"May You be Written and Sealed in the Book of Life!"
H I G H H O L I D A Y S A T C H A B A D
* U s e r - F r i e n d l y H e b r e w / E n g l i s h P r a y e r
B o o k s
* M e m b e r s h i p N O T R e q u i r e d
* R e s e r v a t i o n s R E Q U I R E D
* N o T i c k e t s ; D o n a t i o n s O p t i o n a l ( b u t
a p p r e c i a t e d )
* J o y f u l & C o m f o r t a b l e A t m o s p h e r e
* E v e r y o n e W e l c o m e
T H E R E I S A C H A B A D C E N T E R N E A R Y O U !
W e h a v e l o c a t i o n s a l l o v e r S a n D i e g o !
S c r i p p s R a n c h ( C h a b a d S . D i e g o H Q ) ,
B o n i t a , C a r l s b a d N o r t h , C a r m e l V a l l e y ,
C h u l a V i s t a , C o r o n a d o , D o w n t o w n ,
E a s t C o u n t y , E n c i n i t a s , E s c o n d i d o , L a
C o s t a , L a J o l l a , N o r t h C o u n t y I n l a n d , N o r t h P a r k , O c e a n s i d e / V i s t a , P a c i f i c
B e a c h , P e n a s q u i t o s , R a n c h o S . F e ,
S D S U , T i e r r a S a n t a , U C S D , U n i v e r s i t y C i t y
V i s i t C h a b a d . o r g / H i g h H o l i d a y s
t o f i n d y o u r l o c a l
C h a b a d J e w i s h C e n t e r & t o l e a r n
m o r e a b o u t t h e H o l i d a y s
B " H
T H E
H i g h H o l i d a y s
W I T H A C H A B A D C E N T E R N E A R Y O U !
For nearly 90 years, Jewish Federation has been the engine behind a vibrant, caring, and secure Jewish community in San Diego, Israel, and across the world. This year, we ’ re going All In doubling down on our commitment to Jewish peoplehood, strengthening our local community, and rebuilding Israel. When you go all in with us, you ' re not just giving you ’ re powering a thriving Jewish future.
To learn more or make a gift, visit jewishinsandiego.org.
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PUBLISHERS
and Dr. Mark Moss
EDITOR
Susan Edelstein
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Makayla Hoppe
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Donna D’Angelo
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Eileen Sondak
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Emily Bartell, Linda Bennett, Andrea Simantov, Trevor James McNeil, Marnie Macauley, Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort, Galia Miller Sprung, Micah Siva Lisa McGuigan
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR Pepe Fainberg
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Alan Moss | Palm Springs
Welcome to our August Education Issue. There is always something new to learn, to understand, to appreciate, to get excited about, to discuss. It is a lifelong thing — sharing and gathering ideas, spreading the good ones, collaborating, growing, planting seeds of knowledge, nurturing the seedlings, reaping the rewards. It is what makes us human. There are waves of new ideas blowing all around us through books, journalism, podcasts, Instagrams and face-to-face conversations. Many conversations begin with “Listen to this!” or “Did you hear...?” or just “What’s new?” Learning happens everywhere, both in traditional classrooms and in some unexpected places. All of us are learners and teachers every day. We’re open to and discerning of what we read, see and hear, then simply share the best.
Here, in our featured stories, are a few of the best educational programs in San Diego County, which all share one thing: the belief in the value and life-changing power of experience-based, hands-on learning, the kind that inspires participation, support and pride.
We are proud to share the accomplishments of the San Diego Jewish Academy and six of its outstanding students who have recently earned awards in ‘social entrepreneurship,’ finding solutions to disasters and other humanitarian issues; in Shorashim, creatively telling their family’s history; and at the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. SDJA is committed to providing students real-world experiences in support of their goals.
The high school construction program we are excited to tell you about is the Warrior Village Project, developed by Mark Pilcher, and designed to accomplish multiple worthy goals, one of which is to expand the program throughout San Diego’s high schools, building a brighter future for many.
Building a nurturing future for rescued exotic animals is a noble goal, and we are honored to tell the story of Bobbi Brink’s Lions Tigers & Bears, a sanctuary in Alpine, opening its arms, not just to these majestic animals, but to educate people about their plight and how we can help.
Be sure to read our regular columnists, Rabbi Eilfort, Marnie Macauley, Andrea Simantov, Galia Sprung and Trevor McNeil, who all share the humanity and universality of learning. A
Our Town
by Linda Bennett and Emily Bartell
The 32nd Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival, JFEST 2025, was a highly entertaining and successful event, offering extraordinary programming at a variety of locations throughout San Diego. Some of the programs of note were “The House of Cohen — a Tribute to Leonard Cohen,” “Lily Henley: An Evening of Sephardic Songs” (presented outside, overlooking the bay), and “There’s A Place for Us: A Celebration of Jewish Broadway,” honoring the extensive list of Jewish composers and lyricists that gave Broadway its heart and soul.
