil Simon, comes one of his funniest plays; a love letter to his early career as a writer for Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows.” As you clutch your sides in laughter at their wildly witty attempts to please their terrifyingly demanding boss, you’ll see why The New York Times hailed LAUGHTER as “one of Simon’s best, most enduring and endearing plays.”

SAN DIEGO PREMIERE

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Honest and emotional, this heartfelt musical tells the engaging tale of a young woman with an uncertain past. A compelling heartwarming tale of redemption and fortitude.

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The Illusion

By Tony Kushner Freely adapted from Pierre Corneille’s L’Illusion Comique Directed by David Ellenstein

FEBRUARY 22 – MARCH 19, 2017

Legendary playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America) displays his brilliance in this wildly inventive tour de force, which celebrates the magic and illusory nature of theatre. Kushner creates his most joyfully theatrical play: a wildly entertaining tale of passion, regret, love, and magic. A wondrous journey filled with laughter and a few tears along the way.

At This Evening’s Performance

By Nagle Jackson Directed by Andrew Barnicle

JULY 12 – AUGUST 6, 2017

An uproarious comedy about a bohemian theatre troupe who find themselves performing in an Eastern European police state. However, there is more drama backstage than onstage, with romantic entanglements, political intrigue and a wildly funny climax. It’s a laugh a minute, and you’ll leave the theatre reveling in the merriment.

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CONTENTS

June 2016 Iyar/Sivan 5776

ARTS:

The Jewish Arts Festival takes over the San Diego Repertory Theatre and stages around the County with Hershey Felder, Yale Strom, Phil Johnson, Yiddish Divas and many more for various performances. Theater critic Pat Launer explores the program.

50

42

ARTS: People may not have many fond memories of President Jimmy Carter, but the play he commissioned from Lawrence Wright gives audiences reasons to rethink Carter's one main accomplishment - the Camp David Accords.

ARTS: Meet Ariel Levine, a New York transplant who will release his debut solo album from our sunny shores soon.

58

68

FOOD: The holiday of Shavuot unlocks so much delicious dessert potential.

This year, Tori Avey offers a delectable take on challah bread pudding to help you celebrate.

POLITICS: Jews have long been associated with Democrats, but Eva Beim explores the not-sosudden Jewish shift to the Republican Party. For those with a new party affiliation, candidate Trump poses a whole new problem.

34

8 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

66 Monthly Columns 12 The Starting Line 26 Parenting 28 Israeli Lifestyle 30 Aging 32 Spirituality 72 Advice

52 ARTS:

AROUND TOWN 18 Our Town 22 The Scene 74 Synagogue Life

60 ARTS:

IN EVERY ISSUE 14 Mailbag 16 What’s Up Online 67 Diversions 70 News

62 ARTS:

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Dance around town.

38 ARTS:

La Jolla Playhouse debuts a new play this month,

by UCSD grads.

Theater roundup of summer shows from venues big and small.

54 ARTS:

LJMS SummerFest @ 30.

56 ARTS:

San Diego Symphony's no bummer summer.

Mainly Mozart explores prodigy.

61 ARTS:

Opera announces new season.

Comic Joel Chasnoff prepares for San Diego Showcase.

64 ARTS:

Museum circuit.

65 ARTS:

66 ARTS:

Local Torah High student wins visual arts contest for her moving interpretation of a Holocaust diary.

46 ARTS:

Phil Johnson wants to tell you "A Jewish Joke," at NCR.

Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 9

You are going to have to make some choices,

but you don’t have to make them alone.

www.sdjewishjournal.com June 2016 • Iyar/Sivan 5776

Changing jobs can be difficult but we are with you every step of the way.

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THE STARTING LINE by Natalie Jacobs

EDITOR’S LETTER editor@sdjewishjournal.com

movers&

Ch-ch-ch-changes

D

onald Trump changes everything Regardless of how we got here, we’ve arrived at a place where a billionaire with no political experience and questionable opinions is running for the highest political office in the country, maybe even the world depending on your perspective. This is an important change for all Americans, one that challenges the foundation of our, let’s face it, relatively nascent democracy. But for a specific subset of Americans, Donald Trump stands at the end of a long road of political self-reflection. In her story about Jewish Republicans, Eva Beim takes a look at the years-long transition of a previously predictable voting block.

Since the Obama years, there has been a growing shift within Jewish voters from Democrat to Republican, and while Israel remains the main reason for that, individuals who’ve made the transition also list plenty of other grievances with the Democrats’ agenda. For the people Beim interviews (one local and one whom she met at the Republican Jewish Coalition meeting in Las Vegas this past April), the decision to be an official Republican didn’t come easy. Although they had occasionally voted Republican in previous elections, they only changed their voter registration this year.

With Donald Trump firmly situated in their laps, these Jewish Republicans are again faced with a tough choice.

These interviews reveal the personal reasons behind the official rhetoric and they expose the cracks that this election is highlighting, not only between the two parties but within them. That story starts on page 34.

It can be hard to keep a more-than-20-year-old festival fresh, but that’s one of Todd Salovey’s jobs at the San Diego Repertory Theatre. He continues as Artistic Director of the Jewish Arts Festival, which takes over San Diego stages this month and on into next. With so much on the bill, theater critic Pat Launer picked a few of the most novel ideas to look into for her cover story.

That led her to Yale Strom, who received a coveted Creative Catalyst grant from the San Diego Foundation this year, to bring chamber music to two of the newest 12 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

Shakers Since the Obama years, there has been a growing shift within Jewish voters from Democrat to Republican, and while Israel remains the main reason for that, individuals who've made the transition also list plenty of other grievances with the Democrats' agenda. refugee groups in San Diego – Somali and Chaldean.

He and his band Hot Pstromi will perform a Chaldean jazz exploration during the festival, along with another cultural mass-up, “JewGrass.” This melding of klezmer and bluegrass will provide the basis for this year’s Klezmer Summit, which celebrates its 15th year at the Jewish Arts Festival. Also on the musical menu this year, Elizabeth Schwartz, who is married to Strom and is lead singer of Hot Pstromi, will join cantors Debby Davis and Kathy Robbins for a performance of Yiddish songs of love and longing. Hershey Felder, our third cover star, will embody Leonard Bernstein at the San Diego Rep, and Phil Johnson creates an exceptionally funny Jewish character in his original work at North Coast Repertory. Catch all the coverage starting on page 42.

What’s not changing is the San Diego Jewish Journal’s commitment to original storytelling and with this Arts Issue, there’s so much to tell. If you have a story you think we should be covering, please be in touch! A

Ilene Tatro has become the program director at Congregation Beth Israel.

Tatro was formerly assistant director of adult Jewish education for the Center for Jewish Culture. Karen Shein, who held the program director position at CBI for many years, has become a program manager for NAMI San Diego, working with their mental health education program.

⦿

Carlsbad resident Jane Willoughby, Ph.D., has been appointed Vice President and Director of Education, Program Research and Development for the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education to grow all CIJE programs west of the Mississippi. Willoughby was previously director of STEM advancement for the San Diego Jewish Academy.

⦿

With this June issue, our creative director Derek Berghaus is celebrating his one-year anniversary with the Journal.

er today b m e m a e m Beco ricing! to get best p

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Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 13

we’re listening let us know what’s on your mind

Send us your comments: editor@sdjewishjournal.com 5665 Oberlin Dr., Ste 204, San Diego, CA 92121

ON THIS MONTH’S COVER We held an exclusive photo shoot at the San Diego Repertory Theatre in downtown San Diego with as many people associated with the Jewish Arts Festival as we could wrangle. The result is a portrait of three integral pieces to this wide-ranging showcase of the performing arts. From the top left of the cover photo: Todd Salovey, Artistic Director for the festival; Elizabeth Schwartz, musician and "Yiddish Diva," and of course Hershey Felder, who embodies Leonard Bernstein this time around. Photo by Vito Di Stefano.

UN-ARTFUL EXPLETIVE Dear Editor: What exactly were you thinking by including the worst profane word in the english language in your Jewish magazine; both on the cover and in Pat Launer’s featured article about a new play at the Cygnet Theatre? Please don’t say you did it in the name of “art.”

I’m no prude, but do you not realize that your publication is prominently displayed in schools and synagogues all over San Diego and beyond, where children have open access to flip through its pages?

The placement on the cover just below a reference to the Holocaust, coupled with the sentiments about “messing” with tradition, makes it even worse.

The article begins with an anecdote about a FOUR-YEAR-OLD (my emphasis) girl shouting the name of the play, including the actual bad word, immediately followed by a note that “She knows to say it only at home.”

Shouldn’t you, grown adults with a responsibility to your readership know better? There really is no excuse.

There’s a Yiddish saying we tell our children when they misbehave, “Es Past Nischt” which basically means “It’s beneath you.”

To the Jewish Journal and the playwright who probably thinks its cute when his daughter shouts a curse word, I say, “Es Past Nischt.” You should be better than this. You must be better than this if you want to be taken seriously.

Rand Levin San Diego

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The publishers of the San Diego Jewish Journal wish to acknowledge that the usage of a profanity in the May 2016 issue may have offended some readers.

That was not the intention and we wish to make clear that all viewpoints are respected. Thank you for your continued support of our magazine.

14 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

CORRECTION In the May 2016 article “The Protégé in the Prime Minister’s Office,” Yitzhak Navon was incorrectly characterized as an Ashkenazi Jew from Poland. The sentence was meant to note BenGurion’s Ashkenazi heritage in contrast to

Navon’s Sephardic roots. The sentence should have read “Sheres credits Ben-Gurion, an Ashkenazi Jew from Poland, for the deliberate decision to make Navon, a Sephardic Jew, his right-hand man.” The SDJJ regrets this error.

San Diego Jewish Academy Class of 2016, By the Numbers

48

Number of students in SDJA’s class of 2016 16 students are “Lifers,” having attended K-12 at SDJA

231

Number of college acceptance letters received*

3,800,000 dollars awarded through merit scholarships* American University Auburn University Barnard College Berklee College of Music Boston University Brandeis University California Polytechnic Case Western Reserve University Chapman University Claremont McKenna College Cornell University Duke University Emory University Lafayette College

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Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 15

what’s up on sdjewishjournal.com

Photo by Frankel Photography

HOROWITZ KICKED UP CONTROVERSY AT SDSU, BUT THE DUST SETTLED QUICKLY In late April, a protest broke out on the SDSU campus. Students were outraged by the distribution of posters, by David Horowitz, that named student activists in conjunction with alleged terrorist activites.

When Horowitz gave a talk to the College Republicans the next week, students and local media expected an even bigger protest.

Flanked by security guards, Horowitz hosted a press conference but no protest ever commenced and students went on with studying for finals.

CHABAD OF SAN MARCOS AND HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE The relatively new spiritual home in North County, located on the campus of Cal. State San Marcos, hosted an event for Yom Hashoah in which nearly 100 people gathered to "never forget."

Rabbi Yair Yelin welcomed the Mayor of San Marcos along with Holocaust survivor Hershel Frankel.

ALWAYS MORE TO SAY ABOUT TRUMP: This election is a weird one, for lots of reasons. JTA's Ron Kampeas looks at how the Israel question has been addressed lately, and what the typical extra-governmental policy powerhouses are doing about it. All's fair in love and politics?

U.S. EARMARKS HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA: While Congress gears up for a fight to increase funding to Israel by way of an updated M.O.U., Consul to Jerusalem Donald Blume announced $50 million in new funding to Gaza, which, he said, will be used for food and non-food items, plus job-training and other employment assistance.

Hear about all our web exclusives first: Like us on Facebook.com/ sandiegojewishjournal and follow us on Twitter @sdjewishjournal 16 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

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TOP L-R: Eileen Sondak and granddaughter, with cast from "Rocky Horror" • Wendy Nash with Steve Gouveia (as Eddie) • Alan Greenberg and Sharon Gorevitz.

Soiree at the Bay

our TOWN

BY EILEEN SONDAK, LINDA BENNETT AND BETSY BARANOV PHOTOS BY ANTHONY CASSELL PHOTOGRAPHY AND LAUREN NATALIE PHOTOGRAPHY

Cygnet celebrated another successful year with a fundraising gala at the Coasterra Restaurant on Harbor Island recently. Dubbed “Soiree at the Bay,” the bash featured Latin flavors on the menu and cabaret-style entertainment, along with auction bidding to benefit the theater company and its mission to serve the San Diego community.

VIPs were invited to a pre-party event with entertainment by Jacquelyne Silver. While they sampled hors d’oeuvre, Silver put the crowd in a festive mood with a sing-along of Broadway tunes, such as “Give My Regards to Broadway” and “The Yankee Doodle Boy.” Members of the cast of Cygnet’s popular “The Rocky Horror Show” mingled with the revelers, which included Joyce Axelrod, Jeffrey Levenson, Mike and Mimi Murray, and Tom and Julie Karlo. Also on hand for the gala were Doreen and Steve Black, Ron and Lupita Cohn, Avila Rose and others.

Birthdays...

Happy 87th birthday to Rolf Haas!

Happy 83rd birthday to Matt Strauss!

Happy 92nd birthday to Ruth Luttbeg!

Mazel tov to Heidi and Bernie Blotner on the birth of their grandson Ellis Issac Morgan, son of Nikki and Mike Morgan!

Engagements...

Carol Swimmer became engaged to Larry Salerno.

Merav Blum became engaged to Gabe Skop. Merav is the Israeli granddaughter of Our Town’s Carol and Ron Fox.

18 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

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our TOWN

BY NATALIE JACOBS PHOTOS BY VINCENT ANDRUNAS

20 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

Spotlight Gala The North Coast Repertory Theatre capped off its 34th season with the annual Spotlight Gala. Hosted at the Del Mar Country Club, the evening featured Academy Award-winning actress Shirley Jones and her son Patrick Cassidy. Also during the event, the North Coast Rep announced its creation of San Diego Champion for the Arts Award and its first honoree Jesse J. Knight for his philanthropic devotion to a variety of arts organizations in San Diego. Seen at the party were NCR artistic director David Ellenstein along with his mother Lois and sister Jan, Jay and Julie Sarno, Joyce and Jere Oren, Richard and Jeri Rovsek, Lee and Frank Goldberg, Lisa Cohen, Leslie Carter, Rafael Pastor and many more.

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Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 21 5/12/16 7:18 AM

the SCENE

BY EILEEN SONDAK PHOTOS COURTESY SDMA

Bloom Bash The San Diego Museum of Art held its signature fundraiser exhibition, “Art Alive,” in April. The annual gala, now known as “Bloom Bash,” was the highlight of a weekend celebration that invited floral designers to interpret works of art from the museum collection in flora and fauna. No less than 100 floral designs were on display at this 35th annual event.

The museum was awash in color at the big bash when supporters wended their way through the galleries to ooh and aah at floral masterpieces worthy of the art that inspired them. As usual, the rotunda of the museum was decorated to the hilt in a magnificent floral creation reflecting this year’s Asian theme. The rotunda designers conceived a Chinese dragon to create a powerful visual impact as guests entered the museum.

The huge honorary committee behind this year’s successful event included George and Helene Gould, Lisa and Gary Levine, Emma and Leo Zuckerman, Joan and Irwin Jacobs, and Jeff and Melanie Spiegelman. Toni and John Bloomberg were principal sponsors.

22 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Manu Faves, Blanca Uribe, Summer Albertsen, Sacha Boutros, and Blanca Uribe • Micki Olin and Arlene Esgate • Valerie and Harry Cooper, Margo Schwab and Scott Johnston • Tiffany Lewis and Silvia Boschi.

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Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 23

the SCENE

BY EILEEN SONDAK PHOTOS COURTESY TIMKEN MUSEUM

Art of Fashion The Timken Museum held “Art of Fashion: Costume and Culture,” a gala fundraiser for the museum which featured the work of six graduate students, inspired by the 14th century painting “Madonna and Child.” It was fascinating to see how different the designs turned out, despite having just one source painting behind them. The public was invited to vote on their favorite design and many showed up during the viewing period to do so.

The festive evening gave supporters the opportunity to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvre while they examined the striking examples of wearable art. After the cocktail hour there was a lecture by Deborah Nadoolman Landis, founder of the David C. Copley Center for Costume Design. Dr. Landis explained the design process and presented the winning designer – the talented Ruoxuan Li – with a scholarship for her creative efforts. Kudos to all the designers who participated in the challenge, and to all the supporters who came to cheer them on.

24 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Deborah Nadoolman Landis, Gabrielle Levion, Kumie Asai, James Maloof, Ruoxuan Li, Charlotte Ballard, Christi Karvonides-Dushenko • Ruoxuan Li and her winning design • Design by Chanele Casaubon • Design by James Maloof.

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Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 25

MUSINGS FROM MAMA

by Sharon Rosen Leib

PARENTING srleib@me.com

New Releases “Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our AllAbout-Me World”

Family History

W

hen I first noticed the lump on my right forearm I didn’t think much of it – probably just a cyst that would dissolve and disappear.

Several months later I remembered the lump still lurking beneath my skin. I examined my left forearm and felt two more small lumps there. I started to worry. I ran my hands over the rest of my torso. I found a fourth lump on my right lower back. Had I been in denial all these months?

Was cancer lumping its way through my body?

The time to visit the dermatologist had come.

The dermatologist’s perky intake nurse walked me into the examining room and asked, “What brought you here today?”

“These lumps under my skin,” I said holding out my forearms for her to examine.

“Feel like lipomas to me,” she said with nobig-deal casualness. How could she be so offhand with this pronouncement? Lipoma rhymes with carcinoma.

“What’s a lipoma,” I asked, trying to sound calm.

“A fatty deposit under your skin. The doctor will be in to see you soon.”

She ducked out leaving me wondering whether I should be grossed out about having fatty deposits beneath my skin or freaked out they might be cancerous.

After the doctor examined me she said, “These look like lipomas, which are hereditary. Did either of your parents have them?”

I didn’t know. Both my parents died relatively young of cancer. I had no one to ask. I felt sorry for my orphaned self.

“If you want me to biopsy one to make sure it’s nothing to worry about I will, but you’ll have a small scar,” she said. A scar seemed a trivial price to pay to quell my cancer anxiety.

I scheduled a biopsy appointment for the following week. Then I dashed home and 26 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

After the doctor examined me she said, “These look like lipomas, which are hereditary. Did either of your parents have them? googled lipoma. According to WebMD, lipomas are common, non-cancerous growths of fat cells just beneath the skin, appearing most frequently in middle age. What causes lipomas is not completely understood. The tendency to develop them is inherited.

I fit into the middle-aged category, but the hereditary component eluded me. When I stopped feeling sorry/worried for myself I remembered that my wonderful sister is a nonpracticing physician. I called to ask her about lipomas.

“Dad had so many he stopped having them biopsied. I have a big one on my back and Grandma had them too. I’m surprised you didn’t know we’re lumpy people.”

I exhaled my worry, but had the biopsy just to be sure. It was negative. The only thing the doctor found was a small gob of fat – gross but comforting.

Why hadn’t I thought of asking my sister all along? By focusing on the loss of our parents, I lost sight of the smart, humane person who has always been just a shout away. Our siblings can be one our greatest emotional supports and providers of shared history and memory. How could I have forgotten? I always strive to model the importance of sibling relationships for my own children. They too will be linked for life – lumps and all. A

Instagram, Snap Chat, What’sApp, there are so many ways for kids to feel insecure and self-involved these days. This book offers “9 essential habits” to develop empathy in kids even while the internet perpetuates self absorbtion at every turn.

“The Anatomy of Malice: The Enigma of the Nazi War Criminals”

UC San Diego Psychiatrist Joel Dimsdale took on the grim task of psycho-analyzing Nazis. Using the diagnostic tools of today, Dimsdale offers psychological portraits of Robert Ley, Hermann Göring, Julius Streicher, and Rudolf Hess.

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This novel, inspired by historic events, follows two Jewish women in different eras – one in 18th century Berlin, one in present-day America. The women are woven together by a mysterious choral masterpiece and its anti-Semitic undertones.

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Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 27

LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE by Andrea Simantov

ISRAELI LIFESTYLE andreasimantov@gmail.com

Southern Comfort

I

t was the first time I’d bought a property on my own; we met with the lawyer in order to issue the final checks and pay the brokerage fees. He asked to speak with us privately for a few minutes.

“Are you certain that you know what you’re doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you certain that you want to purchase an apartment in South Jerusalem? You are very close to the eastern sections, the Arab villages.”

I looked him in the eye. “Yes, we are certain.

This is where we want to live.”

The lawyer sighed. “I hope you know what you’re doing . . . ” At the time, my husband expressed anger that an Israeli Jewish attorney would disparage our decision to leave the comfortable English speaking ghettos of Jerusalem and venture into territories where so few of “our kind” lived. But I was plagued with more than a twinge of selfdoubt. Was the right price, proximity to the Western Wall and rubbing shoulders with the common-man enough reason to tempt fate?

In the years since the move, friends and family contact us the moment our shtetl appears on the news; as the aforementioned lawyer suggested, terrorists from the kfar-next-door enjoy hopping onto the local bus in order to ply their nefarious trades, which frequently result in our deaths and

28 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

pretty much guarantee theirs.

Ronney and I believe that Jews should freely dwell in any and every corner of Israel, including all of Jerusalem. Still, it behooves me to question whether or not I hold a double standard regarding other parts of the world. With three children living in infamously dangerous Johannesburg, each visit introduces me to the latest in home security and personal protection.

The old stand-bys of turning your rings gem-side down and leaving enough space between your car and the one in front at major intersections leave me scratching my head. Frequently I ask (never aloud) “How can they live there?”

But then I remember, immaculate and affordable housecleaning and pristine gardens could not sway my commitment to living in a land of our own, and stubbornly holding onto that which I believe was Divinely ordained.

And while I am not unaware that the rand has plummeted, I would like to believe that the threat of abject poverty would not stand in the way of making a moral and legacy-leaving decision.

Immediately prior to Israel’s 68th birthday last month, the country held memorial ceremonies for those who perished in the Holocaust. Israel has existed for thousands and thousands of years and always was inhabited by Jews, despite the denials of those who are hell-bent on rewriting history. But it wasn’t until the formation of

the modern Zionist state in 1948 that exiled Jews could find refuge in the nation they would proudly call “Eretz Israel.”

It occurs to me that we oftentimes believe what is most palatable to our own values. Indeed, my friends pretty much believe as I do and left behind comfortable lives in order to live in the only Jewish state in the world. Ashamedly, I admit that my politics pretty much echo those of my Facebook crowd, Jew and non-Jew alike. And while I would love to believe that beleaguered European yidden would have abandoned their gardens, art collections, grocery stores and anything else in order to save their own lives and those of their children, I’m not entirely certain that this would have been the case, even if modern Israel had been declared in the middle of the 1930s. Because I have seen with my own eyes the flesh-pots of Hendon, Johannesburg, Paris, Boca and Berlin and have memorized the laundry lists that rationalize continued presence in host-societies that seem to, at best, tolerate Jews and, at worst, demonize our existence.

I find great pleasure in purchasing new houseplants and painting walls of my humble home in a corner of the Holy City where my detractors say is verboten and call me an obstacle to peace. A

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Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 29

OLDER, WISER, BETTER by Jon Schwartz

AGING jonaschwartz@hotmail.com

Aging and the Horse Race

I

n January, I challenged myself to not watch sports for this entire year. Watching sports, of any kind, was something I really enjoyed, so this decision did not come lightly. But I wanted to be more thoughtful about my consumption, more conscious about how I spend my time.

The first couple weeks were great – I listened to NPR, caught up on a few books and even ordered a subscription to The New Yorker. A couple weeks later, it became painful to keep my eyes and ears away from sports. The Super Bowl was coming, and the rumblings started early. I had to distract myself with something – something really fascinating.

Lucky for me, I picked an election year to give up sports. I have been utterly engrossed in this election since the Iowa Caucuses. For the sake of this column, I will set aside my personal feelings of embarrassment at the state of politics in order to focus on one of the many things that’s missing from the conversation – aging. I haven’t heard much from either side about new or improved policies to address our aging population.

We know that 42 percent of the federal budget is currently spent on Medicare and Social Security. These two programs are projected to rise to 50 percent of the budget by 2030. We should demand to hear candidates’ plans to solve some of the obstacles an aging population will have. Here are the top five critical questions that I feel our candidates should have answers for, as they continue to have the attention of the voting public: Question 1: What is the new “old” age? Our economy is based off 19th century longevity numbers. When Social Security began, the average American could expect to live 62 years.

In 1937 there were 42 working-aged people paying into social security. Today, average life expectancy is about 79 and due to declining fertility rates, we have fewer than three working aged people paying for each retiree. In today’s world, is 65 or even 67 still the right marker of “old” age?

Question 2: What bold measures will you take to eliminate diseases of aging? With modern medical advances and public health infrastructure, we’ve managed to prolong life.

At the same time, we have very little to extend the health span of individuals. Pandemics of 30 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

heart disease, cancer, stroke, Alzheimer’s and diabetes are rampant. In addition to being quite costly, our healthcare system is incompetent at preventing and treating the complex and intertwined conditions of later life.

Question 3: As President, how will you motivate Americans to save enough to afford their longer lives? According to the Government Accounting Office, nearly half of upcoming retirees have no retirement savings.

Equally unsettling, half our recent retiree’s have no pension beyond Social Security. We could be heading to a future in which tens of millions of impoverished aging boomers will place crushing burdens on the U.S. economy and on the generations forced to support them.

Question 4: Do you believe ageism exists in America? If so, what will you do to end this prejudice? Today, as older age become more commonplace, our society has become youth obsessed, uncomfortable both with older adults and their own aging process. Many institutions from urban planning, to education, technology, employment hiring practices, housing, and popular media are youth-centric and ageist.

Question 5: What is the purpose of older age?

Perhaps my favorite question of them all! I get the chance to speak to a multitude of groups of about this very question. Ultimately, the problem may not be our growing legions of older adults but our absence of imagination, creativity and leadership regarding what to do with all of this maturity and longevity.

Even with all this political excitement, the tempation of sports continues to linger. This month, we’re in the midst of NBA finals, with, from what I hear, a potential for a repeat of last year’s incredbile match-up between Cleveland’s Lebron James and Golden State’s Stephen Curry.

There will be dunks, three-pointers and tons of enthusiasm coming from both directions. But I will continue to keep my promise to myself, and substitute with the almost equally intense match-up between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. I remain hopeful that we will hear more civility, but what I’m really looking for is the two candidates to discuss their plans for our aging society. I hope you expect that as well. A

Meetings and Events Jewish War Veterans of San Diego, Post-185 Contact Jerome Klein, (858) 521-8694 June 12, 10 a.m.

North County Jewish Seniors Club at the Oceanside Senior Center Contact Josephine, (760) 295-2564 June 16, 12:30 p.m.

Veterans Association of North County, Post-385 Contact Marc Poland, (858) 232-1645 Jewish War Veterans meetings June 12, noon

Lawrence Family JCC Contact Melanie Rubin, (858) 362-1141 Annual Senior Party, June 26, 2 p.m.

JFS University City Older Adult Center Contact Aviva Saad, (858) 550-5998 Father’s Day Celebration, June 16, 10 a.m.

On the Go Excursions Contact Jo Kessler, (858) 637-7320 JFS No. County Inland Center at Adat Shalom Contact (858) 674-1123 JFS Coastal Club at Temple Solel Contact (858) 674-1123 JFS College Avenue Center at Temple Emanu-El Contact Sara Diaz, (858) 637-3270 Making Friends at Any Age, June 23, 12:45 p.m.

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Yom Ha’atzmaut

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Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 31

THE ARTIST’S TORAH by

Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort

SPIRITUALITY yeilfort@gmail.com

Time to Celebrate

D

uring this month (June 11 at night through June 13 at night) Jews the world over will celebrate the grand holiday of Shavuot, the Time of Giving the Torah. In Israel, Shavuot is celebrated for one day, and in the Diaspora Shavuot is celebrated for two days. The Torah tells us that after the Jewish people encamped at the foot of the mountain, Moses ascended Mount Sinai and received the 10 Commandments. He remained atop the mountain, in intimate communication with the Almighty, and it is there that he received the Torah.

In describing the encampment, the Torah states, “VaYichan sham Yisroel neged hahar,” which translates as, “And Israel encamped there opposite the mountain,” (Exodus 19:2). The grammar in the passage is of note, as it uses the singular form for the word “encamped” even though it is describing the entire nation of Israel. The great commentator Rashi explains this anomaly, that the encampment was “like one person with one heart,” meaning that the Jewish people were utterly united. Rashi goes on to compare this encampment with previous encampments of the Jewish people. Unfortunately, that history was filled with strife and division.

It turns out that the Torah is not only describing the manner of the encampment, but also the reason the Jewish people deserved this ultimate gift, the will and wisdom of G-d. The lesson is that when our people are united, we can do anything.

What did this event accomplish? Simply put, it changed the world forever. Without question, the Torah is the most influential book in all of history. Jews are known as the People of the Book.

“The Book” is our Torah. And what is written in the Torah? The Torah, also known as The Five Books of Moses, is the Constitution of the Jewish people. It is the contract between ourselves and the Creator. In fact, it is even referred to as our Ketubah (the Hebrew name for a Jewish marriage contract), as the giving of the Torah represents our marriage, as it were, with G-d.

But how do we know the Torah is true? A great 19th century Chasidic Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch, discussed this important question. He posits that while the belief in a Creator is a logical imperative, for all of human experience has shown that everything must have a

32 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

source, belief in the divine origin of the Torah has an element of faith involved. However, the faith we have in the Torah’s authenticity is because of what we see, not despite it. Furthermore, the Torah was given before the entire nation of Israel who faithfully passed it down to their children through the generations until it has come, unchanged, to us.

With this transmission, the various generational links in the proverbial chain are known to us and meticulously traced – just as the original recipients are dutifully recounted in the Torah itself. This is what is called an unbroken chain of evidence, which is the strongest type of evidence there is. This is as true as truth can be.

So what do we do about this life-changing holiday? Well, we begin by coming together, in the synagogue, to listen to the very same words that were heard by our forbearers. As the 10 Commandments are read it is of critical importance that every Jew possible attend the reading; men, women, and of course children, especially the children.

When G-d asked the Jewish people if they wanted the Torah they responded with an enthusiastic “We will keep it and we will learn it!” G-d asked who would guarantee that the people would hold dearly to the Torah. Moses tried this group and that. Only when he offered the children as the guarantors did the Almighty accept the terms of the deal, knowing that if the children are dedicated to the Torah it will ultimately be kept.

The people of Israel are compared to the letters of a Torah scroll. If just one letter is missing (or even incomplete), the entire scroll is rendered unfit. If even a single Jew is missing, our entire nation suffers.

We have some interesting (and tasty) customs associated with this special holiday as well. We endeavor to eat dairy foods as a reminder that the laws of Kashrut were given at this time. When the children of Israel learned the laws of ritual slaughter they had to prepare new utensils to do it properly, so our tradition tells us to eat dairy to commemorate the fact that they couldn’t prepare meat immediately. Ice cream parties are a perfect way to celebrate this particular custom.

(Unfortunately for the people in those days they hadn’t yet discovered the delights of ice cream.)

Lastly, we stay up all night studying Torah.

We bask in its infinite light and goodness. The grandeur and relevance of the Torah ennobles our lives and gives them meaning. After all, it is a “Tree of Life to those who hold fast to it and all of its supporters are happy!” A Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort is Director of Chabad at La Costa, located in Carlsbad, Calif., and welcomes readers’ feedback via email to yeilfort@gmail.com.

 This

month’s Torah portions June 4: Bechukotai (Leviticus 26:3-27:34) June 11: Bamidbar (Numbers 1:1-4:20) June 18: Nasso (Numbers 4:21-7:89) June 25: Beha’alotcha (Numbers 8:1-12:15)

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Finding, and Crossing

the Great American

Jewish l a c i t i l Po e d i v Di

A look at Republican Jews and what seems to be a growing shift in American politics

BY EVA BEIM

I

t is no secret there exists a great political divide between the two parties in the United States. The schism within Jewish American political perspectives, however, slips a bit further under the radar. In many cases, that’s intentional. Although the vast majority of Jewish voters are registered Democrat, there is a growing rightward migration among Jews. It didn’t just start with this unprecedented election year. For many Jews who acknowledge a shift in their political party preferences, it has been a long-time coming.

At the recent Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) gathering held in Las Vegas this past April, there was an amalgam of traditional Republicans who’ve been through this before, and those who are new to the party. Curious to hear from Republican Jews about their political perspectives, I spoke with many people throughout the conference. Given today’s political climate, a handful preferred to stay anonymous.

A Massachusetts woman who noted she only voted for President Obama once, said “There’s been a tacit understanding that Republicans don’t tell their fellow Jewish Democrats how they vote, because they’re afraid of being harshly criticized.”

Others echoed her sentiments, explaining experiences of being ostracized for their beliefs and lamenting the loss of polite political discourse.

“How many Democrats openly engage with their Jewish counterparts who tend to lean right?” The question came up in a small group of people talking in the halls between speakers. “How many Jewish Democrats can’t believe 34 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

Jews could vote Republican, or the other way around?”

“I’m a social liberal and a fiscal conservative,” said Mark Hirsch, a New York businessman in attendance at the RJC meeting in Vegas. “I’m not one of those hard right-wingers.”

Hirsch had just heard Senator Ted Cruz, who was still a Republican presidential candidate at the time, speak to a packed audience at the Venetian.

While Hirsch said he liked a lot of what Senator Cruz said, he posited that Cruz’s perspective on domestic issues were what prevented people from voting for him.

“I’m not afraid of that,” Hirsch said, alluding to Cruz’s stance on social issues like abortion. “Being pro-choice is not my number-one issue. … My number one issue is security, staying alive.”

Hirsch, a father to three daughters, noted “freedom and security” as his top priorities for a president.

“I’ve always felt the Republicans are better on national security and the economy.” Citing that smaller government and lower tax rates stimulate jobs, he said, “You don’t hear Hillary or Bernie talking about jobs, or having the solution to job creation. All you hear about is penalizing the rich, getting rid of Wall Street … How are they going to do it, take more money from the rich and give it to the poor? But then you’ll just have more poor people in this country.”

National security and the economy are the mainstay issues for many

“” “There’s been a tacit understanding that Republicans don’t tell their fellow Jewish Democrats how they vote, because they’re afraid of being harshly criticized.”

Republican-voting Jews. That, and Israel. San Diego Attorney Micha “Mitch” Danzig, a vocal Republican and Israel activist in the Jewish community, said “My defense when I talk about this subject with my fellow Jews who vote consistently Democrat, and they say it’s because of the domestic policies, I say I am largely Libertarian. To me, being alive trumps everything … and if I don’t believe a candidate is going to promote economic freedom and national security, they’re not going to get my vote.”