Always an uplifting experience, we also attended “The 16th Women of Valor” and the “24th Klezmer Summit — Brothers in Harmony,” annual favorites of our San Diego audiences.
At the many different programs we attended, some of those we ran into were Ellen Edwards, Debbie Press, Rita Heller, Marsha and Herb Lubick, Susie and Eli Meltzer, Robin and Jeremy Baron, Barbara Goldman and Howard Katz, Irwin Jacobs, Stacy Colman, Sheila Nerad, Laurie and Mark Spiegler, and Cynthia and Arthur Birnbaum
On June 7, Congregation Beth Israel held its annual fundraiser, “Big Top.” It was such a beautiful evening, topped off with a special performance by one of the leading mentalists in the U.S., Kevin Viner. Mr. Viner mesmerized the audience to tremendous applause from the crowd. Major kudos to the event co-chairs Betsy Haubrich and Julie Tedde, and their whole committee. Some of those on hand enjoying the evening’s celebration
with us were, Elaine and Rick Barton, Rimma and Jay Rosenberg, Ava and Michael Kurnow, Lee Goldberg, Alberta Feuerzeig, Melissa Garfield Bartell and Michael Bartell, Mona and Jeff Platt, Pamela Carnot, Emily and Chris Jennewein, Ellen Potter and Ron Evans, Geri Sanders and Mark Evans, Betsy and Spencer Lynch, Judy Hahn, Herb Hafter, and many others.
Mazel Tov to Adam Bartell and Lianna Friedman on their engagement. Adam is the son of Emily Bartell and Gregg Bartell. Lianna is the daughter of Sharon and Harlan Friedman. Upcoming nuptials will take place next year.
Mazel Tov to Karla and Larry Bloom on the engagement of their daughter, Ali, to Sam Ross. The couple became engaged on June 8 in Norway. Sam is the son of Barbara and Kent Ross of Babylon, NY. They will be tying the knot next year in Kauai, HI.
Mazel Tov to Zoe Zands on becoming a Bat Mitzvah on June 28 in Austin, TX. Happy parents are Jan and Monika Zands. Thrilled grandparents, Sarita and Sammy Zands, looked on with pride. Jennifer and Scott Meltzer flew in from San Diego to join the celebration.
Mazel Tov to Jane and Roland Muschenetz on their daughter, Eloise, becoming a Bat Mitzvah at Temple EmanuEl on May 27. Grandparents, Bella Veitzman and Karen Muschenetz, were beaming with pride along with his older brother, Emmet (16 yrs).
Yom Huledets Sameach to...
Nancy Geist celebrating her 92nd birthday.
Don Harrison celebrating his 80th birthday.
CELEBRATING Wedding Anniversaries
with infinite love & happiness, Mazel Tov to…
Barbara and Norman Rozansky, 67 years.
Diane and Harold Schneeweis, 65 years.
Ann and Ronald Simon, 65 years.
Judith and Paul Braun, 58 years.
Nancy and Ross Rudolph, 58 years.
Shelley and Paul Michelson, 58 years.
Sheila and Jeff Lipinsky, 57 years.
Sherri and Jon Benumof, 57 years.
Tobi and Steven Krause, 57 years.
Barbra and Norman Ratner, 56 years.
Francine and Burton Krieger, 55 years.
Francine and Phillip Ginsburg, 54 years.
Joan and Steven Gross, 54 years.
Margaret and Paul Meyer, 54 years.
Susan and Paul Zlotnik, 54 years.
Mona and Jeffrey Platt, 50 years.
Susan and Ed Weiner, 50 years.
Explore Jewish Education
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News & Notes
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Why American Jews Love Stella D’Oro Cookies
Some say it’s a Jewish thing, some say it’s an Italian thing: How did these treats lay the foundation for such a debate?
by Joanna O’Leary, JTA News/The Noshser
Until my second year in college, I associated Stella D’Oro (Italian for “star of gold”) exclusively with ItalianAmerican culture; the cookies were a staple in my Italian grandfather’s house. While grocery shopping with a Jewish friend, I came upon a package and remarked on my personal nostalgic ties.
“Stella D’Oro?” he replied, “That’s a Jewish thing.”
Stella D’Oro was started in 1930 by Joseph and Angela Kresevich, Italian immigrants in Brooklyn. The cookies, made by hand and without butter, were immediately popular. The fact that they were devoid of butter as well as milk also led them to be popular with kosher Jews — they were pareve and could therefore be eaten for dessert after a meat supper. The Swiss fudge variety earned the title of “most Jewish cookie ever made.”