What Danzig and other Republicans have observed is a majority of Jewish Democrats vote domestic policy first. Danzig says fellow Jewish voters often tell him they don’t consider economic or national security issues as important as domestic policies.

“I think we see it now,” Danzig says in response to those perspectives, “how dangerous the world has become; and how profoundly important [national security] is, as with the Iran deal. And I couldn’t disagree more about the primacy of our national security and economic policies.”

It’s difficult for Jews to vote Republican, Danzig said, because Jews don’t necessarily track with the Republicans on domestic issues. He says on the domestic front, Jews can mostly be considered Libertarian or socially liberal.

Except, Danzig says, for the Orthodox community, whose values more closely align with their non-Jewish, conservative Republican counter-parts.

“One in six American Jews vote Republican,” Danzig recounts a statistic, “but three of four Orthodox Jews do.”

HISTORY OF THE JEWISH VOTE Despite the assumption that Jews are staunchly Democrat, the numbers fluctuate heavily in Presidential elections. Since 1992, however, the number of Jewish votes for Republican candidates has been on a steady rise. In 1992’s Bush v. Clinton election, 11 percent of Jewish votes went to the Republican George H.W. Bush, lower only by one percentage point from Jewish support for Barry Goldwater in 1964, Thomas Dewey in 1948 and 1944, and Wendell Wilkie in 1940.

Jewish votes for President Obama fell by eight percentage points between the 2008 and 2012 elections, with 30 percent of Jewish votes going to Mitt Romney whereas 22 percent went to John McCain. There was another spurt of Jewish Republican momentum from 1972-1988 and in the 50s during the Eisenhower years.

As is typically the case for Jewish voters, both Danzig and Hirsch switched parties at one point. Although Danzig began voting for Republican presidential candidates after 9/11, he only officially changed his voter registration last year, but that was to vote in this year’s primaries.

Danzig says his mother is a liberal with an Israeli bent. Translation: she has been and continues to be more conservative than the “typical” American liberal. Danzig’s father, he said, was conservative on fiscal and foreign policy

but still voted Democrat. Despite recognizing “two huge flaws in our national discourse” post-9/11, “that we were not facing the threat and that the Democrats did not articulate a meaningful and clear way to address it,” other than aligning with Reagan in 1984, Danzig said he consistently voted Democrat more often than not.

Hirsch, who was raised Orthodox but is not practicing now, highlighted how different Orthodoxy was then. The Orthodox today have become very political in their outlook, he said, “but when I grew up in the 60s, we were Democrats. My parents felt that Republicans were all racists, and it was in the heat of Vietnam, and we were very anti-war. It was a terrible time.”

He said that sentiment continued for him, until Reagan.

“I loved Ronald Reagan, he changed it around for me, especially after Jimmy Carter,” which he also recalled as a horrible time. “[Reagan] had so many great quotes. What quotes are they going to put in Obama’s library?

‘You can keep your doctor?’”

Putting aside the New York humor, Hirsch spoke seriously of continuing to vote Democrat in certain elections, until the attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya, and the Congressional hearings that followed.

Hirsch said he joined the Republican Jewish Coalition a year ago, “when Mrs. Clinton appeared before the Commission again, when the media felt she exonerated herself, which was totally not true. I felt she indicted herself. I had to do something, I really wasn’t sure [what to do].”

Sometime during her short-lived presidential campaign, Hirsch went to a fundraiser for Carly Fiorina at the home of Ari Fleischer, the former White House Press Secretary for George W. Bush who remains a standout in Republican Jewish circles.

“I went to his fundraiser and he said, ‘You’re Jewish? You’ve got to get involved with the RJC.’ So it was very coincidental and the timing was perfect since I wanted to do something.”

ISRAEL AND IRAN Many liberal Jews think the catalyst for those who’ve officially switched sides was President Obama’s push for the recent Iran Nuclear Deal. But this president’s relationship with Israel has been unsteady for nearly all of his eight years. It was evident that Jews were concerned when the Jewish vote for Obama fell by nine percent in 2012.

“We’ve seen resistance since the beginning of the Obama administration,” Danzig said. “Obama resisted the original sanctions Congress wanted to impose [on Iran]. The sentiments reflected then were if Congress enacted those sanctions it would be a catastrophe, but all along the way the majority of the Democrats have backed the president and gone with the party line.” And that, Danzig said, was “a very difficult thing for me to accept.”

While Republican Jews may still be concerned about expressing their Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 35

political views in Jewish company, Danzig says he’s hearing from them more and more.

“I am vocal and out there so I have more [Republican] people who confide in me that are Jews. It is not easy to be a conservative Jew or a Republican Jew, especially if you are a member of a Reform community. There are people [in that community] who are hostile to Israel, equating Israel’s actions to terrorism itself. I find it offensive.”

Danzig said the Reform movement itself was another reason he felt more drawn to the Republican party.

“The Reform movement as a whole backed the Iran deal.”

He cited the importance of not only Israel’s security, but America’s as well.

When asked about the handful of Israelis who said they backed the deal, he said “one out of eight Israelis backed the Iran deal, of [those who backed the deal], a large percentage of them thought publicly and aggressively not backing the American president was not in their best interest.

“To get that percentage of Israelis to agree on anything is a big deal. And what’s shocking and shows where we are, is how committed, and not in a good way, the percentage of Jews that supported the Iran deal was significantly higher than the majority of Americans.”

He said two out of three Americans ultimately thought it was a bad deal, yet Jews were split down the middle, an astounding revelation to Danzig, who was, and still is, passionately against it.

“It speaks volumes about how committed to the party line, and ultimately to Obama, Jewish Democrats are. It’s more important to them than standing up for Israel’s security and even America’s security,” which he strongly believes is also at risk.

When asked to respond to those who continue to support Obama and the deal, who claim it was the best choice with Iran, he said he could write a paper on this alone, “including the deception we now know that the Obama Administration engaged in to avoid a binding two-thirds ‘No’ vote in Congress.”

His short answer to those who support the deal was that we have no way of credibly knowing how close or how far Iran was from having a nuclear bomb at the time the Administration announced the terms of the Iran deal.

Iran deal aside, Danzig also spoke of the growth of anti-Semitism in the Democratic party.

“If they’re not careful they could find themselves like the Labor party in Great Britain – a party that is rife with anti-Semitism or anti-Zionism,” which, to Danzig, are the same thing.

“The Democratic Party in America is now attracting more of those people saying things we really haven’t heard since WWII … And we’ve excused and are excusing that now, under the guise of free speech.”

To Danzig and others, the left has moved too far left.

“I vote first and foremost for military and the economy; if you don’t have security and a good economy, then all the issues fall by the wayside. Where people go to the bathroom just doesn’t have as much of a priority as our security and the hope of economic growth for everyone.”

THE DONALD DILEMMA Since the Republican Jewish Coalition meeting, Donald Trump has become the de-facto Republican Party nominee for president. And with that, Republican Jews who were seeking refuge in what seemed a saner party choice, are not so sure.

Danzig said he’s very disappointed this is where the Republican Party has ended up and he doesn’t think he can vote for Trump. He said he is waiting to see what happens in the Democratic primary process and with both parties in regards to their platforms, vice president selections, and other potential cabinet nominees before making his decision.

36 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

“” “It speaks volumes about how committed to the party line, and ultimately to Obama, Jewish Democrats are. It’s more important to them than standing up for Israel’s security and even America’s security.”

Hirsch was more direct about Trump.

“I think he’s arrogant, an egotist, and his policies are ridiculous,” he said at the RJC meeting, before Trump was his party’s nominee.

After Trump was the last man standing, Hirsch said “it’s left a lot of Republicans like me out in no-man’s land.”

As extreme as Trump’s views may be, Hirsch thinks it will be difficult for him to implement any of his plans.

“Some of it’s anti-Constitutional,” he said. “I feel like it’s ‘hope and change’ with a Republican twist to it. And I think, just like with Obama, a lot of [Trump’s] supporters are going to be very disappointed. … First he threw out red meat to the Republican party, and now he’s throwing out red meat to the Democrats. In the end, he doesn’t have a political moral compass, and he won’t fit in anywhere.”

Given that, what will Hirsh do on November 8?

“I have several choices,” he said. “I could stay home. But reading about what [Trump] wants to do, like his 100-day agenda, is scary. I think this guy could crash the market. He’s loony. Whereas Hillary is owned by Wall Street, which is a good thing, but he’s a loose cannon. I know [Republican] big-wigs that want to decimate [Trump] because they think he’s crazy. … I don’t think there’s going to be a positive outcome here.”

At the time of this writing, California has yet to cast its primary ballots, and Trump remains without a running mate. Some prominent Republican Jews like Ari Fleischer, and the billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson have come out in support of Trump since everyone else dropped out of the race.

Other non-Jewish Republicans, including the party’s highest ranking officer Speaker Paul Ryan, have withheld support for their candidate. For those Republican Jews who have only recently accepted their Republican identity, the choices in this year’s Presidential election may further separate an already dividing cohort. A

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Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 37

PHOTO COURTESY LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE

arts

Panic and Anxiety in La Jolla How new plays get made in America

BY NATALIE JACOBS

T

here is a system of child slavery that still exists today in Haiti. Its victims are called restavek and on June 28 at the La Jolla Playhouse, a new play will premiere that imagines the stories of five of these children.

Written by Jeff Augustin, a 2014 graduate of the UC San Diego MFA program in theater, “The Last Tiger in Haiti” takes place on one restavek child’s 18th birthday at the end of the weeks-long festival Kanaval, just before the 38 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

devastating earthquake that ravaged the country in 2010. Joshua Kahan Brody, Augustin’s former classmate and longtime friend, directs the play.

“There’s a lot of twists and turns that I don’t like to reveal about the play,” says Brody, who has been collaborating with Augustin on it for nearly two years. “[But] the play’s about storytelling and it’s about how we tell our own stories, who gets to tell whose story. It’s about betrayal and the ties of love that bind us.”

He admits that it sounds a bit dark. And indeed, the Playhouse is billing “The Last Tiger in Haiti” as a “gripping drama.” But, Brody continues, “it’s a beautiful play about a culture that we don’t often see picked up in the United States.”

Augustin’s parents are from Haiti, and he didn’t know about the restavek system of child slavery until he read a feature story in the New York Times during graduate school.

“As I was reading it, I called my mom,” Augustin explains, “and she was like yeah, there’s this system that’s in place which is horrible, but it doesn’t seem like anyone’s paying attention to it.”

He started on the earliest draft of “Last Tiger” while in residence at Berkeley Rep’s Groundfloor, a new play workshop. Augustin wrote 12 pages there, after throwing out 45 pages of another play that also involved children telling stories about fraught childhoods. After the Groundfloor, he put “Last Tiger” away too, but not in the trashcan. Fast-forward to Augustin’s fellowship at the New York Theatre Workshop and the script was still on his mind.

“I wanted to pick up that play again because I was still thinking about that world and those kids,” Augustin says.

He prepared the first act for a table reading and brought Brody on as director.

“I thought of Josh immediately because of how theatrical [the play] is,” Augustin explains. “[Josh] has such a theatrical vocabulary to his directing.

“I think we have a really good working style together and a very comfortable relationship,” Augustin adds of Brody. “He gets my work, and my tempo, my rhythms, the stillness that I like in my work. And my little neurosis.”

It’s collaborative in the sense that the two friends have a short-hand, and Brody is there for Augustin to bounce ideas off of, but he doesn’t do any of the writing.

“Jeff ’s language is beautiful and vital,” Brody says, “and it comes from the guts and the heart and it is both sort of muscular and poetic.”

The thing with new plays is, there’s a lot of fleshing-out of the script, and the actual story, that happens throughout the rehearsal process.

“It’s hard when you’re working on a new play and you don’t really know what it is yet,” Augustin says. “It’s definitely very important to have a director that you feel comfortable with bringing in horrible pages and throwing them out, or really someone you know is going to challenge you and ask all the right questions to help pull out the story.”

For his part, Brody has been reading memoirs from restavek survivors and re-reading the script with the pages in one hand a notepad in the other, jotting down ideas about the atmospheric or emotional tones of each scene, along with visual ideas as they come.

“It’s that great adage about boxing,” he says, “everyone’s got a plan till they get hit. I go in there with a really good plan.”

And then everything shifts.

“There is a ridiculous amount of preparation.

I think people sort of have the idea that the directors come in and tell people where to stand.”

The rehearsal process, Brody says, is really about “layering meaning, or strip[ping] meaning away to get down to something that is essential.

“As I was reading it, I called my mom,” Augustin explains, “and she was like yeah, there’s this system that’s in place which is horrible, but it doesn’t seem like anyone’s paying attention to it.” ... If I walk into the scene in love with you and I walk out of the scene hating you, how does that happen throughout the scene?”

The actors, director, writer and design team rehearse together for three to five weeks. The script, meanwhile, changes still.

“Part of what I love about writing is actually the puzzle of it,” Augustin says.

Going into rehearsals, Augustin knew there was one character he wanted to find more ways to “pepper in” to the story. He’s also been paying close attention to the rhythm, which, he says, can’t really be accounted for in the script until he sees people actually “moving through space” with his words.

“One of the great things about the way that we make new plays in America,” Brody says, “is that the writing is done in the sense that we have a draft that we will go into rehearsal with,” but then the writer is free to make changes once he sees how it actually looks in front of him, with actors, stages, costuming and audiences.

Writers always say nothing is ever finished, but returning to re-work a piece year after year takes a curious kind of devotion.

“A lot of it is panic, like, there is an audience,” Augustin says about his re-writing process. “A lot of it is working from a place of panic and anxiety. And I think a lot of it too is once you’re in the room with a group of actors ... you don’t really understand it and its rhythms and what is necessary until people actually have to view it. ...

So it usually feels more natural to re-write in a rehearsal than it does doing a reading of the play ... it feels more urgent.”

Directing “Last Tiger” marks a significant career progression for Brody, who was born in New Jersey but grew up in London and received his Bar Mitzvah at that country’s largest Reform synagogue. He completed undergraduate at Yale

and has directed about 25 plays in and out of school, but the scale of the productions are larger this year. As a Princess Grace Award Winner for theater, he’s in residence at the La Jolla Playhouse, itself a well-known bastion for developing young theater talent. After its run at the Playhouse, “Last Tiger” will go on to perform at Berkeley Rep, which is co-producing the show.

“It was kind of a big leap,” he says. “Which is, by the way, terrifying. But also lovely. All these people at all these institutions have been nothing but supportive of me. It’s one of those things where someone has to get their first major league at-bat at some point.”

Jeff Augustin received his bachelor of arts from Boston College and has written seven full-length plays, including “The Last Tiger in Haiti.” For him, the premiere at La Jolla Playhouse also marks a career progression, along with a personal milestone.

“It’s great to come back to La Jolla where I did first call myself a writer, and the feeling like oh, I feel kind of full circle,” he says, reflecting on what this premiere means to him. “When I came here, I was this very green, aspiring playwright and now here I am, having this big professional production where I started. [I want] to make sure that I give them a good show, and not [have them] feel like I was a waste of time.”

Josh Brody also works with another UC San Diego MFA Theatre alum on a different project. He and Tom Dugdale co-founded the contemporary theater company THE TRIP in 2012. Each production is called a “Trip” and so far they’ve done nine. For those plays, Brody does the performing and producing while Dugdale usually takes on the directing, although Trip 7, “3 Plays in a Tattoo Shop” was directed by Brody.

“That one came up because of the interest I’ve had in tattooing,” he says.

As the name suggests, that production was done in a tattoo shop, Full Circle on 30th Street in South Park. THE TRIP’s plays are site-specific partly because that’s cool and experimental, but also out of necessity.

“It’s very expensive to make a play in a theater,” Brody says. “It’s very expensive to rent theaters and to find space.”

Brody says he and Dugdale will begin writing the next TRIP production later this summer.

Jeff Augustin is currently living in New York working on two commissions and a “culinary immersive theater thing for other writers and a great chef.” He has been in San Diego for the rehearsals, where he will remain for the production of “The Last Tiger in Haiti.” A The world premiere of “The Last Tiger in Haiti” is June 28. The show runs through July 24 at the La Jolla Playhouse Mandell Weiss Forum. Tickets and information can be found at lajollaplayhouse.org.

Iyar• Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 39

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Multicultural Delight

Local musicians Yale Strom and Elizabeth Schwartz paint the town Jewish, along with others at this year’s Jewish Arts Festival

BY PAT LAUNER

J

ewish and arts just seem to go together. And each summer, for the past 23 years, they’re officially joined and celebrated at the Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival, a delight for all ages and artistic tastes.

Last year’s event was the highest selling in JFest history, and this year promises to be equally, if not more, exciting. There will be 12 productions at eight different San Diego and North County venues. Once again, Festival Artistic Director Todd Salovey has amassed an amazing array of talent.

Bookending the Festival will be two fullrun productions starring high-profile audience favorites: Rosina Reynolds in “Golda’s Balcony” (5/27-6/26; newvillagearts.org) and Hershey Felder as Leonard Bernstein in “Maestro” (preNew York engagement, 6/6-17; sdrep.org). This year’s Festival will also feature the return of “The Blessing of a Broken Heart” (adapted and directed by Todd Salovey, 6/23; jewishoceanside. com) and the 7th Annual Women of Valor (6/8 sdrep.org; 6/15 encinitaslibfriends.org).