Connie Francis, 20th-Century Star Turned TikTok Sensation, Recorded an Album of Jewish Songs in 1960
by Philissa Cramer, JTA News
A new generation of music lovers got turned on to mid-century pop star Connie Francis’ oeuvre in recent months when her 1962 song “Pretty Little Baby” went viral on TikTok.
Now, Francis’ death has drawn attention to another little-known element of her discography: her 1960 album of Jewish music, including songs in Yiddish and Hebrew.
Francis wound up deploying the Jewish culture and language she picked up in her childhood neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey, in the 1940s, when the city was home to a large Jewish population. “If you weren’t Jewish, you needed a password to get in,” she once told an interviewer.
Stella D’oro Swiss fudge cookies (The Nosher)
Connie Francis, circa 1960. (Archive
Photos/Getty Images)
Why Some Think the New ‘Superman’ Movie is About the War in Gaza
by Andrew Silow Carroll, JTA News
Some supporters of Israel are critical of writer/director James Gunn and D.C. Studios for seeding the film with an anti-Israel message. “I find it so disrespectful and distressing that a superhero created by two Jewish artists, is now being used to promote anti-Israeli messages to the world,”
wrote a poster on r/Israel. What followed was a lengthy discussion of Gunn’s intentions and whether the film’s alleged pro-Palestinian bias is only in the eyes of the beholder.
Gunn has flatly denied that the film is a commentary on Israel or the
Palestinians. “Superman” the movie leans heavily into the idea, as old as David and Goliath, of a weaker neighbor fending off a powerful foe. For many viewers, the IsraeliPalestinian conflict fits neatly into that paradigm, even as Israel’s supporters fiercely deny it. Israel, after all, was invaded by Hamas, not the other way around, while it is Israel that stands isolated among countries that have longed for its destruction. “Superman” has gotten mostly positive reviews, in part because it weds the sensibility of Saturdaymorning cartoons to some bigger ideas about power and populist politics. I understand why supporters of the Palestinians have enlisted the movie in their cause, and why supporters of Israel resent the comparison. But if it is any consolation — and I’m not sure it is — the real-life war won’t be settled in social media threads or by men in tights, but through the actions and decisions of soldiers, politicians and the people they represent.
Why ‘Beach Reading’ is a Joke on Jews Like Me
by Andrew Silow Carroll, JTA News
This summer I’ve tried to get away from it all, I really have, but summer reading feels less like a pleasant distraction than burying my head in the sand — and worse, an abdication of who I am supposed to be as a citizen and a Jew. With a world in turmoil, how much permission can I give myself to tune out?
The domestic news seems like a nearly hourly call to outrage, while the crisis in Israel demands a caring person’s attention, whether it is the death toll in Gaza, the killing of Israeli soldiers or the continuing captivity of the hostages. It’s a time for action, not losing yourself in the pages of a thriller or a romance.
David Corenswet in “Superman.” (DC Studios/ Warner Bros.)
JTA Illustration by Ilana Zahavy; Getty Images
LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE
by Andrea Simantov | andreasimantov@gmail.com
What Miracles Cost
This land — my land — is a land of miracles.
Some miracles are gaspworthy, the kind that beg to be immortalized by Hollywood. Think of a six-day defensive war fought against some of the world’s mightiest armies — an unwinnable battle that ended in a stunning, decisive victory.
Or consider the miraculous integration of Jews from every corner of the globe — kibbutz galuyot. Many arrived with deep trauma, little or no education, language barriers, and an urgent need to acquire essential life skills. Yet, somehow, they were woven into the fabric of this nation.
And let us not, conveniently, forget the few remaining Holocaust survivors — aged and fragile — who still awaken at night with screams lodged in their throats or piercing the silent darkness. When will they finally find peace? Their agony will only end when they are laid gently in waiting graves.
freely through streets and fields without helicopter parents shadowing their every move. It’s been said again and again, “Israel was created for children.”
This holy land, this miraculous land, is also a place where an underemployed single mother can still raise children with a rich Jewish education, enjoy world-class health care, bask in abundant sunshine, serve locally grown, farm-fresh produce, picnic in nearby parks, and move about via superb public transportation. Here, children roam
This is not to say that living in this near-Garden of Eden comes without a price. Whoever coined the phrase “Freedom isn’t free” — be it retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Walter Hitchcock or Ronald Reagan — spoke a truth that resonates with citizens everywhere who value liberty. Especially for those who believe that all of humanity has a G-d-given right to live free from fear. The Book of Micah offers a glimpse of divine
harmony: “Everyone ‘neath his vine and fig tree shall live in peace and unafraid.”
Easier said than done. But if it can be done anywhere, I know the place. It’s called Israel. For religious reasons, my daughters chose not to serve in the Israeli army. Instead, they each completed several years of Sherut Leumi — National Service. One served from home, the other from a different city. Both received a modest stipend and the many benefits that come from dedicating oneself to building the country. Today, they are both wives and mothers, but remain close to the friends made during that unforgettable chapter of their lives.