Three of the six remaining Festival offerings will feature a highly talented local twosome: Yale Strom and Elizabeth Schwartz, a couple united in love, marriage and music.

42 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

Yale is one of the world’s pre-eminent music ethnologists, specializing in the songs of the Jewish, Roma and international immigrant communities. Elizabeth, trained in voice and drama, is the lead singer for Yale’s acclaimed band, Hot Pstromi. Separately and together, they’ll be bringing musical magic to San Diego stages. Both busy performing artists, they especially love the Jewish Arts Festival.

“Todd is like the Sol Yurok of San Diego,” crows Elizabeth, referencing the Russianborn impresario who managed and promoted performing artists such as Marian Anderson, Van Cliburn, Isadora Duncan, Margot Fonteyn, Anna Pavlova, Jan Peerce, Andrés Segovia, Mstislav Rostropovich, Arthur Rubinstein and Isaac Stern.

“He has a passionate mission about presenting Jewish artists,” she continues. “He loves artists.

And we love to participate as much as we can.”

For the past 15 years, Yale has been presenting what he calls a Klezmer Summit to Jfest audiences.

“Every year,” he says, “Todd [Salovey] comes to me and says, ‘What can we do different next time?’ He doesn’t like to repeat things. I’m always thinking ahead, about what would appeal

to a Jewish audience and the wider public.”

This year, he might have outdone himself.

He’s giving klezmer a country swing, presenting “JewGrass.”

Hot Tuna meets Hot Pstromi for the 15th Annual Klezmer Summit: “JewGrass” “I know Todd likes Americana music,” Yale says.W “And this seemed perfect. Years ago, I played in the Julian Fiddle Contest. At the last minute, my bassist got sick, and I couldn’t find anyone else, so I played solo. I did two fast klezmer pieces, and I won! I introduced klezmer as international folk music from the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine. ‘We might call it JewGrass,’ I said.

“I didn’t invent the term, but when Todd asked what I was planning to do for 2016, I had this idea of a big ensemble playing traditional bluegrass with a Jewish tinge.”

Yale’s band, Hot Pstromi (a conflict in pronunciation, since his name is actually pronounced Strome) will be joined by a special guest: Barry Mitterhoff, a virtuosic mandolinist who’s played with the celebrated American blues band, Hot Tuna (2002-present), but is equally at home with klezmer and Old Timey Appalachian Americana.

PHOTOS BY VITO DI STEFANO

ABOVE: Jewish Arts Festival Artistic Director Todd Salovey; RIGHT: Vocalist Elizabeth Schwartz of Hot Pstromi and Yiddish Divas.

Mitterhoff joins Yale on fiddle, along with the Hot Pstromi band, to intermingle music from Eastern European Jews and Southern mountain Christians. Both cultures, Yale explains, come from isolated rural mountain communities, where music served a potent function.

Other special additions to the band will be 50-year San Diego music veteran Walt Richards on banjo and mandolin, and beloved local jazz player Tripp Sprague on tenor sax and harmonica.

The scholar-side of Yale is happy to provide the historical perspective that klezmer music probably had a much earlier start than most of us think.

“Jewish music was played in the 14th century,” he says, “in medieval Germanic lands, and Northern Italy and France. It goes back much farther than the 19th century we all associate with it.

“It comes from the tradition of Jewish wandering minstrels, playing the music of the time – folk tunes, drinking songs – coupled with songs from the synagogue, sometimes adding medieval Yiddish lyrics or making the melodies more danceable. The instruments and [musical] ornamentations changed over time.

The repertoire, in other words, was borrowed from their own Jewish life and the gentile life, and they spread it around to inns and taverns.”

The JewGrass melodies Strom will play include “regular bluegrass” and songs from his upcoming documentary about Eugene V. Debs (1855-1926), labor activist, Senator and founder of the Social Democratic Party (it’s called “American Socialist: The Life and Times of Eugene Victor Debs”).

“My original tunes sound a hundred years old,” says Yale. Elizabeth will join in, singing some of the new songs.

Israel meets Iraq in “Chaldean Jazz” Yale’s latest composition explores the traditional music of San Diego’s southern Iraqi refugee community. This exhilarating collaboration was funded by a much sought-after Creative Catalyst grant from the San Diego Foundation.

The ensemble features saxophonist/composer/ arranger/educator Steve Torok and the Mira Costa College Jazz Collective, performing Yale’s jazz interpretations. Yale and Elizabeth will be guest artists.

Yale’s intention in applying for the Creative Catalyst grant was to write two new works representing new immigrants. He composed a

Elizabeth takes particular delight in these songs, since she speaks fluent French and Romanian, and sings fluently in the other languages.

Iyar• Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 43

PHOTO COURTESY L.A. JEWISH WOMENS THEATRE

“There’s definitely some overlap,” Yale says of Jewish and Chaldean history and music.

“They are our brothers.

We’re all Semites.”

44 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

PHOTO COURTESY ALEXANDER GOUREVICH

TOP: Lisa Robins in the Los Angeles Jewish Womens Theatre production of “Blessings of a Broken Heart;” BOTTOM: Alexander Gourevich.

“I didn’t invent the term, but when Todd asked what I was planning to do for 2016, I had this idea of a big ensemble playing traditional bluegrass with a Jewish tinge.”

Somalian string quartet, and a jazz quintet with Chaldean motifs.

“There’s definitely some overlap,” Yale says of Jewish and Chaldean history and music. “They are our brothers. We’re all Semites.”

And, adds Elizabeth, “We have Aramaic in some of our prayers. That’s their lingua franca.

They’re from Iraq and the mountains north of Aleppo in Syria. They were also called Assyrians.

The Jews were under their domination thousands of years ago.”

“I weave jazz improvisation and my own melodic compositions with 800 to 1,000 yearold Chaldean melodies,” says Yale. “Some of the tonalities have a very Arabic/Middle Eastern sound, like Jewish music from the Middle East.

“The Chaldeans,” he continues, “are Orthodox Catholics. They converted early in the 1st-2nd century. Paul [the Apostle] traveled north to Syria.

Their ears will be attuned to this music. I’m really working to get at least a minyan of Chaldeans to attend!”

My Yiddish Diva Early this month, Elizabeth takes the stage with two additional vocalists for a romantic rendition of Yiddish favorites. In addition to Elizabeth and her soulful, earthy sound, there’s Debby Davis, a classically trained singer, cantor and humanist minister, and lead singer of the Second Avenue Klezmer Ensemble; and Kathy Robbins, founding cantor of Temple Solel in Cardiff, who adds her political passion to the mix.

Concerning how The Yiddish Divas came about, Elizabeth says, “This is just the kind of thing Todd does. Two years ago, it was his idea to get the three of us together. We’ve been singing together ever since.”

They’ll be singing “songs of love and longing” from around the world, in “the great Romance languages:” French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Romanian, Ladino – and Yiddish! This year, their performance will be at the Oceanside Museum of Art. Elizabeth takes particular delight in these songs, since she speaks fluent French and Romanian, and sings fluently in the other languages.

“I’m very tied to the Jewish community in Romania,” she says, “since my father’s family yichus [pedigree] is Romanian. I didn’t learn the language from him, but we traveled to Romania frequently. And I spent lots of time in France as a girl. French is such a musical language; there’s so much relishing of the lilting quality. Yiddish is not exactly the most delicate flower of languages.”

“But,” Yale chimes in, “it’s so descriptive! The Eskimo-Aleut languages are said to have 72 ways of saying snow. But Yiddish has 172 ways to say schlemiel or schlemazel. There may be five ways to say ‘fool’ in English, but Yiddish has 55 ways!”

At the Yiddish Diva performances, “I sort of emcee,” says Elizabeth. “I introduce my wonderful onstage sisters. Our voices blend, and we’re backed by a fantastic trio, including Fred Benedetti on guitar, Jeff Tekarek on contrabass,

and this fiddler guy” (i.e. Yale), who comprise the original members of Hot Pstromi, which started in 1982.

Back in 1996, Yale recalls, the third year of the Jewish Arts Festival, “Todd had me doing a Klezmer Summit. I said, ‘I have to run off to catch a plane; I’m getting married tonight!’”

So, at the 2016 Klezmer Summit, Yale and Elizabeth will have just celebrated their 20th anniversary.

“It was a 3,000-mile blind date,” Yale reports.

“I was in New York, she was in Hollywood. I didn’t act on the fixup for six months. I knew she was in film production and acting. But then, when I heard her sing Big Band ’40s music, I said, ‘This is an instrument!’ I love the deep, darker tones and timbre of a contralto. I knew that voice would make our band better.”

“Now, most of our work is collaborative,” says Elizabeth, “but we also work separately. I write fiction and a food blog, “Di Grine Cuisine: A Vegetarian Yiddish Eater at Home and Abroad.”

She also writes original song lyrics for traditional klezmer melodies, and is helping Yale with his upcoming documentary.

“We’re lucky to have synchronicity, personally and professionally,” she says.

San Diego is lucky, too. A Details on all performances in this year’s Jewish Arts Festival, which continues until July 17 at venues across San Diego, can be found at sdrep.org.

Iyar• Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 45

PHOTOS COURTESY PHIL JOHNSON

arts

“A Jewish Joke” The multi-faceted performer takes on the Borscht Belt as part of this year’s Jewish Arts Festival

BY PAT LAUNER

I

t’s a bit of Borscht Belt, laced with a little strychnine; a play about a funnyman who’s faced with a not-so-funny crisis of conscience.

Phil Johnson, a beloved local comic, writer and musical theater maven, realized early on that, like generations of Jewish jokesters, his humor helped him through a lot of tough times.

“I just loved the broad Borscht Belt comedians,” he says, “and also the sly, smart ones like Woody Allen. They had a great way of dealing with adversity, and I adopted that. I’d love to be reborn as Jackie Mason!”

Instead of waiting for that wish to come true, Johnson teamed up with Marni Freedman and wrote “A Jewish Joke,” a one-man tour de force he’ll perform as part of the 23rd annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival (June 2021 at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach).

46 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

It all began with the character, who was based on Seth Krosner’s Uncle Bernie (Krosner is Johnson’s husband).

“He was the funniest, driest little guy,” Johnson says. “You asked him how he was and he’d answer, ‘I could be worse. I could be having a heart attack.’”

Cue the rimshot. Ba-da-bing.

The fictional Bernie Lutz is a composite of Johnson’s comic heroes, but he confides that, “Bernie is me.”

Johnson’s character Lutz was named in tribute to Uncle Bernie (who died four years ago), but he’s a very different animal, one Johnson personally relates to.

“He’s a bit of a nebbish, and a reluctant hero.

When I was creating him, I needed something big for him to be up against.”

What he settled on was the Red Scare of the

1950s.

“David Ellenstein [artistic director of North Coast Repertory Theatre, who directs Johnson’s show] was a huge influence in guiding me. So was Marni, who’d been my writing coach for several years. She taught me the importance of the theater dictum, ‘Show; don’t tell.’ Don’t spell it all out. Add more suspense. All that was great in shaping the play.”

In addition, Marni provided a wonderful resource: her former instructor at UCLA was Abe Polonsky, an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter who was blacklisted by the Hollywood movie studios in the 1950s. He died in 1999, but the connection to his experience was enormously helpful for Phil, and served as a springboard for the play’s inner conflict.

In that era, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), anticipating the

He’s a crotchety guy who can be unpleasant, but he has a hilarious sense of humor. Hidden underneath, though, he’s really a softy who cares a lot.”

“investigations” of Senator Joseph McCarthy, chose Hollywood for the start of its Red-baiting onslaught. As many see it, the hearings that took place in the late-’40s to mid-’50s were as much about anti-Semitism as anti-Communism.

As an example, the first segment of the Hollywood blacklist, issued in 1947 and known as the “Hollywood Ten,” included six Jews. That was an important impetus for Johnson in shaping Bernie, in addition to the knowledge that most of Hollywood’s Jews had concealed their history and religion.

Bernie is a writer and collector of jokes, keeping them in a recipe box. He punctuates his narration by pulling a card from the file, diffusing the tension with a zinger.

“At the beginning of the play,” Johnson explains, “he doesn’t really stand for anything.

He doesn’t really think he has principles; he just wants to succeed as a comic writer in Hollywood.

His Jewish sensibility and humor are used pragmatically.

“He’s a crotchety guy who can be unpleasant, but he has a hilarious sense of humor. Hidden underneath, though, he’s really a softy who cares a lot.”

The situation Johnson has created for Bernie is “his awakening to what’s going on around him.

He had tried to pass as a non-Jew, to wiggle his way in this world. He finally has to step up and acknowledge who he is, and take a stand.”

When we meet Bernie, he’s on the verge of

success. Tonight is the big movie premiere that will make him and his partner, Morris, a “name” in Hollywood. That’s all he ever wanted.

But that afternoon, MGM chief Louis B. Mayer calls and asks Bernie to testify against Morris, who was found to be a Communist organizer. Bernie didn’t know anything about it.

He can’t believe Morris would put their work in jeopardy like that.

Will he give Morris up? Will he confront his Jewishness and his morality? Will he turn his friend in for the sake of his comfort and success?

This is the crisis of the play.

“I’d like to think,” says Johnson, “that when the going gets tough, I’d make the best decision I can, for my friends, for the world.”

You’ll have to see “A Jewish Joke” to find out how Bernie deals with his dilemma.

Finding the fun in dysfunctional Meanwhile, back in his childhood, Johnson admits, “comedy began as self-defense, a way of making lemonade,” he says of his Chicago upbringing in an Irish-Catholic family (“I’m an atheist,” he avers).

“My house was Bleak House. A very depressive environment. The stories of someone’s illness were the hits of the evening. That’s actually very Jewish, isn’t it? So is the guilt. I constantly find parallels.

“In that environment, it was hard to keep my own sense together,” Johnson recalls. “I was

always the one who tried to suggest something positive, to keep the darkness at bay. I used humor and sarcasm as a defense mechanism.”

His mother had been “very creative, artistic and liberal. She just didn’t know how to express or channel that. My sister and I were the Grumblers, always making side-jokes. We were very funny together.”

Johnson went on to use his humor and his capacious talent to catapult him to Broadway, where he appeared in “Les Misérables,” and continued with the show on tour. He was in the Canadian production of “Sunset Boulevard” and the first national company of “Miss Saigon.”

But first, he attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, majoring in architecture, with a minor in theater. After graduation, he worked as an architect, but still made time to perform in shows.

In the late 1980s, his mother opened a restaurant/cabaret, where Johnson and his sister performed in “a three-person comedy/musical group, kind of like Manhattan Transfer.”

When the restaurant failed three and a half years later, Johnson started auditioning, and snagged his first Broadway tour.

Around that time, he met Krosner, a nice Jewish doctor (now a trauma surgeon at Scripps Mercy Hospital).

“He was my good-luck charm,” Phil says. “Our relationship was the best thing I had in my life.”

So, he quit the Broadway/road-tour rat-race Iyar• Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 47

and moved to San Diego to do comedy, act and write. Fortunately, Krosner is a huge theater fan.

“He’s like Mama Rose,” Phil quips, citing the ultimate theatre mom in “Gypsy.” “He wants to know everything about acting. He remembers every line in every show. He thinks the work we do is as important as the work he does!”

While Johnson maintains an active performing life (in musicals and stand-up comedy, regularly hosting “Casa del Haha,” his sketch show, and writing plays like “Withering Heights”), Krosner puts his energy into the Jewish community.

He’s President of the Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family JCC and he serves on the boards of many Jewish and performing arts organizations.

Their sprawling Uptown home (which Johnson re-designed) is frequently used “to give back to the community,” made available for political, theatrical and Jewish fundraising events. They also spend a good deal of time helping to raise 7 year-old Truman, who has four parents (Krosner is his biological father; Truman

lives nearby with his two moms). The kid, says Johnson, is pretty funny.

“I know you want me to be happy,” Johnson reports that Truman said, in a Woody Allen deadpan. “But it’s just not my style.”

“He’s a wonderful addition to our lives,” Johnson says.

They walk Truman to school every day, and Krosner also brings him to Torah School at Tifereth Israel (where Seth served as president for three years). Johnson may not have the liturgical background, but he knows all the holiday songs, he participates in weekly Shabbat dinners, he does Purim shpils, performs at the shul, and has helped Krosner keep kosher for 25 years (they even have a separate dishwasher for Passover).

Moving on, personally and artistically “What’s important to me at this stage of my life,” Johnson says, “is to play people I care about, and to reach out with characters and work that’s important.

“I always remember something David Ellenstein told me, about liking to put on plays that the audience can take home with them.

“I’ve always been drawn to underdogs, to stories about people who make you wonder, Do they deserve a second chance?

“In this play, I want the audience to see the gift, the spirit, that someone like Bernie possesses. He has comedy in his veins. He uses what he has, to deal with a serious situation.”

The play is already getting bookings elsewhere around the country. Johnson is sure it can resonate beyond Jews, through its history and art.

“My goal,” he says, “is to put characters who mean something to me out into the world to affect other people.”

And that’s no joke. A “A Jewish Joke,” part of the 23rd annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival (5/27-7/17), runs at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach, June 20-21. Performances are Monday and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20-$25, info at northcoastrep.org.

North Coast Repertory Theatre Upcoming “THE COCKTAIL HOUR” Sept. 7, 2016-Oct. 2, 2016 Famliy reunion on the rocks

“LAUGHTER”

Oct. 19, 2016-Nov. 13, 2016 Noted as one of Neil Simon’s best

“Marjorie Prime”

Jan. 11, 2017-Feb. 5, 2017 Thought-provoking play about memory and robots

“The Illusion”

Feb. 22, 2017-March 19, 2017 Laugh and cry with the legend Tony Kushner

35 SSeeaassoonn

th

“TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT” April 12, 2017-May 7, 2017 Engaging tale of life’s journeys

“THE SPITFIRE GRILL”

May 31, 2017-June 25, 2017 All-American music with an abundance of warmth and goodwill

“AT THIS EVENING’S PERFORMANCE” July 12, 2017-Aug. 6, 2017 Boho comedy

Audiences can also finish out the current season with the North Coast Rep by snagging tickets to the special benefit reading of “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” starring Marion Ross and Mariette Hartley on June 6. Or, see “Hedda Gabler,” directed by NCR’s David Ellenstein, through June 26.

48 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

Iyar• Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 49

arts

Peace

When You Need It The Old Globe welcomes “Camp David” and author Lawrence Wright

BY NATALIE JACOBS

I

t’s unusual that a play precedes a book, but that’s what happened for writer Lawrence Wright with his account of the 1978 Camp David Accords. Wright was commissioned by President Jimmy Carter to write a play about the historic peace treaty that Carter negotiated between Israel’s Menachem Begin and Egypt’s Anwar Sadat. He later wrote a book about it as well, to “explore the breadth of the characters.”

Lawrence Wright is a longtime writer for The New Yorker, and the author of nine books, three theatrical productions and two screenplays. The journalist’s strict reporting ethic remains the thread that ties all of his genres together. When President Carter’s communications director Gerald Rafshoon called Wright and asked if he would accept the commission, Wright “had to explain that [he] would go at it like a New Yorker story” as in, he’d research it.

“I had to say this is not the story of one man, it’s the story of three men,” Wright told Barry Edelstein during one of The Old Globe’s “In Conversation” events in April. Edelstein, The Globe’s artistic director, spent two years getting “Camp David” to the Balboa Park institution. It plays through June 19.

“I really love it,” Edelstein said of the play.

“The idea that peace can be achieved. And the absolute stunning brilliance of Wright.”

The play received its world premiere in front of the Carters and relatives of Begin and Sadat at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. in 2013, 35 years after the historic Arab-Israeli treaty was made. The book came out in 2014. Other than Wright’s work, there is very little written about the 13 days that were spent negotiating the peace 50 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

deal at the presidential country retreat located northwest of the Capitol.

“I think the American people were so done with [Carter],” Wright said from a seat positioned at the front of the Globe’s Main Stage, with the set of Edelstein’s debut musical “Rain” towering behind him.

Each of the characters is deeply religious, and seen praying in their own way throughout the play. Wright uses these imagined moments to “try to find out what happened” for the men, internally, to prompt them to make such unprecedented agreements.

That’s partly why Carter commissioned the play, to tell the one success story of his presidency.

To this day, Wright noted, there has been no violation of the treaty signed at Camp David between Israel and Egypt.

Although they commissioned the play, the

Carters did not read the script before opening night. Wright says Carter was “streaming tears” after seeing it for the first time.

“The play pulls off a coup,” Edelstein said to Wright, “because we know what’s going to happen in the end – they are going to sign the treaty. But throughout the play, you think it’s not going to happen.”

Most of Wright’s writing, if not entirely nonfiction, is based on true events.

“I feel more comfortable writing about people who actually existed,” he told Edelstein and the audience.

He described a tactic called horizontal reporting, whereby he sets out to “populate the universe of the story” by interviewing people at all levels of relevance to his main topic. For “Camp David,” Wright said that process started with a trip to the Carter ranch, a modest, homespun place in Georgia. He and Carter started talking about one of Wright’s pieces in The New Yorker. “‘Since when did you start reading The New Yorker?’,” Wright remembered Rosalynn Carter asking Jimmy, obviously skeptical and with a fair bit of sass.

“I found my fourth character,” Wright said with a laugh. “I needed somebody who could talk to Jimmy like that.”

Each of the characters is deeply religious, and seen praying in their own way throughout the play. Wright uses these imagined moments to “try to find out what happened” for the men, internally, to prompt them to make such unprecedented agreements.

As Wright points out, the three made quite a motley crew tucked away together in the

mountains. Anwar Sadat was seen as a “noble idealist,” while also being a noted admirer of Hitler who, in his youth, joined what was called the “Murder Society,” an extremely violent wing of the Egyptian army at a time when Britain was taking over the country.

“Menachem Begin was a terrorist,” Wright said. “He was head of the Irgun, dedicated to expelling the British from Mandate Palestine. He was fighting the Brits who were fighting the Nazis.”

Begin later turned his attention to expelling “750,000 Palestinians” from the newly established Israeli lands, Wright said.

“It was seen as freedom fighting in Israel,” Edelstein added.

And then there was Jimmy Carter, “a failing President,” as Wright characterized him.

During their conversation, Edelstein asked Wright if the Camp David experiment was successful just because of divine timing.

“It was after the ’67 war, after the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Egypt was broke, Israel was besieged,” he said. “Did Carter see opportunity?”

“No,” Wright said. “He really thought G-d had told him to do it.”

The lesson of Camp David, for Wright, is that “peace is always there.” A “Camp David” runs at The Old Globe through June 19. Details and ticket information for “Camp David” are at theoldglobe.org.

More News from The Old Globe

BY EILEEN SONDAK AND NATALIE JACOBS

T

he Globe also continues with “Tokyo Fish Story” in the White Theatre through June 26. Staged at a sushi restaurant in Tokyo which is losing its prestige to the newer and flashier places on the horizon. The play is described as “a gorgeous meditation on work, legacy, and the art of perfection.”

By mid-month, The Globe will launch its 2016 Shakespeare Festival on June 19 with the Bard’s tragic masterpiece, “Macbeth.” The play – directed by Brian Kulick – will reside on the Globe’s alfresco stage through July 24. “Macbeth” is a chilling tragedy, set in motion by an evil prophecy that fuels blind ambition. The play has all the elements that make Shakespeare’s work so unforgettable, including brilliant poetry and some of the most vivid characters in literature.

Outside of Balboa Park, the Globe is hosting a variety of events in conjunction with Shakespeare’s First Folio, which is on display at the Central Public Library downtown. On June 5, Barry Edelstein will be in conversation with Shakespeare scholar James Shapiro. Panel discussions, film screenings and Thinking Shakespeare Live! events will continue through July 7.

The Old Globe has also announced its new 2016-2017 season. Steve Martin will return to the Globe with his show “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” and a new Globe commission of “The Imaginary Invalid,” plus lost more.

Details on all things Old Globe are at theoldglobe.org. A Iyar• Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 51

arts THEATER ROUNDUP

BY EILEEN SONDAK AND NATALIE JACOBS

Cygnet Theatre

J* Company

Cygnet’s production of Aaron Posner’s “Stupid F**king Bird” (an R rated “sort of ” adaptation of Chekov’s “The Seagull”) will stay on at the Old Town Theatre through June 19. The hilarious contemporary comedy – by the playwright who wrote “The Chosen” – is obviously aimed at mature audiences. If you missed Pat Launer’s feature interview with Posner in the May issue, it’s always up online at sdjewishjournal.com.

The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center’s youth theatre J* Company has wrapped its season for the summer but in its place is the R.A.W. Series. Something of a summer camp, this program invites young thespians to get a glimpse of the true fast-pace of professional musical theatre. Participants spend four days rehearshing, for four hours each day. Then on the fifth day, they take the stage, books in hand, to present their work. R.A.W. actors will present a reading of “Titanic” on June 23, “Urinetown” on July 28, and “Hair” on July 31.

San Diego Musical Theatre San Diego Musical Theatre will continue its 10th anniversary season with “42nd Street.” The Tony Award-winning song and dance extravaganza is the quintessential Broadway tale about a chorus girl getting her big break. The musical will be ensconced at the Spreckels Theater through June 12.

Lamb’s Players Theatre The Lamb’s is celebrating 100 years of great music with “American Rhythm.” The musical journey, conceived by Robert Smyth, will take over the Lamb’s Coronado home June 10 through Aug. 7, and will feature singers, dancers, and a live band. Ensconced in the Lamb’s other venue at the downtown Horton Grand, is Intrepid Theater Company’s production of “American Song.” The musical will stay on through June 19.

Vantage Theatre Mark your calendars for the next Vantage Theatre production. It’s not until December, but your do calendars go out that far. It will be a remounting of “Cadenza: Mozart’s Last Year.” The Queen of the Night, Sarastro and Einstein will battle once again for Mozart’s soul on a trip into the 11th dimension of modern physics. This time, Vantage is pairing Salerno’s one act production with a performance of Mozart’s “Requiem” in La Jolla, Dec. 3-4 to honor the 225th anniversary of Mozart’s death.

New Village Arts This intimate North County theater will re-stage “Golda’s Balcony” with Todd Salovey in the director’s chair. As part of the Jewish Arts Festival, New Village Arts presents this one-woman production, written by William Gibson, June 5-26.

52 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

“The Boy Who Danced on Air” runs at Diversionary until June 12.

Diversionary Theatre The University Heights theater Diversionary is running through its production of “The Boy Who Danced on Air” until June 12. This brave new musical explores a persistent Afgan tradition in which wealthy men purchase boys from poor families, train them as dancers and parade them at parties. The play follows two of these young boys who meet by chance and develop strong feelings for one another, which propels them into a bold new life.

Broadway San Diego Finishing up on Broadway San Diego’s Civic Center stage is “Newsies” the Disney musical direct from Broadway. Broadway San Diego takes a break during June and July and then shifts from family friendly to mature themes with “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” for a short run Aug. 2-7. This Tony Award-winning true story charts King’s rise to stardom, her hit songwriting partnership with husband Gerry Goffin, and how she wrote the soundtrack to a generation. “Cabaret” finishes out the month with its short run Aug. 23-28, also for mature audiences.

Another Listing by Lisa

Scripps Ranch Theatre Is all really fair in love? What about murder? That’s the question posed by Scripps Ranch Theatre’s light and funny suspense comedy “Murder at the Howard Johnson’s.” It’s a love triangle that takes place in the hotel where it’s not quite clear who actually wants to kill whom. In the first scene, the wife and her lover plot to murder the husband. In the second scene, the wife and her husband plot to murder the lover. The third scene has the husband and the lover plotting to murder the wife. Do any of these plans come to fruition?

(858)243-3317

Lisa@LisaOrlansky.com www.LisaOrlansky.com

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Katy Brady’s “The Test” premieres at this year’s Fringe Festival.

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND’S 2016 NATIONAL CONFERENCE COMES TO NYC THIS SEPTEMBER San Diego Fringe Festival Spanning all genres of performance, with a focus on the weird, wacky and wild, the San Diego Fringe Festival returns to local stages June 23 through July 3. Any performance group can apply to have a show presented in the Fringe festival, and proceeds of ticket sales go back to the producer company. There will be puppet shows, an international dance festival within the festival, aerialists, burlesque, and traditional one-, two- and three-act plays presented on stages around the County and in Tijuana. At press time, the full schedule had yet to be announced, but the San Diego International Fringe Festival Facebook page proved to be the best source of detailed info.

Moxie The Moxie community theater in Rolando is off this month, but in July they’ll bring “Ruthless! The Musical” to their stage July 10-Aug. 7.

This musical, in keeping with Moxie’s mission to tell unconventional stories about women, pokes fun at female stereotypes through homage to the “greats of the stage and film” like “The Bad Seed,” “Gypsy,” “All About Eve,” and “Valley of the Dolls.”

Circle Circle Dot Dot This experimental and often site-specific theater will open “The Best Goodbye” on July 22 at the Park Blvd. BlackBox Space, running through Aug. 6. Following young adults caught up in the early 90s world of rap and hip-hop, the characters break into the home of a recently deceased recording artist and try to navigate their tumultuous and violence-filled worlds. There’s a ghost, a gangster, and plenty of beat boxing.

Participants from across the U.S. and Israel will congregate at Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) 2016 National Conference in New York City from September 16-19 at the New York Hilton Midtown to explore and expand the relationship of the American Jewish community with Israel.

JNF’s National Conference attracts more than 1,000 participants from across the U.S. Scheduled speakers for this year’s conference include: Ronald S. Lauder, JNF Chairman of the Board; Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz; Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon; Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; Knesset Member and Zionist Union Chair Merav Michaeli; New York Times columnist Bruce Feiler; Wall Street Journal Deputy Editorial Page Editor Bret Stephens, and many others.

Driven by a deep sense of purpose and responsibility, JNF is in the midst of its unprecedented One Billion Dollar Roadmap campaign. The campaign—which takes JNF forward through Israel’s 75th jubilee—matches an ambitious financial target with a comprehensive strategic vision, enabling JNF to connect American Jews to the people of Israel as never before and implement unique projects to strengthen Israel for the long-term.

For more information about JNF’s National Conference, please contact Amy Hart at 858.824.9178 ext. 988 or ahart@jnf.org or visit jnf.org/nc.

Iyar• Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 53

PHOTOS COURTESY LJMS

arts

Close Connections, 30 Years On La Jolla Music Society marks a big milestone with this season’s SummerFest

BY BRIE STIMSON

T

his year marks the 30th season for the La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest. Although they’re not planning to roll out a cake, SummerFest’s music director Cho-Liang Lin or “Jimmy” jokes, they are planning to expand programming this year, in honor of their three decades.

Lin, who is originally from Taiwan, was living in New York when he was approached by La Jolla Music Society to become Music Director of the sprawling festival. He had been a guest at SummerFest several times throughout the 1980s and 90s, but officially took the reigns in the year 2000.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 16 years,” he muses. “Wow.” Lin now lives in Houston. He says he loves it there, but is always happy to be in La Jolla during the summer.

“It gets a little hot and muggy there,” he laughs about Texas.

“We did a great celebration 10 years ago with a lot of alumni coming back, and this year we decided, no, we’re not going to do that because alumni are very important so they come back anyway,” even on nonanniversary years, Lin says. “We have some really, really outstanding programs featuring musicians like Mischa Maisky’s San Diego debut and also the San Diego debut of the conductor James Conlon.”

Conductor Heiichiro Ohyama, who was the principal violist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at that time, started the festival in the mid 1980s.

The San Jose Chamber Music Festival had come to La Jolla for a few summers, but stopped due to funding problems. Realizing they wanted chamber music locally, residents pulled their resources together, and, along with Ohyama, created SummerFest.

“To know that 30 years have come and gone … it’s really exciting to think that we actually have a track record,” Lin says. “The festival has … grown in stature and actually is an active participant commissioning new

54 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

works … So we are always mindful music history must continue, must not stop and SummerFest has to be a very active part of that.

“I think the ideals are the same,” Lin continues, thinking of the guest artist spots he filled in the first couple years of the festival.

Even though the festival has grown tremendeously since those early years, many of the things that defined it then have remained traditions through the years.

“Back then we always rehearsed in people’s homes,” Lin says. “Musicians stay with San Diego area residents and many musicians have become lifelong, dear friends of residents here in San Diego … The [festival] goes way beyond ‘play the concert and leave’ … Visiting artists will come and do a few days of staying in San Diego, play a concert, and then take off.”

Visiting musicians are often thought of as “extended family,” and Lin believes the practice of rehearsing and staying in residents’ homes make the festival more intimate and creative than other concert series.

“And because of the community feeling we’ve created a lot of activities that … involve the audience more than just playing a concert.”

The festival has workshops and invites young musicians to play with the professionals, and at the beginning of each summer they hold a free outdoor concert for which the San Diego Youth Symphony is invited to play.

Lin and La Jolla Music Society also hold open rehearsals where the audience is invited to meet the artists and composers, along with free concert talks and lectures that explain the thinking behind the musical programs. Musicians are also often interviewed on stage about their life and career.

“I think communal support is absolutely essential,” Lin says. “San Diego, I think, has a gem in SummerFest because it is very, very inclusive.

And we often invite San Diego area musicians, whether they’re members

PHOTOS COURTESY LJMS

LEFT TO RIGHT: Cho-Liang Lin, SummerFest Music Director; Violinist Gil Shaham, performing in finale, Aug 26; Heiichiro Ohyama; Cellist Mischa Maisky performing Aug. 19 and 20; Time For Three performing Aug. 3.

ROSINA REYNOLDS IN

of the San Diego Symphony, they’re faculty at MCASD … so I think without the local community’s support the festival wouldn’t exist.”

SummerFest is constantly bringing back their “extended family” of musicians, but they always bring musicians who are new to the festival to keep it fresh and different, too.

“It’s really nice to see musicians grow within our festival, but it’s also really important that we bring established stars,” he says.

Cellist Mischa Maisky, world renowned violinist Pinchas Zuckerman and his chamber ensemble the Zuckerman Trio, clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, violinst Gil Shaham, the Esher Quartet and the Danish String Quartet are among the highlights the festival has to offer this season.

“The idea is to bring great chamber works, great composers’ works to a smaller place like the Sherwood Auditorium and bring the best musicians around … and do so for the music lovers of the San Diego area,” Lin explains.

“It’s where the audience can come and meet the musicians. If you go to the Disney Concert Hall or Copley Symphony Hall, yes, you can watch the musicians play and you watch them play beautifully, but they are kind of far away,” he adds. “At SummerFest these same musicians can come, and will come, and you’re really up close and personal … We mingle, we talk, and there’s a very casual, friendly air about this whole place, and I think it’s the kind of atmosphere that we all try to keep every summer.” A La Jolla Music Society SummerFest runs Aug. 3-26 at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Sherwood Auditorium. Tickets range from $45 to $75 for single performances, and are available at ljms.org or by calling (858) 459-3728.