My son, patriotic and proud, completed his mandatory army service more than a decade ago. But since Oct. 7, 2023, he has spent far more time in uniform than during all his original years of active duty. From the morning that followed the violent incursion, he has served in Yehuda and Shomron, southern Lebanon, and now in Gaza. I believe with all my heart that the reservists of the IDF don’t just defend our borders — they stand as a living symbol and real-world deterrent to anti-Semites around the globe who, left unchecked, dream of a world that is Judenrein.
continues on page 19 >>
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LITERATURE WRITTEN IN FIRE
by Trevor James McNeil tremcneil1980@gmail.com
Laughing Through the Pain
Great things can come from the most humble beginnings. Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the summer of 1885, things did not get off to a good start for Edna Ferber. The daughter of a singularly unsuccessful dried foods merchant, Ferber moved around a lot as a child, chasing new opportunities with every new locale. Worst of all was Ottumwa, Iowa, a rural place that was out of step with the pace of progress, even for the late 19th century.
The seven years she spent there were marked by misery and violence; she noticed, for the first time, that her Jewishness had become a major issue. Grown men would hurl insults at her and spit in her hair when she would bring lunch for her father from home. She was savagedly mocked both at school and in the street for her soft Yiddish accent. An experience that “must be held accountable for anything in me that is hostile toward the world.”
A final move brought the Ferber family to Appleton, Wisconsin, just as her father’s eyesight was failing rapidly. After graduating high school, Ferber was accepted to study elocution at Lawrence University with hopes of being an actress, but had to drop out her first year due to lack of funds.
With her dreams of being an actress dashed, Ferber had to find another way to make money and support her family. Going on whim and desperation more than a long-held passion, Ferber inadvertently launched a writing career,
Her first novel after ‘The Girls,’ 1924’s ‘So Big,’ was worth the wait, winning the Pulitzer Prize for literature in 1925.
taking a job as a cub reporter at the The Milwaukee Journal in 1904. Female reporters, while somewhat unusual, were becoming increasingly common by the early 20th century.
Poor health turned out to be a family trait, and in 1909, when she was struck with a hard bout of anemia, she was forced to resign from the newspaper to recover. Although she would later return to the trade to cover both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions in 1920, as one of the first female political correspondents, she was usually relegated to the ‘Society’ pages.
Not one to just sit around even while blighted with low blood iron, Ferber started writing fiction, selling several stories to magazines, and also completing her first novel, “Dawn O’Hara, The Girl Who Laughed.” Her stories were collected into the volume “Buttered Side Down” in 1912. Taking a bit longer for her follow-up, the novel “Fanny Herself” was published in 1917, followed four years later in 1921 by “The Girls.”
Despite her hard upbringing, Ferber demonstrated an ability for comedy, at times leaning toward gallows humor,
Edna Ferber in Theatre Magazine, July 1928.
Nickolas Muray, photographer.
mirth mixing with her recurring elements of darkness and the bleak. A talent that began to gain notice from her fellow wits, Ferber was a slightly later addition to the Algonquin Round Table in the 1920s, around the time she returned to journalism. She collaborated with Round Table regular George S. Kaufman on several projects, including the Broadway play “Dinner At Eight,” adapted into the classic film in 1933.
While a member of the Round Table, she kept publishing, and her output become even more regular. Her first novel after “The Girls,” 1924’s “So Big,” was worth the wait, winning the Pulitzer Prize for literature in 1925. Following Selina Peake De Jong as she tries to be a teacher in a small farming community in Illinois’s Dutch country, the award-winning novel is based on the true story of Antje Paarlberg.
She followed this stunning success with another. In 1926, she published her fifth novel, “Show Boat,” which served as the basis for the mega-successful musical of the same name in 1927, with music by Jerome Kern and libretto by Oscar Hammerstein, also of Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Four years later, Ferber released the novel “Cimarron.” Adapted into a film by RKO Pictures in 1931, the semiWestern tale takes place in the unsettled Cimarron Territory at the turn of the century. An early work of modern historical fiction, the plot follows Yancey Cravat and his wife, Sarba, as they become involved with various events of the time, such as the 1893 Land Rush.
Delving even deeper into American historical fiction, 1931’s “American Beauty” takes a similar tack to “Cimarron,” only this time following the Oakes family of Connecticut between 1700 and 1930, with a similar scope and style as “The Forsyte Saga.”
Showing a bit more of the slightly dark irony that won friends and influenced people at the Algonquin Hotel, Ferber’s 1935 novel “Come and Get It” has an almost farcical sense of the inevitable. An ambitious lumberjack decides not to marry his love, choosing money instead, only to become besotted with his true love’s daughter by another man when he is too old to really do too much about it.