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his season’s Bayside Summer Nights will venture into new musical territory, but promises not to stray too far from what San Diego has come to expect from the concert series.

“It really is such a tradition for many San Diegans and we actually know that our audiences come from quite a wide distance to come and hear it,” Martha Gilmer, CEO of the San Diego Symphony says. “We are kind of expanding programming, trying a few new things this year. We really wanted to emphasize we are by the Bay and this kind of a romantic notion of summer nights where you sit and have a wonderful experience and listen to music is really the experience that people are looking forward to.”

The Symphony is trying out a new Thursday night jazz series for the first time this year, as well as the Sunday Subscription series, which has packaged an eclectic array of musical evenings into a five-concert series. In addition to the Star Spangled Pops, the new sunset series offers a Midsummer Night’s Concert and Viva Mariachi.

“We have this year Bernadette Peters, Trace Adkins, Amy Grant, Seth MacFarlane – all of those are new to us at the Bayside Summer Nights … We have several special concerts, including Diana Ross and Chris Botti.

“We have a first-class artistic team here that is constantly thinking about and looking and listening to artists that work with orchestras, or in some cases that don’t perform with orchestras, like I said with Diana Ross, but we’re proactive in inviting artists to our stage as opposed to just being responsive about somebody being on tour and could play the stage.”

Hooray for Hollywood, back by popular demand, shows film clips with the orchestral score played underneath by the Symphony.

“That is exclusive to San Diego, that particular

show,” Gilmer adds.

“It’s an out of door experience,” she says. “I think a lot of people love being [out] on a summer night, listening to music, looking at the city at the end of the Bay. It’s a beautiful setting.”

This year the Symphony will also have a new wine bar and food offerings at the concerts.

“One I’m particularly excited about is Cecile McLorin Salvant. She is a phenomenal artist,” Gilmer tells the Jewish Journal. “She’s worked as a soloist. She’s really emerging in a very steep incline … She has an incredible voice, was classically trained and she’s discovered jazz and she’s an exquisite performer. I cannot wait for August 18.”

The Symphony is also presenting full-length films with live orchestral accompaniment in place of the score, including “Raiders of the Lost Ark” on August 19. “Dreamworks Animation in Concert” will include excerpts of movies such as “Shrek” and “Kung Fu Panda.”

“I think it’s been a great experience for audiences of all ages, but certainly for young people to realize that there’s a full orchestra playing that score for “Harry Potter” films for instance, which we’re going to be doing starting next season … suddenly you say ‘oh, that isn’t just a synthesizer playing that music. It’s live music with real musicians playing it.”

For the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the Symphony will present a Midsummer Night’s Concert on Aug. 7 filled with music inspired by the Bard as well as readings of his work.

Broadway night, which includes a sing along this season, is always popular with concertgoers.

“In all of the artists that we present we really look for artists that value an orchestral score performed at such a high level,” Gilmer adds.

The series opens with Star Spangled Pops at the beginning of July. A

TOP TO BOTTOM: Trace Adkins; Bernadette Peters; Cecile Mclorin Salvant; Chris Botti; Diana Ross; Seth MacFarlane.

56 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

TIMSON

BY BRIE S

PHOTOS COURTESY SDS

T

NO R E M M BU R E M SUM

phony m y S o g San Die amp v e r o t s e continu r Nights e m m u S classic ries concert se

PHOTO BY AARON TRUAX

arts

BY NATALIE JACOBS

W

hen I first met Ariel Levine, he was just getting started on a crowdfunding campaign to raise $25,000 to record and release a solo album, titled “Let the Machine Get It.” That was a year ago and the album still isn’t finished.

“To put it bluntly,” Levine, forever a New Yorker, says, “I was able to raise a really comfortable amount of money for it. I was able to get a lot of work done, and then I ran out.”

His campaign on Indiegogo raised $5,221 from 125 supporters. Unlike the Kickstarter platform, which only releases the money if the campaign reaches its goal, Indiegogo allowed Levine to collect the $5,221 and put it toward the album production. When the money ran out, he got a day job.

“After I did the fundraising thing and I went all in on the production and the album, I lost a lot of residual work around me because I was focused on that. So I kinda got stuck and needed to find something. I started working part time at a place called Salvage Custom out in El Cajon.”

There he built custom pedal boards – think of them as vintage-inspired suitcases for a musician’s gear. Now he’s moved into sales and account management for the local company, but don’t call it selling out.

“It’s still kind of in the music business,” he says. “I get to talk to guitar players all day, and I get to play guitar at my job. We get to test out equipment, make sure everything works, sounds right. So I get to play.”

58 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

Living in San Diego and working in the music industry in any capacity is a bit of a coup.

There are a few record labels, a standard set of booking agents, a couple independent recording studios, Taylor Guitars and smaller shops like Salvage Custom. But local bands who are intent on “making it” often tune up their acts here and then leave for L.A.’s larger industry pastures at the first opportunity. San Diego is lucky if it gets a mention in their bio. Others continue to live what Levine calls a “double life,” trying to balance a standard 9-to-5 with what are considered more creative endeavors. After four years on the grind here, Levine considers it a fair trade off. “[When] things slowed down here, I was trying to figure out if maybe I should take the leap and move to L.A. where there’s probably more work,” he recalls from the past year. “But the trade off is that I’m going to be competing with a lot more people and it’s going to take a lot longer to get my reputation to a point where I will be steadily working in a place like L.A.” He says the music community here is tightknit, and the quality of life is better than his hometown of New York City. And maybe the gigs don’t pay as well, or happen often enough, but Levine is currently in five bands, not including the one under his own name, so he manages to keep the music alive.

This month, he’ll begin performing with his live band, which is just going by the name Ariel Levine Band at the moment. June 22 will mark their first performance together, and San

Diego’s first chance to check out tracks from the unreleased album “Let the Machine Get It.” Levine is looking at October for the official release, but he wants to start playing with the live band sooner rather than later.

“I want to have some shows under our belt before we present a big deal album release show. I want to work out the kinks, basically.”

So he chose 11 p.m. on a Wednesday night to make his debut. It’s at The Office in North Park, an intimate stage that Levine is very familiar with from countless performances in their “Under Cover” monthly tribute series.

Levine is lead guitar and vocals, with a raspy voice and deliberately plucked riffs. Rounding out the live band is Jesse Johnson, a local pop R&B songwriter, also on guitar; Josh Weinstein, a professor at UC San Diego, on keyboard; Tim McNally, “a busy session guy,” on bass; and Eric Brosgold on drums, “the best drummer I’ve ever played with,” Levine says.

Local musicians know that show opportunities constantly ebb and flow, but this month happens to be a busy one for Levine. Before the big prealbum release show, on June 6 Levine will also take to The Office stage with his tribute to the late Prince. On June 19, at the classic City Heights rock spot Tower Bar, he’ll perform with his instrumental surf rock group Dinosaur Ghost. All shows and album information can be found at ariellevine.com. A

Iyar• Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 59

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jnf.org • 800.JNF.0099 60 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

M o d e r n Marvels in Music

BY BRIE STIMSON

T

he first of a six-year examination of Mozart, for whom the local company Mainly Mozart is named, will feature several extraordinary young music prodigies during this month’s festival.

Also on display will be a comic opera, “Bastien and Bastienne,” written

by Mozart in his 12th year, and the Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra.

“We have not only three young people performing, we’re opening with the pianist Umi Garrett … there’s Gavin George … and then on the closing Friday, June 17, we have a prodigy named Ethan Bortnick [pictured above] who’s doing a popular program … It’s … interesting to see what a prodigy looks like today, in the 21st century,” Mainly Mozart Executive Director Nancy Laturno Bojanic says.

Laturno Bojanic explains this “prodigy year” requires the festival to explore and try new things they have never done before.

“If we’re really authentically looking at Mozart, at who he was, how can we possibly ignore the fact that this 12-year-old Mozart wrote an opera that stands the test of time?”

“Bastien and Bastinenne” is a 45-minute, one-act opera. Written in 1768, the comic opera is a satire of the “pastoral” genre popular at the time.

The comedy follows Bastienne, a shepherdess, and her lover Bastien, who, each falsely believing the other is no longer in love, request magical powers from the village soothsayer to win the other back.

“In this year of prodigy, performing a work that needed young singers, but also that was written by a child, all of the singers are from Julliard, and that’s how we’re opening with this opera,” Laturno Bojanic says.

“But if you’re really going to talk about Mozart as prodigy, then you can’t ignore that fact that he was creating these masterworks,” she adds. “So we’re taking these three weeks almost to tell Mozart’s story by the works we play, by the people we feature, by the program that we produce.”

On the same night as the 12-year-old Mozart’s opera, 15-year-old pianist Umi Garrett performs. World renowned since before she was 10, the musical prodigy has performed in Europe, China as well as Carnegie Hall and with the Boston Pops.

The festival will maintain the intimate feel that makes patrons able to connect easily with the musicians.

There are several free offerings through the course of the festival, including “San Diego Makes Music,” a free concert at Balboa Park’s Organ Pavillion at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 12.

Patrons may also attend open rehearsals on concert days for free. The rehearsals are at 10:30 in the morning on concert days at the Balboa Theatre and at 7 p.m. on Friday June 10.

“Mozart actually was composing for music performed in chambers … a lot of what he was writing for and performing to was in people’s homes and small settings. And Mainly Mozart has focused always on intimate experiences for the audience … We like to have a very deep relationship with our patrons.” A

PHOTO COURTESY MAINLY MOZART

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he San Diego Opera is already looking ahead to the fall for its next season. First, a special recital is scheduled with Piotr Beczala on Sept. 17. Then the season officially kicks off Oct. 22 with Rossini’s take on the Cinderella fairytale at the Civic Theatre. Titled “La Cenerentola,” [pictured below] the San Diego production from Leipzig Opera will star Lauren McNeese as Angelina (or Cinderella), David Portillo as Don Ramiro and Ashraf Sewailam as Alidoro. This show has four performances, Oct. 22, 25, 28 and 30.

For three performances in November, SDO will present the West Coast Premiere of the multimedia opera “Soldier Songs” by composer David T. Little and starring David Adam Moore. This one is conducted by local favorite percussionist Steven Schick and directed by Tomer Zvulun and is billed as a “detour” from traditional grand opera.

In February, the Opera takes on Shakespeare with Verdi’s musical exploration of the character Falstaff, starring Roberto de Candia as the title character, Marianne Cornetti as Dame Quickly and Ellie Dehn as Alice Ford.

This one runs for four performances Feb. 18, 21, 24, and 2, 2017.

Continuing into 2017, Peter Brook’s “La Tragedie de Carmen” will be staged with Peabody Southwell as the title character, directed by James Darrah for three performances.

Also under the “detour” header for this season is a special presentation of “The Tragedy of Carmen,” taking over the Balboa Theatre March 10-12.

Returning to Verdi to finish off the season, SDO will present “La Traviata” [pictured above] starring Corrine Winters as Violetta, Joshua Guerrero as Alfredo and Stephen Powell as Germont. This production from the Los Angeles Opera will reside at the Civic Theatre for four performances in April, 2017. A

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arts

Just Jewy Enough Eight questions with comic Joel Chasnoff

BY NATALIE JACOBS

Joel Chasnoff has been performing stand-up comedy for years. His act tends to focus on the funny parts of being Jewish – from day school to Israel – and while he’s a popular performer at summer camps and Jewish events, he’s careful not to be typecast as a Jewish comic. He’ll be bringing his show to San Diego for the Federation’s Showcase NextGen gala event on June 18, so I asked him a few questions for audiences to prepare.

San Diego Jewish Journal: How long have you been a stand-up comic?

Joel Chasnoff: Full time as my only job I guess it’s been since 2002, so 14 years. But, you know, before that, there was open mics and the doing this and the other jobs.

SDJJ: How did you know when to go for it full time?

JC: I think it was just economics, when there were enough shows happening with enough money coming in that I didn’t have to substitute teach and temp and all the other things I did, then I could slowly transition to just doing the shows and marketing the shows as opposed to having to look for other work.

Part of it was financial and part of it was knowing that the acts felt good as well. I felt comfortable on stage and had gotten over any jitters I felt in the beginning. That was important too.

SDJJ: Have you always incorporated Jewish jokes into your routine?

JC: It was never conscious. I think I always have but it wasn’t an intention, it was more that I’ve always tried to write whatever I’m thinking about and whatever I care about. So a lot of those jokes 62 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

were Jewish jokes as someone who grew up going to Jewish day schools and Jewish summer camps, pretty much in a Jewish world, it was natural that a lot of my stuff is going to reflect that.

SDJJ: Why did you join the Israel Defense Forces, way back when?

JC: I think it really was growing up all those years in Jewish day school and Jewish summer camp and having Israel be such a central part of the education. We had Israeli exchange students living with us. I always got the sense that if we keep calling it our homeland, and every Israeli is obligated to go, then I should go too. I wanted to have that experience, to see Israel from the inside. I also thought that they were really cool.

When you’re 17 visiting Israel, these soldiers who are a year older than you and they are entrusted with keeping the country safe and they have responsibilities and guns, that’s a very cool thing to someone who grows up in suburban Chicago and I think the sheltered Jewish life that a lot of us had, so I think I was impacted by that as well.

SDJJ: What did you find to be funny about the IDF? JC: One big thing is the fish-out-of-water element – being a 24-year-old college graduate in

a platoon of 18-year-old Israelis, I was older than them by six years, I was older than my officers by three or four years. Was it funny then? Often it was annoying, it was tragic. But in retrospect it could be funny. In terms of what was funny in the moment – it was just the goofing around. In Israel, the army is so much a part of life, so many people go, that it has an element of summer camp about it, at least in basic training. ... So it was fun to be in that band of brothers. It brought out a goofiness in me that reminds me of how I was with my brothers growing up where we could just mess around and joke and nothing was out of bounds in terms of what we could make fun of.

Later on, it was darker humor. I was in Lebanon and there were combat situations, there was still humor but it was very dark, it was trying to cope and make light of very dark situations. I think Israelis are very good at that because they do live in a country that faces that a lot.

SDJJ: Had you been interested in comedy before that?

JC: From a young age I loved comedy. I would try to sneak “Saturday Night Live” when I was a kid. I wasn’t really allowed to stay up that late but I think I managed every once in a while. I would get recordings of comedians – Steve Martin and Robin Williams, those are the first two I listened to and enjoyed.

SDJJ: Which Jewish traditions have you found to be most ripe for comedy?

SDJJ: What will you be focusing on at the San Diego Showcase event?

JC: I think ritual for me is a place I can always go to for jokes. The things we do as part of our holiday, as part of our Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs, those are rituals we have. When you really parse those rituals, pick them apart and analyze them, they’re very meaningful but they’re also very ridiculous so if I need some humor I will often turn there first.

I guess the second place would just be family relationships. I think Jewish families have an interesting dynamic. Even though we’re becoming more assimilated in America I still think we have a unique way of interacting and behaving in our families, so the Jewish family is also a good place to turn to.

JC: I think when I get there I’ll feel out the crowd a little bit, show up early, get a feel for who they are and what they need to hear. But given what I know, it’s spun towards a younger generation, which I think is a good thing. I’ll try to pinpoint the experiences in my own life that would connect with their own from Israel, Hebrew School, Day School, family interactions, that would be more the arena I’d shoot for.

One of the great things about comedy is that every show is fresh. You can go in with all your tools but until you see what you have in front of you, you don’t really know which tools you’re going to be able to use and what you’re going to be able to rely on, which you’re going to have to pull out of your bag. So I’ll go in with the usual set of ideas but it’s all about being flexible.

I consider comedy a dialogue with the audience.

It’s not just me talking to them, there’s a backand-forth. Not necessarily with words, but laughter, or G-d forbid, lack of laughter. That’s dialogue, so there’s a communication going back and forth and as a comic you tune into that. A

SDJJ: How does your mother feel about you being a comic?

JC: I must say she was always pretty supportive of it. Obviously, there were those concerns of how are you going to earn a living, are you sure this is going to be stable? I don’t know if that’s necessarily a Jewish parent’s concern or just most middle class parents would act that way. But now that I’m supporting a family, it’s fine. Earlier on there was definitely a little bit of hesitation because I think any parent wants to know that their child is going to be stable and safe and they’re not going to have to have them live at home forever.

swing TAKE A

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Details on Showcase can be found at jewishinsandiego.org. More info about Joel Chasnoff is at joelchasnoff.com.

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Iyar• Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 63

arts Museum Circuit

New Children’s Museum

The New Children’s Museum embarked on its “mass creativity” program in May when it began hosting workshops at six different organizations around San Diego county. This month, on June 25, the community is invited to the fianale event at the museum for a free all-day art-making event both inside the museum and at the park across the street from the downtown location. Also that day, the Museum’s newest installation “The Wonder Sound” will open for the public to explore a “labyrinth of rooms, tunnels, and continuous exploration.” Find all the details at thinkplaycreate.org.

SDSU Downtown Gallery

The SDSU Downtown Gallery presents “Party Lines: The History, Art and Politics of Editorial Cartoons,” June 23-Sept. 4, exploring the political rhetoric and artistic endeavors of the cartoon satire genre. The exhibition displays work from Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonists Patrick Oliphant, Herb Block, Jeff MacNelly, Steve Breen, Clay Bennett, and Matt Wuerker as well as Chicano artist and SDSU alumnus Lalo Alcaraz, among others.