Continuing but at a slower pace, the merchant’s daughter from Kalamazoo published a further four novels and two short-story collections between 1938 and 1958. Also managing to squeeze in two autobiographies, “A Peculiar Treasure” (1939) and “A Kind of Magic” (1963) before dying of stomach cancer in 1968 at the age of 82. A
Growing up in the far north, Trevor James McNeil had little to do other than read when the temperature went below 40 Celsius, and he developed an affinity for stories of all sorts. Graduating from the University of Victoria in 2009, he has been reading and writing in a professional capacity since. He lives in a cabin in the woods with his dog, and firmly believes The Smiths would have been better as a trio.
In early July, our granddaughter, Tchiya, graduated from the police academy. We never saw it coming — not back in her quiet teenage years, when a chipped gel manicure could ruin her day or she spent hours glued to Candy Crush. But seemingly overnight, our delicate ‘babe’ became a police officer. We cheered madly as she crossed the stage with her fellow graduates — Sephardim, Ashkenazim, Arabs, Ethiopians, Russians — to receive her certificate. Ronney and I joined the proud families in singing Hatikvah. Neither of us wiped away our tears. We simply let the moment wash over us. We posed for photos, careful not to press too hard against Tchiya’s pistol or handcuffs. Service. Passion. Zionism. Gratitude. Just another holy, blessing-filled day in the most miraculous place on Earth. A
New York-born Andrea Simantov moved to Israel 29 years ago. She is a small-business owner and both a print and media journalist. Her popular podcast, “Pull Up a Chair,” is produced by Israel News Talk Radio. She can be reached at andrea@israelnewstalkradio.com.
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A Thoroughly Hebrew University
hen the Hebrew University of Jerusalem first opened its doors in 1925, it didn’t merely set out to educate but to redefine education itself. To this end, Hebrew was chosen as its primary medium of instruction. This bold decision reflected a deep commitment to the Zionist vision of reviving the Hebrew language, transforming it from a literary and liturgical language into a vibrant, modern tongue suitable for all fields of academic inquiry.
The University’s mission intertwined closely with the rebirth of Hebrew as a vernacular. Professor Elitzur Bar-Asher Siegal, Chair of the Hebrew University’s Department of Hebrew Language, highlights that the founders deliberately named it The Hebrew University to signal their intention to make Hebrew the cornerstone of higher education. Despite the clarity of this vision, it was fraught with challenges. In the early days, many professors had never been educated in Hebrew, creating substantial roadblocks. According to Professor Bar-Asher Siegal, early faculty often lacked proficiency: “Seven years in, people would say, ‘Oh, they don’t really know Hebrew. No one here really knows Hebrew.’”
Addressing this gap required sustained and intentional efforts. Committees were established to develop
academic terminology in Hebrew, starting with fields like botany and agriculture. These linguistic pioneers worked tirelessly, translating and coining new terms, gradually building a comprehensive academic vocabulary. Teachers sometimes relied on translators during lectures, highlighting the practical difficulties of transitioning to Hebrew. This intensive work took time, only stabilizing once faculty who had themselves studied in Hebrew began teaching.
This linguistic experiment was not entirely without precedent. Elitzur explains that while the idea of reviving a dead language might seem unique, parallels do exist historically, particularly in Europe, where universities transitioned from Latin to vernacular languages during the rise of national consciousness. However, Hebrew’s journey was distinct in its suddenness and totality — a dead language swiftly reborn as a living tongue used daily by students and professors alike.
As Hebrew became deeply embedded at the University, the institution’s own journey wasn’t smooth. When the guns fell silent after Israel’s 1948 War of Independence, the original University campus on Mount Scopus was stranded as a demilitarized enclave behind Jordanian lines.
Determined not to interrupt academic activities, the University scattered across Jerusalem. Administrators scrambled to keep teaching anywhere space could be found. “In ten years, they spread in almost 50 different locations all over the city,” notes urban geographer Dr. Marik Shtern, pointing to borrowed monasteries, private apartments, even the roof of a lecturer’s house where makeshift laboratories sprouted.
The bricolage was ingenious — but exhausting. “Lecturers really complained that it was a humiliating and frustrating experience. They had to teach sometimes three classes, the same class, three times in a row,” Shtern adds, because the venues were too cramped for the growing student body. Students dashed between neighborhoods, never sure a seat — or a Bunsen burner — would be waiting.
Yet the city of Jerusalem thrived on the sudden academic influx. Cafés filled with undergraduates, landlords discovered a ready market, and intellectual life seeped into downtown streets. A university in pieces nonetheless stitched itself to the urban fabric.
Eventually, recognizing the untenability of their scattered existence, University leadership sought a permanent solution, resulting in the construction of the Givat Ram campus in the 1950s. Despite initial disagreements
SPECIAL TO THE SAN DIEGO JEWISH JOURNAL
about its location, Givat Ram became a middle ground, balancing national aspirations championed by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and the practical needs of faculty and students.
Meanwhile, Mount Scopus remained an isolated outpost, its buildings and treasured National Library books largely inaccessible except for heavily guarded convoys. Historian Dr. Yair Paz explains how those trips served double duty: “Throughout those 19 years, they tried to bring in weapons in various ways to strengthen Mount Scopus’s ability to hold out against a surprise attack.” Books came down from the National Library; crates of jeep parts, spare radios, and the odd rifle went up under the noses of Jordanian troops and UN observers.
When the Six-Day War reunited Jerusalem in June 1967, the “coiled spring” snapped. Even before the last shots faded on the Golan Heights, University leaders raced to the mountaintop, raised the flag, and drafted a schedule for return.
Today, the University’s linguistic and academic legacies converge in new research approaches, including digital tools, big data, and formal logic applied to language study.
Professor Bar-Asher Siegal himself exemplifies this modern interdisciplinary trend, combining classical philology with advanced computational methods to explore Hebrew linguistics deeply. He describes leveraging mathematical logic to understand linguistic phenomena, like causation in language or the historical development of reciprocal expressions such as “one another.”
Yet Bar-Asher cautions against tech euphoria. Big data can reveal patterns no human could spot — but only scholars steeped in philology can judge whether those patterns matter. The future, he suggests, belongs to teams that know classical grammar and code, history and statistics — a hybrid skill set the University is racing to cultivate.
The story of the Hebrew University is, at heart, a story about conversation — between disciplines, between city and campus, between centuries-old texts and tomorrow’s algorithms. It endured convoys packed with books and laboratory glassware rattling on wooden bus seats. It flourished in a language many thought too fragile for microscopes and legal codes — until committees, teachers, and generations of graduates proved otherwise.
Today, from the limestone facades of Mount Scopus to the sleek labs of the Edmond J. Safra Givat Ram campus, the University still lives in two spaces at once: the old and the new, the literal and the formal, the city street and the logical predicate. Its scholars build computational models of causation in Hebrew; its archivists digitize manuscripts whose authors never dreamed of electricity. And every time a researcher coins a new technical term, or a coder trains a neural network in biblical poetry, we are reminded that languages, like universities, survive by refusing to stand still.
To hear more fascinating stories from Hebrew University’s past and present, listen to The View from Mt. Scopus — the podcast bringing to life the people and ideas that make this institution a beacon of knowledge and impact, for Israel and for the world.
Extracurriculars and Achievements
by Makayla Hoppe
For San Diego Jewish Academy, experiential education is at the heart of all they do. According to Head of School Zvi Weiss, “The teachers create excellent educational experiences in an inclusive and supportive learning environment, and we try to as much as possible make the learning relevant through providing innovative and realworld experiences to the students.”
Nowhere is this more evident than in the recent achievements of six students: Meno Nassi and Gabriel Shuster, winners of The Cadena Initiative; Mario Modiano and Ava Woolf, winners of the “2025 Shorashim — My Family Story” project; and Spencer Foss and Ava Lerman, winners of the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair.
The Cadena Initiative
Described as “a social entrepreneurship competition aimed at young people between 13 and 16 years of age,” The Cadena Initiative gives students the opportunity to build and implement innovative solutions to disasters or humanitarian issues in vulnerable communities. Meno Nassi and Gabriel Shuster developed what they call a “Floodicator,” designed to alert residents to quickly rising floodwaters. They used the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans as an example of an area that could have used their invention to notify the community.
“In our middle school, we learn about the design process and how to create a product that’s executable. We learned how to test and revise,” Gabriel
Experiential opportunities make learning relevant, and it sticks.
said. “Our project also related to Tikkun Olam and the importance of helping people in need, like those who are victims of floods.”
“The students can sign up for an actual class where they work on creating a project for the competition,” Zvi said. “The students employ a design
thinking framework to conceptualize and implement their project...These experiential opportunities really make learning relevant, and it sticks. Being able to actually make a difference in the world really takes root in our students and that commitment to Tikkun Olam: making the world a better place.”
Meno and Gabriel won the U.S. competition in April and went on to participate in the international competition in Colombia, where they took third place.
2025 Shorashim — My Family Story
Led by Anu — Museum of the Jewish People, the “2025 Shorashim — My Family Story” project encourages students to tell their family’s histories creatively.
Ava Woolf, who came in fourth place, described her project as “A yellow ribbon symbolizing support and solidarity for the safe return of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists in Israel. Surrounding the yellow ribbon is the Western Wall, the most holy place in Israel. As you open my yellow ribbon, you find my Jewish connection in the
diaspora. Each room represents an important place for our family and my connection to Judaism.”