Additionally, “Party Lines,” elaborates on the history of editorial cartoons from the 19th century and the role of cartoons during the women’s suffrage movement of the early 20th century.

Museum of Photographic Arts

The MOPA is honoring the 100th anniversary of America’s National Parks with a special micro exhibit called “America’s Cathedrals: Photography and the National Parks” running through Dec. 31. The museum dug into its own permanent collection for this reverent show, which features work by Ansel Adams, William Henry Jackson, Carleton Watkins and more. New this month is “Defying Darkness: Photography at Night” which begins June 4 and runs through Oct. 2. Also on display until October is “Beauty and the Beast: The Animal in Photography” which is produced in celebration of the San Diego Zoo’s 100th birthday.

California Center for the Arts, Escondido

In advance of next month’s ComicCon, CalCenter continues with its summer exhibition “My Hero: Contemporary Art & Superhero Action.”

The exhibition asks artists to consider traditional heroes’ G-d-like stature and reimagine the icons. Also in the fantastical art category, but on the other side of the spectrum is “Unlocking Wonderland: The Exhibit.” This one, also on display through August, invites 25 artists from around the world to create works in honor of the release of Disney Pictures’ “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”

64 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

While the Fleet continues with its new exhibition “Science Fiction, Science Future,” the Science Center will also host a variety of events this month in the museum and out on the town. On June 1, a telescope will be set up out on the Prado in Balboa Park for free viewings with the Astronomy Association, weather permitting. Then on June 2, two scientists walk back into 25 bars around San Diego to talk science with any interested bar patrons from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. On June 6, the Fleet turns its attention to neuroscience when it hosts Dr. Shauna Yuan to discuss stem cells and dementia. Following that talk, guests are invited to stick around for a special IMAX viewing of “Amazon.”

New for the Science Center is “Crossover: Where Comics and Science Meet – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Godzilla, and the Science of Mutations.” The June 10 event kicks off a four-part series in which adults are invited to the IDW Publishing Comic Art Gallery in Liberty Station to dissect the science behind comic books. Details, ticket prices and more information on all Fleet’s June events can be found at rhfleet.org.

Museum of Contemporary Art

The MCASD’s summertime favorite starts back up this month. On June 16, Shore Thing 2016 kicks off with free admission, exhibit tours of “Selections from the Permanent Collection,” music from The Roots Factory Art Collective, snacks, and a cash bar. The museum extends its hours for these weekly summertime events, which run from 5-8 p.m. June 16 also happens to be the third Thursday of June, so that means the museum is free all day, and the downtown location is hosting Downtown at Sundown. That monthly event looks a lot like the Shore Thing, but it’s a year-long once a month gathering for the downtown crowd. Details on events and exhibits at mcasd.org.

Gotthelf Gallery

The Gotthelf Gallery at the Lawrence Family JCC has changed things up this year to expand their showcases to the community by inviting artists to submit for group shows. You may remember last year’s “Things We Pass Down” exhibition which invited local artist to look at the timeless traditions of Judaism through various mediums. The folks running Gotthelf Gallery have that same idea in mind for this next one, except they’re asking artists to think specifically about Shabbat traditions. All mediums are accepted, though artwork cannot exceed 48 inches. The deadline is July 1, and interested artists can contact Leora Waiche at leoraw@lfjcc.org for details.

Happening this month at the gallery, jewelers are invited to an up-cycle workshop on June 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants can bring any personal items to create into a one-of-a-kind piece, but all materials will be included in the class. Call (858) 362-1114 for a last-minute spot.

Music and Dance Roundup Bodhi Tree Concerts

O

n June 11, Bodhi Tree Concerts presents the San Diego premiere Hans Krasa’s Holocaust children’s opera “Brundibar.” The performance, at the Irwin Jacobs Qualcomm Hall on the Qualcomm Campus in Sorrento Valley, will benefit the Jewish Family Service Serving Older Holocaust Survivors (S.O.S.) program.

“Brundibar” was first performed in 1944 by the children who were held prisoner in Terezin, the concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. The San Diego concert will feature the youth orchestra from La Jolla Country Day School prepared by Joan Diener and young singers from the Warren Walker and Language Academy Schools conducted by Michael Morgan. Local Holocaust survivor Edith Eger will offer the opening narration, sharing her personal story with the audience. Tickets

are $20 for general admission and $10 for students and military.

Bodhi Tree Concerts performs “random acts of kindness” through music events with 100 percent of profits going to charitable causes. The group, which exclusively hires local artists, launches its fifth season with the “Brundibar” performance.

Last month, the San Diego Jewish Journal reported that the JFS S.O.S. program would expand under a grant from the Jewish Federations of North America and the Older Americans Act passed in the Senate. A Details on Bodhi Tree’s performance of “Brunibar” can be found at bodhitreeconcerts.org.

Malashock Dance Company

M

alashock Dance doesn’t want dance to remain just a “spectator sport.” Its ongoing series, “The Engagement Ring” offers innovative, fun, and accessible dance events that encourage attendees to participate, contribute and engage with the art of dance.

This series takes place in, or around, Dance Place San Diego within Point Loma’s Liberty Station. This month marks Engagement number six, with “#TheScreensBetweenUs” on June 25 at 6:30 p.m. Created by Brianna Pilkinton, the performance asks audiences to imagine an ordinary day, when screens, smartphones, computers and gadgets are in the forefront of field of vision. While critical of these devices, the performance also asks the audience to use them, contrary to conventional performance etiquette. Meet the dancers at the courtyard in front of the entrance to Luna Grill in Liberty Station. Tickets available at malashockdance.org. A

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Iyar• Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 65

arts

Young Local Artist Gets First Taste of Success

BY NATALIE JACOBS

Annual Kleinman Holocaust Education Center diary contest announces local winners

L

illian Liebman is currently the only art student at Torah High School. There are less than 40 students at the private all-girls school, but the junior gets true oneon-one attention in her visual studies, which is already paying off. In April it was announced that Liebman won first place in a national art competition sponsored by the Kleinman Holocaust Education Center in Brooklyn.

Hers was one of 866 submissions to the annual student contest in which students were given excerpts from Holocaust diaries and asked to produce written or visual art to reflect the emotion behind the original writing.

Liebman, who typically works with pencil, expanded into collage for her submission.

“It was a little out of my box, out of my

66 SDJewishJournal.com | June 2016

field,” she explains, “but I didn’t want to send in something pure black and white.

Students in 11th and 12th grade were assigned the diary of Chaim Yitzchok Wolgelernter, a researcher and author from the Warsaw ghetto.

His diary spans from July 1942 to April 1943.

Reviewing the source material and researching Seidman, Liebman discovered that one of her Torah High teachers is related to the subject.

“I got to ask [my teacher] questions. Then I focused on trying to put a visual to him and trying to imagine the things he wrote about.

Obviously I can’t fathom most of the things he had to go through,” but she worked out ideas in her sketchbook for hours.

In the submission form, Liebman’s teacher Mrs. Petix writes “the calligraphy used on the poster is

from the Megillah Esther, painstakingly rendered by [Liebman] to represent the pages from the diary of Chaim Yitzchok Wolgelernter. She chose to use this Torah portion because of the parallels often drawn with it and the Holocaust. … Her artistic representation shows the story unfinished, the black crows cast a dark shadow over everything.”

Liebman won $250 for her winning submission, the first submission she has made in her budding artistic career.

“I’m not sure what I will do with the money,” she says, “I was just shocked to win. I never thought I would win.”

Details on all the winning submissions, including Eduardo Garza of St. Augustine High School who won third place for the 9th and 10th grade category, are available at kfhec.org.

DIVERSIONS

By Natalie Jacobs

Zero Days Fans of movies that induce panic attacks will want to start planning now for when “Zero Days” premieres at Landmark Theaters in early July.

Starting with Stuxnet, the computer virus that “sabotaged Iran’s nuclear program and reportedly destroyed up to a fifth of the country’s nuclear centrifuges,” according to The Hollywood Reporter, this documentary looks at what to expect from cyber warfare. It’s terrifying because it’s true, and it could impact every aspect of modern life. From the director of “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief,” the documentary based on the book by Lawrence Wright which premiered on HBO earlier this year, “Zero Days” features interviews with members of the CIA as well as people familiar with the original Stuxnet investigations.

See this movie with a friend or a loved one, and be sure to leave plenty of time afterward for a debrief. Knowledge is power, but don’t let it get you down.

Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah This is a film about the making of a film. How meta! Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short this year, director Adam Benzine explores filmmaker Claude Lanzmann’s 12-year journey to create the groundbreaking Holocaust film “Shoah.” In the documentary, released to mark the 30th anniversary of “Shoah,” Lanzmann says he had to give up everything to make his film, which runs more than nine hours and is “widely regarded as a monumental achievement for its primary use of testimony, rather than archival footage,” from survivors and perpretrators, according to the media site Deadline. Benzine interviews the French intellectual who, prior to embarking on “Shoah” had no previous filmmaking experience. Benzine’s documentary is only 40 minutes, but it offers an intimate look into the mind of this now 90-year-old icon. The film had its debut on HBO on May 2.

“Weiner” Perhaps never has there been such an aptly named politician. This documentary, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance earlier this year, follows Anthony Weiner’s attempt at a political comeback in 2013, after his very public fall from grace in 2011. This film is “a political junkies’ dream,” writes Curt Schleier for JTA, “a fun behind-the-scenes view of a campaign that’s somewhat similar to ‘The War Room,’ the documentary about Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign for president that ran into a sexual stumbling block of its own – Gennifer Flowers. One major difference: Clinton went on to win.” As the film explores, Weiner’s only true opponent is himself – just before the Mayoral race began, another sex scandal emerged. “Weiner” became available on demand on May 26.

Iyar• Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 67

Tori Avey is an award-winning food writer, recipe developer, and the creator of the popular cooking website toriavey.com.

She writes about food history for PBS Food and Parade.com. Follow Tori on Facebook by searching for “Tori Avey” and on Twitter: @toriavey.

in the kitchen WITH

TORI AVEY

IKWTA

CHALLAH BREAD PUDDING with Kahlua Cream Sauce 68 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

T

his decadent recipe is a tribute to my dear friend Beth Trachtenberg, who played a huge role in helping me find success and my place in the food blogging world. The day I started my blog, I was filled with excitement and a bit of fear. The whole concept of food blogging was still somewhat new, and I truly had no idea what I was doing. But I overcame my nerves and pressed publish, never realizing what a strange, crazy, amazing journey my website would take me on. A few weeks after I started my blog my husband and I sat down with Beth, a great friend to the both of us. We ate a meal together at Sammy’s Roumanian in New York City. Beth expressed to me how much she admired my blog. She was an astute and tenacious businesswoman, someone I greatly admired. I was excited when she told me that she believed I had a future as an important voice in the food world. It was gratifying to know that this woman, a successful producer and one of the smartest people I knew, believed in me.

Over the next few years Beth took on the role of mentor, manager, friend and confidant. She helped me grow the blog from a tiny corner of the web into one of the top food blogs in the country. But Beth was more than just a business associate; she held a very special place in my heart. She helped my

husband launch his passion project, a musical that he’d wanted to produce since childhood. She was there when I married the love of my life. She became part of our family. Like true family we experienced ups and downs, but we never lost that deep feeling of connection. She was a rare soul.

I choose to remember her the way I know she would have preferred, as a twotime Jeopardy champion, brilliant and vital and warm and loving, smiling and often laughing hysterically. She loved Israel passionately. She adored sunbathing and traveling and binge watching great tv shows. She drank Coke instead of wine and had friends in every city. There will never be another person like Beth.

One of my favorite things about Beth was that she was always eating something naughty and delicious, yet never seemed to gain a pound. She enjoyed cooking and she never counted calories… just one of the many ways she lived life to the fullest. Whenever she came out for a visit she always asked me to make my “famous” Challah Bread Pudding. In loving memory of Beth I’m sharing it just the way she liked it, topped with warm Kahlua cream sauce.

Note: It can be difficult to find Kahlua with a kosher hechsher. If you're concerned about this, simply double the vanilla in the sauce in place of Kahlua.

CHALLAH BREAD PUDDING with Kahlua Cream Sauce Pudding Ingredients: 1 loaf plain (unseeded) challah bread- day old is okay 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 quart half and half 6 eggs, beaten 1 cup sugar ½ cup light brown sugar

INSTRUCTIONS:

2 tbsp melted butter 2 tsp cinnamon 1 ½ tsp vanilla ½ tsp nutmeg ½ tsp salt 2 cups raisins and/or chocolate chips (optional)

Kahlua Cream Sauce Ingredients: 3 tbsp unsalted butter 1 pint heavy whipping cream 1 egg ¾ cup sugar 1 tbsp flour ¼ tsp nutmeg Dash of salt 1 tbsp Kahlua liqueur 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Yield: 12 servings Total Time: 2 hours Kosher Key: Dairy

cubes have soaked up most of the liquid. You may have to lightly mash some of the bread cubes down to make sure they’re fully immersed in liquid.

Generously grease a 9×13 baking dish or pan. Pour the bread pudding mixture into the dish, being sure to scrape any excess liquid from the bowl.

Cover tightly with foil. Bake pudding at 350 degrees F for 1 ¼ to 1 ½ hours.

Take off the foil after 1 hour to let the top brown.

The pudding is done when the top is brown and springy to the touch. The center of the pudding should be baked through, not liquid. Serve warm topped with Kahlua Cream Sauce.

To make the Kahlua Cream Sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add heavy whipping cream to the pan, whisking to blend with the butter.

Add egg, sugar, flour, nutmeg and salt to the pan. Whisk continuously for about 10 minutes until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat. Whisk in Kahlua and vanilla. Serve warm atop freshly baked bread pudding. A

PHOTOS BY TORI AVEY

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Slice the challah bread into 1-inch cubes.

You’ll need about 12 cups of loosely packed cubes. If you don’t have enough challah on hand, you can mix in any kind of light-colored bread to make up the difference (white, buttermilk, Hawaiian). Spread into a single layer on two cookie sheets, place in oven, and lightly toast the cubes for 7-8 minutes until they are dry and just beginning to brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium. Toast the chopped walnut pieces, stirring constantly, until they begin the lighter colored parts of the walnut flesh begin to brown. Remove from heat.

In a very large mixing bowl, combine half and half, beaten eggs, sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and salt. Use an electric mixer or immersion blender to thoroughly blend all ingredients.

Pour the toasted challah cubes, chopped walnuts, and raisins into the liquid mixture. Stir all ingredients together for a couple of minutes until the bread

You will also need: Electric mixer or immersion blender, cookie sheets, skillet, very large mixing bowl, 9x13 baking dish, small saucepan

Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 69

news

Sharon Evans, Monique Goldwasser Buzhish, Carine Chitayat, Yael Hershkowitz.

Adopt a Family Hosts Tribute to Heroes The Adopt a Family Foundation held its annual fundraising gala in Libery Station on April 17. Titled “A Tribute to Our Heroes,” the event included dinner, a live auction, an art exhibit and dancing. Sharon Evans and her daughter Monique Goldwasser Buzhish, the inspiration for the founding of Adopt a Family, gave the keynote address for the evening.

Dancer from the Yuval Ron Ensemble.

Cynthia Hizami, Lauren Lizerbram, Bruce Greenhaus, Dr. Frances Lobman, Myra Chack Fleischer, Sharon Freedman, Amy Hart, Marti Eisenberg, Judith Lief, Steven Oberman.

JNF Celebrates Large Brunch Crowd On May 1, the Jewish National Fund’s local chapter hosted its annual Love of Israel Brunch at the Del Mar Marriot. The crowd was nearing 400. San Diego Jewish Journal’s Linda Bennett attended the event and saw Karen Rund, Bernard and Mati Bicas, Rabbi Kornberg, Rabbi Dosik, Rabbi Marcus, Shor Masori 14, Mel and Bonnie Tabak, Joy Heitzman, State Senator Marty Block, Jane Ottenstein, Sandy and Itzak Rief, Rhonda Schwartz, Ava Weitzen, Lisa Kalal, Karen Zeiger, Burt Disner, Helena Galper, Fern Siegel, Jackie Jacobs, Frances Lobman, Eli and Susie Meltzer, Stacey Kasendorf, Gary Hirshfeld, J.J. Surbeck, and Marci Laulom. The very successful co-chairs were Lauren Lizerbram and Myra Chack Fleischer.

Ambassador Ido Aharoni and Jane Ottenstein.

Jordan Marcus and Elizabeth Kurtis.

Linguist Unlocks Global Alphabet at JCC Zev bar-Lev is out with a new book explaining his global alphabet and this month he’ll teach three sessions at Congregation Beth Israel through the Center for Jewish Culture’s Advanced Jewish Studies program. The linguist and SDSU lecturer will cover more than 12 languages, including Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Sanskrit, and Italian, to demonstrate how understanding a few “key letters” can make it easier to learn a new language. The CJC classes are held on Thursdays from June 28-July 12. Contact Katey Lindley for details and to register, kateyl@lfjcc.org.

70 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

To-do List Women’s Museum Wine & Music Festival This 9th annual fundraiser for the Women’s Museum of Califonia, formerly Wine, Cheese, and Chocolate Festival, has been re-branded to Wine & Music Festival. It takes place June 24 at 6 p.m. on the North Promenade in front of the Museum’s home in Liberty Station.

Legends Exhibit at Fallbrook Library Traveling exhibit featuring portraits of San Diego’s brightest stars makes North County stop through June 24.