Mario Modiano came in third place and created “A Tallit using fabrics from my family, making it a meaningful piece of wearable art that represents my roots, my family’s love and traditions. I learned to stitch and incorporated my great-great-grandmother’s 100-year-old pillowcase to create maps of America and Europe, symbolizing where my family comes from.”
The competition is international, featuring hundreds of students from around the globe. “The fact that two of our students made it into the top five, I think, says a lot about what we do here at the school,” Zvi said. “They interview as many generations back, wide and far as they can, and it’s amazing to see, when the kids present them, how much they’ve learned about their families.”
Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair
Competing in the senior division, Spencer Foss and Ava Lerman submitted microbiology projects for the 71st
FEATURE
Annual Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair (GSDSEF). Originating in 1955, the science fair encourages and motivates San Diego students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Spencer was awarded first place honors for his project on Sucralose Exposed Bacteria’s Relationship to Future Increase in Antibiotic Resistance Genes. The San Diego County Dental Foundation also presented him with the Professional Society Award in recognition of his work. Spencer was acknowledged as one of only four students in San Diego to compete in the GSDSEF for five or more years, earning him four first-place awards and one second-place award within that time.
Ava researched and proposed the Effectiveness of Ultrasonic Waves on Cyanobacteria for Algal Bloom Mitigation to a panel of judges and took second place. In addition to the GSDSEF award, she received the Professional Society Award from the Water Environment Federation and the Stockholm Junior Water Prize for her work.
SDJA Looks to the Future
The academy plans to add new classes and programs to support students in their pursuits outside the classroom.
“We have something called Academic Coaching,” Zvi said. “Key classes in the Upper School are going to be bringing in additional faculty so that we’re making sure that the students are challenged and supported…The faculty has now designed weekly academic support sessions to ensure that all students are fully supported in their academic trajectory. Those sessions are imbued with traditional values.”
San Diego Jewish Academy prides itself on its experiential education and supports all its students in whichever fields fuel their interests and passions. These students’ achievements are just a small sample of all that this academy has to offer. A
Above: Ava Woolf and Mario Modiano with their awardwinning Shorashim projects.
Lions Tigers & Bears — Oh Yes!
by Susan Edelstein
Abutting the Cleveland National Forest with all its rugged beauty sits 142 idyllic acres 4,000 feet above sea level that are home to more than 60 rescued exotic animals, mostly lions, tigers and bears, from all over the US. This is a true sanctuary in Alpine that began in 2002 when founder Bobbi Brink rescued two tigers from a concrete and chain link Texas backyard. Thus began her mission to rescue and then provide a peaceful, dignified forever home to previously neglected and abused animals.
Bobbi and her devoted, tireless crew invite the public to visit Lions Tigers & Bears and learn all about their extraordinary enterprise. Through their education programs, Lions Tigers & Bears teaches about the plight of exotic animals and the important and humane work of rescuing and caring for them in a nurturing habitat. For our education issue, San Diego Jewish Journal spoke with Bobbi Brink, and it’s agreed that the greatest lesson learned at Lions Tigers & Bears is empathy.
SDJJ: When did you begin offering educational programs? How does it work? Do schools bring students on field trips?
BB: We began offering educational programs not long after opening our sanctuary in Alpine. Education is a cornerstone of our mission, and as the sanctuary grew, so did the opportunities to teach others about the exotic animal trade and the importance of protecting these animals. We welcome schools, scout groups and youth organizations for guided field trips where students can visit the sanctuary, learn about each rescued animal’s story, and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges
these animals face in captivity. Our educational experiences are immersive, engaging, and designed to be age-appropriate. Students leave the sanctuary with a whole new perspective on animals and the challenges they face.
That moment of empathy often leads to meaningful action.
SDJJ: Which of your educational programs do you see as most effective?
BB: Our Daily (Member for a Day) Educational Visits and Internship Program stand out as two of the most impactful. The daily visits provide guests with powerful, first-hand stories of the animals’ rescues, while educating about the broader issues behind the exotic animal trade. Our internships are designed for college students and provide in-depth, real-world experience in animal care, behavior, legislation, communications, and more. Many interns go on to pursue careers in animal welfare and advocacy, so we know those lessons stay with them for life.
SDJJ: Is there a particular age group that you see as most inspired by their experience with the animals?
BB: Children between the ages of 8 and 14 are often the most visibly inspired. They’re old enough to grasp the issues and young enough that it really shapes how they see animals and the world. That said, adults leave just as moved. Many tell us it’s the first time they’ve truly understood the horrors behind roadside zoos, cub petting and private ownership. Education doesn’t have an age limit, and we see transformation happen in guests of all ages.