Art Around Adams

Coding Camp Expands Throughout Southern California The Santa Monica-based CodeRev technology education center will launch its first set of San Diego computer coding summer camps this year. Open to students from first to ninth grade, the weeklong camps use video games and 3D virtual worlds to teach kids skills in animation, robotics, app development and math. Campers will work on their own devices, and the student-to-teacher ratio is about one for every six to eight kids. The first San Diego location is in Solana Beach at LePort School, with sessions starting June 20. Details and registration at coderevkids.com.

Also in the STEAM category, this year’s San Diego County Fair will feature a STEAM Maker Festival June 15-16 where students will participate in various science, technology, art and math activities.

Activities include a robot challenge, a recycled fashion showcase and a Microsoft developer challenge.

The Adams Avenue Business Association continues to find ways to bring art, music, and local commerce together along the avenue. This month, on June 4, it’s Art Around Adams, a two-mile art and music walk featuring 70 musical acts, vendors, food trucks, a free trolley and more.

Julian Gold Rush Days Julian isn’t just for apple season. June 25-26 the mountain town will host Julian Gold Rush Days, where historic re-enactments will bring audiences back to California’s humble beginnings, with miners, mountain men, and cowboys. Craft stations and old-fashioned kids activities will take place on the 25-acre Cross Farms.

JDC and HUC-JIR to Offer Fellowship for Global Jewish Leaders In a first initiative of its kind, JDC Entwine – the growing young adult initiative of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) – and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) announced the establishment of the Weitzman-JDC Fellowship for Global Jewish Leaders. The pioneering graduate fellowship – founded by Jane Weitzman, a JDC Board Member and Jewish community and philanthropic leader, together with her husband, shoe designer Stuart Weitzman – will provide HUC-JIR rabbinic, cantorial, and Jewish education students significant expertise in Jewish needs around the world and in Israel.

“While all major U.S. universities today have top graduate programs developing the next generation of leaders to face the challenges of our changing world, there is a desperate need in the North American Jewish community to immerse our up-and-coming leaders in issues confronting Jews internationally,” said Jane Weitzman. “I am proud to combine my passions for Jewish life and education worldwide to ensure that our rising rabbis, cantors, and Jewish educators understand the complex world that Jews live in.”

Over the coming five years, the Weitzman-JDC Fellowship at HUC-JIR will train fifteen fellows to bring a deep understanding and passion for global Jewish issues to their congregations, classrooms, and communities across North America. These fellows will travel to some of the 70 countries that JDC works in today. The fellowship will also have significant impact on the wider HUC-JIR student body with increased opportunities to engage in international Jewish issues as part of their HUC-JIR course work. The intention is that future Jewish leaders will emerge with an expanded awareness of these issues in congregations and beyond.

Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 71

ASK MARNIE

by Marnie Macauley

ADVICE asksadie@aol.com

The Art of the Chasseneh WEDDING GUEST WOES

DEAR MARNIE: I’m getting married at the end of June and one of my fiancé’s best friends has a girlfriend who I really don’t want to come to the wedding. I don’t think there is any way to ask him not to bring her without making him and my fiancé angry. What can I do?

- Worried Bride MARNIE SAYS: Well, you could eliminate dates and confine your guests to those with rings OR you could use your Yiddishe kop and finesse the girlfriend problem.

Here’s an idiea: invite Little Ms. Vilda Chaya to share a corned beef sandwich. Hold out a hand, and remove a thorn from her paw.

Enlist her! Casually share the conservative nature of your nuptials and elicit her opinions, and heck, she may show up like Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

Should the corned beef and convo maneuver fail, then recruit your bridesmaids in Operation “VC” (Vilda Chaya). A few women in major taffeta can scare the heck out of anybody, never mind divert the lady, cue up the band, or drag her to the powder room to get her opinion on the crisis in the Middle East. And, even if she does squawk, you’ll be so busy bustling in your chassenah-joy she’ll land like a mosquito.

Most important, your effort on your fiancé’s behalf makes you the soul of generosity. A true mitzvah.

DON’T CATER, COMPROMISE!

DEAR MARNIE: My fiancé and I are getting married soon and I’m not sure what to do about the gift registry. I really don’t want to get 50 toasters or electric carving knives when what we could really use is money. (We’d like to buy the condo we’re presently sub-letting.) My fiancé told me that a friend of his displayed a money tree. How do you feel about that? Also, is there a clever way I can make it clear I don’t want gifts without offending my guests?

- Money on My Mind 72 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

MARNIE SAYS: Mamala, offend them? You just managed to offend me so clearly tact isn’t your forte. Neither is taste, if you think even “Marnie’s Mouth” can “clever-ize” a truly tacky con. Indeed, I was so flustered, I almost re-read the 613 commandments to see if “abusing trees during chassenahs” is a sin. It should be.

Prune the money tree, kiddo, or a witty guest might prune it for you — with an electric carving knife (an altogether superior use of their gift). A wedding is the spiritual and religious joining of two souls, not a rip-off op. Good will is the only gift requirement. Get it!

Do not cajole, manipulate, demand, request, or mention gifts in invites. As most guests expect to bring something (and yes, they often put a check in an ugly gravy boat) a registery is a good start. I should say, that personally, I loathe “registering” — especially when young brides consider a $100 fish fork a “must-have” instead of saving for really something important — like marriage counseling.

Now that I’ve trounced you, you can let others do the talking, discreetly. Should someone ask Mama, sis, or one of your 50 bridesmaids for gift ideas, they can gush over your condo concept with a “Well … Hmmmm … cash is always nice” chaser.

Oh ... Another concept. I know brides are wedding-wiggy, but instead of stuffing little kosher Cornish hens into 250 people you barely know for the bucks, cancel the caterer, and serve a buffet courtesy of Manischewitz for the 75 people you actually do know. Then ask Mom and Pop to spend the difference on a down payment.

A little compromise, angel, and you can have your cake and condo, too.

MAMA’S DRESS A MESS!

DEAR MARNIE: I’m getting married soon. We are Modern Orthodox. The problem is, my mother is planning to wear the most hideous dress! Not only is it ugly, it’s not very flattering. (She’s a large woman.) I shudder to think that when I look at my wedding pictures, I will have to see that awful dress. Please help!

- Dressed in Distress MARNIE SAYS: Well so much for Tz’ni’ut. Your letter had me shredding photos of “modest” vintage spandex disco pants at magazine racks!

Tell her. But, be careful mamala. You want to trash the dress, not her beliefs, ego or enthusiasm for the event.

Lend her a vision. Say, “Mom, that dress just doesn’t do you justice.” Point out her unique features, and tell her she deserves to look and feel terrific on your special day.

There are new designers out there who have found a way to blend modesty with fashion from “tichel” to toe. Check out, for example, Hadar Magazine. Get cheerleaders, e.g. sisters, aunts, friends, to coo over your picks.

If Mom balks at the expense, gift her. It’s your special way of saying “I love you.” Insist it’s your last mother-daughter thing as a single woman.

Hopefully, once you reassure her that modesty need not mean “mieskeit” you’ll fire up her imagination and she’ll sail down that aisle with you, spiffy and in appropriate style.

Finally, if she’s “wedded” to the ugly thing, Tante Marnie offers three words: “Let it go.” Do it for you. Do it for her. Do it so you don’t ruin this wonderful day over a hunk of fabric.

You see, a long time from now, you’ll look at those photos, and you won’t see that dress at all.

You’ll see the woman in it. And you’ll be so glad she was there with you, on your special day, to share it. A

“ONE DAY” HAS COME TO NORTH COUNTY To paraphrase popular musician “Matisyahu”, the “One Day” that everyone has been waiting for…has arrived.

Announcing the creation of Temple Solel’s brand-new 1-Day-Sunday-Kesher Plus Religious/Hebrew School program.

Highly desired, broadly requested, and excitingly received, “1-Day Kesher Plus” welcomes students in grades 3 through 6 and offers them a very unique mix of educational offerings: a Judaica class; a chug activity of the student’s choice (variety of fun, Jewishly themed programs such as: robotics, iMovie Jewish style, Krav Maga, cooking) and a Hebrew class all on 1-Day, Sunday, 9 am to 12 pm.

Examples of some of Solel’s more innovative Judaic lessons will include: Creation vs. Evolution debate, Ellis Island Immigration simulation and Becoming an Israel Museum Curator.

For more information, contact School Director Ellen Fox at 760-334-1465 or efox@templesolel.net.

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Jay Cramer-Oceanside, CA 03/24/1935-03/18/2016 Survivors: Daughter- Alicia Cramer Frida Bukshteyn-San Diego , CA 07/31/1925-03/21/2016 Survivors: Daughter- Yelena Kapchinskiy Bobbi Friedman-San Diego, CA 07/04/1959-03/18/2016 Survivors: Father - Dr. Neil Friedman & Daughter - Jami Avery

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Mildred Rothlein-San Diego , CA 01/09/1926-03/21/2016 Survivors: Daughter - Nadine Mrazek, Sons - Steven & Fred Rothlein, 2 Grandchildren and 2- Great Grandchildren

Stanley Cohen-San Diego, CA 02/24/1936-03/17/2016 Survivors: Wife - Elaine Cohen, Sons - Dr. Gregory & Daniel Cohen & 4 Grandchildren

Sonya Lunyanskaya-San Diego , CA 10/05/1925-03/22/2016 Survivors: Son in Law - Leonid Dubrovsky , 2 Grandchildren & 2 Great- Grandchildren

Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 73

SYNAGOGUE LIFE SHAVUOT AND OTHER SERVICES Three days of services and discussions with Scholar in Residence Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein with Orot HaCarmel June 10-13 Programs held at the Carmel Valley home of Rabbi Rock; contact rabbirock@orothacarmel.org for details Community Shavuot dinner after services at Temple Emanu-El June 11, 8:30 p.m.; Services begin at 7 p.m.

6299 Capri Dr. San Diego CA 92120 Dairy Kiddush Luncheon after Shavuot services at Chabad La Costa June 11, services begin at 10 a.m.

Call (760) 943-8891 or email info@chabadatlacosta.com for details.

Ice cream Shavuot party with Chabad of San Marcos June 12, 10 a.m.

649 Sandy Lane, San Diego CA 92078 (760) 481-7503; rabbiyelin@gmail.com; alefcenter.com Summer Outdoor Erev Shabbat at Congregation Beth Israel June 17, 6:15 p.m. in the Price Family Courtyard 9001 Towne Centre Drive; (858) 535-1111; cbi@cbisd.org Shabbat patio serivce at Temple Etz Rimon June 24, 7 p.m.

2020 Chestnut Ave. Carlsbad CA 92008; (760) 929-9503, templeetzrimon.org

Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein.

EDUCATION One-day Kesher-plus at Temple Solel Every Sunday during the school year 3575 Manchester Ave; (760) 334-1465; efox@templesolel.net Partners in Torah at Congregation Beth Jacob Every Monday, 8 p.m.

4855 College Ave; (619) 287-9890; rabbiroth@bjsd.org Family Hebrew Lab at Jewish Collaborative of San Diego Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4 p.m.

(760) 707-7111; cantorgabiarad@gmail.com

SPECIAL EVENTS Rabbi Graubart Farewell Havdalah at Congregation Beth El June 18, 7 p.m.

8660 Gilman Dr.; (858) 452-1734 *Interested in having your event featured?

Contact editor@sdjewishjournal.com. Submissions are due by 15th of the month for the next issue.

74 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

Ready to Eat! Add to your favorite dishes!

The Superfood Protein of the

Future! honeysmokedfish.com available at Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 75

THE MARKETPLACE

Cantor Deborah Davis

EVENTS

Custom Wedding Ceremonies

Let us work together to create a wedding ceremony that reflects the joy of your special day.

Design Decor Production

Mitzvah Event Productions

As Humanistic Jewish clergy I focus on each couple’s uniqueness and their love for each other. I welcome Jewish, interfaith and same-sex couples. I also perform all life-cycle ceremonies.

For further information please contact

Deborah Davis • 619.275.1539

LYDIA KRASNER 619.548.3485 www.MitzvahEvent.com

member of

lydia@mitzvahevent.com

The Joyous Music of Tradition and Transition.

Let the award-winning

www.deborahjdavis.com

Capture the Moments

Second Avenue Klezmer Ensemble

provide your wedding or Bar/Bat Mitzvah with lively, authentic music. Tradition has never been so much fun!

4805 Mercury St. • Suite L • San Diego, CA 92111

Trusted in the Jewish Community since 1983

HIN 24 HOURS.

Bar/Bat Mitzvahs | Weddings | Photography | Videography | Photo Montage

For information call Deborah Davis: 619-275-1539

To hear samples, visit our website: secondavenueklezmer.com

CATERING

ROTISSERIE AFFAIR

THROWING A SIMCHA? WE CATER ANY EVENT! • BAR/BAT MITZVAH PARTIES • WEDDINGS • GRADUATION PARTIES • CORPORATE EVENTS • 30-5,000 PEOPLE • KOSHER PLATTERS • BARUCHA LUNCHEONS

ALWAYS COOKED FRESH ON-SITE! • Rotisserie Free Range Chicken • Kosher Slow-Cooked Brisket • Whole Rotisserie Lamb • Grilled Salmon & Mahi Mahi • Choice cut Roast Beef • Rotisserie Marinated Turkey • Shabbat Luncheons

Consider us for all of your Life Cycle events!

• Bar/Bat Mitzvah • ShaBBat Dinner • KiDDuSh • BriS • BaBy naMing • WeDDing

858-578-8891

Minimum 50 people. Food only 03/31/2016 Exp. 06/30/2016

7313 Carroll Road • 92121 www.rotisserieaffair.com

76 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

Our cOMBineD lOve Of fOOD anD unDerStanDing Of JeWiSh cuStOMS, traDitiOnS anD the laWS Of KaShrut allOW uS tO help yOu create the perfect event.

960 Turquoise Street • San Diego, CA 92109

(858) 488-1725 • www.frenchgourmet.com

FINANCE

Phil Bresnick, Phil Bresnick,CWS® CWS®

SeniorVice VicePresident President Senior WealthAdvisor Advisor Wealth 5464 Grossmont Center Drive Morgan Stanley Wealth Management La Mesa, CA 91942 5464 Grossmont Center Drive, Suite 200 619-668-4334 or 800-729-2900 La Mesa, CA 91942 619-668-4334 • 800-729-2900 philip.bresnick@morganstanley.com www.morganstanleyfa.com/ philip.bresnick@morganstanley.com www.morganstanleyfa.com/bresnickbresnick/ bresnickbresnick © 2015 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC897541 06/14

JEWISH COMMUNITY

REAL ESTATE

Welcoming babies and families to San Diego’s Jewish Community

Coldwell Banker Royal Realty

Raul Ontiveros

ARE YOU EXPECTING A BABY OR DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS?

REALTOR Bre: 01498610

Shalom Baby is an innovative program designed for San Diego families to celebrate the arrival of their Jewish newborns to affiliated, non-affiliated and inter-married families as a welcome to the San Diego Jewish Community.

861 Anchorage Place Chula Vista, CA 91914

To receive your Shalom BaBy BaSkeT and for informaTion conTacT: San Diego .............. Judy Nemzer • 858.362.1352 • shalombaby@lfjcc.org North County......... Vivien Dean • 858.357.7863 • shalombabyncounty@lfjcc.org www.lfjcc.org/shalombaby • www.facebook.com/shalombabypjlibrarysandiego

619 981 4704

raulontiveros68@gmail.com www.coldwellbankerroyalrealty.com

Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS, Mandell Weiss Eastgate City Park, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037-1348

HOME IMPROVEMENT JUDY NEMZER Shalom Baby/PJ Library Coordinator l

Direct Line: (858) 362-1352 E-mail: littlemensches@gmail.com www.lfjcc.org/shalombaby/littlemensches l

Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS 4126 Executive Drive • La Jolla, CA 92037-1348

Fabrics for Fashion and Home

Visit our Giant Store & Warehouse 907 Plaza Blvd. • National City

619- 477- 3749

9 locations in SD County Family Owned and Operated since 1953

Serving Cuban-American Food Est. 1976

NOW SERVING LUNCH AND DINNER Open Daily: 11am - 10pm

PALM SPRINGS (760) 325-2127 1596 N. Palm Canyon Drive • Palm Springs, CA 92262

Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 77

78 SDJewishJournal.com l June 2016

EMBARCADERO MARINA PARK SOUTH JULY 1 - SEPTEMBER 4

Diana Ross, Chris Botti, Seth MacFarlane, Trace Adkins, Amy Grant and many more!

ETS K C I T ALE S N O !

NOW

See full concert lineup at SANDIEGOSYMPHONY.ORG!

c

Most concerts feature the San Diego Symphony Orchestra Iyar • Sivan 5776 | SDJewishJournal.com 79

Macbeth

By William Shakespeare Directed by Brian Kulick

June 19 – July 24

Tickets start at $29

Tempted by an evil prophecy, and encouraged by his wife ever deeper into his own dark ambition, Macbeth murders his way to the throne of Scotland. Shakespeare’s chilling tragedy is filled with ferocious battles, supernatural horrors, famously gorgeous poetry, and some of the Bard’s most vivid characters. A stellar cast, under the direction of renowned Shakespearean Brian Kulick, will electrify the San Diego night with a stunning rendition of one of Shakespeare’s masterpieces.

Leading Production Sponsors Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Fund Qualcomm

Production Sponsors June Yoder Holland America Line

(619) 23-GLOBE (234-5623)

www.TheOldGlobe.org