SDJJ: What do you see as the most important goal in educating people about Lions Tigers & Bears?
BB: The most important goal is to inspire change through awareness. We want people to walk away not only feeling compassion for our rescued animals, but also motivated to speak up, educate others, and avoid supporting industries that exploit wildlife. If we can encourage action, whether it’s choosing not to visit a roadside attraction, contacting a legislator, or supporting accredited sanctuaries, then we’ve done our job.
SDJJ: What do you hear from those who have experienced these animals in their sanctuary?
BB: We hear words like eye-opening, life-changing, heartbreaking and hopeful. Guests are deeply moved by seeing the animals up close and hearing the traumatic experiences they’ve overcome. Many express gratitude that a place like Lions Tigers & Bears exists. They’re often surprised by how calm and peaceful the sanctuary feels; it’s a far cry from the chaos many of these animals came from. People leave with a renewed sense of purpose and responsibility.
SDJJ: It must take a legion of people to run this operation, from retrieval of animals all over the country to their
day-to-day care. Were any of them inspired by your educational programs to become a part of Lions Tigers & Bears?
BB: Absolutely! Many of our volunteers, interns and even staff members started off as guests or students. They came on a field trip, attended a visit or completed an internship and felt so inspired that they wanted to give back. Some now help with animal care, education, events or even assist with rescues across the country. It’s a full-circle journey, and we’re proud that our programs spark that kind of lifelong commitment.
SDJJ: All education should endeavor to inspire compassion, empathy and activism. Can you speak about that as an actual outcome of your programs?
BB: That’s exactly the heart of what we aim to do. Every educational program at Lions Tigers & Bears is designed to create a personal connection between people and animals. Once someone locks eyes with a rescued tiger or hears a bear’s survival story, they can’t unsee it. That moment of empathy often leads to meaningful action, whether it’s a child telling their parents they never want to go to a circus again or a college student choosing a career in wildlife protection. Compassion leads to action, and action leads to change. That’s what gives our work purpose. A
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The Warrior Village Project — Building More than Homes
by Susan Edelstein
There is an educational opportunity afoot right now that is described by its founder, Mark Pilcher, as a “win-win-win” situation. That opportunity is the Warrior Village Project, which operates construction classes on high school campuses to build tiny, moveable houses for homeless veterans, and at the same time teaches a new generation the skills involved in home construction. Students learn valuable skills, veterans get a muchdeserved home, and the building industry grows — a trifecta.
Mark Pilcher, returning to the U.S. after living in Asia for 17 years, was looking to give back to his San Diego community in a meaningful way. He founded the Warrior Village Project in 2018 and patiently put together a collaboration of many members of the building industry, the nonprofits serving veterans and educators at San Diego high schools and colleges who pour
their time, resources and expertise into lessons on creating houses for those in need — lessons in skilled trades, empathy and responsible citizenship.
Mark explained his inspiration: “Homelessness, exacerbated by a shortage of housing, is a pressing issue. We need to encourage young people to enter the building trades to replace the professionals who are retiring, or we will continue to have a shortage of housing. For generations, we have told our children that they had to go to college to be successful and happy. As a result, we have had a persistent shortage of people entering skilled trades. We need people who can build, maintain and repair the infrastructure our society depends on. It seemed like an obvious thing to do: train the next generation of home builders by building affordable housing in high school construction classes.”
When asked why his project is focused on homeless vets when there
are so many homeless, Mark responded, “There are about 10,000 unhoused people in San Diego County. We started by focusing on the 750 who are veterans. People become homeless for a variety of reasons, but we understand that homelessness among veterans is often the result of the trauma they experienced in service to their country; they are particularly deserving of our help. I never served in the military. My father was a Navigator of a B-17 during WWII. The Warrior Village Project is my way of honoring my father and serving veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country.”
The first house, an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit), opened in March 2022, and since then, ten veterans have lived in the unit. Now, the students are building Movable Tiny Houses. During the 20242025 school year, students at San Marcos High School, San Pasqual High School in Escondido and Rancho Buena Vista High
We understand that homelessness among veterans is often the result of the trauma they experienced in service to their country; they are particularly deserving of our help.
School in Vista built four tiny houses, and plan to build four more this school year. The ultimate goal is to have enough schools involved that each year 12 houses can be built, which will then be moved to pocket neighborhood communities throughout San Diego County, consisting of 12 tiny houses plus a small community center (laundry, kitchen, large dining table) supporting the veterans.
Chris Geldert, a teacher at San Marcos High School, was the first to sign on to the Warrior Village Project. Says Chris, “When Mark first came to us, it was almost a no-brainer...This has huge meaning behind it for the kids, and they were all excited. It’s really transformed our program.” Both Chris and Mark have seen a steady increase in confidence in the students who participate in the project and an appreciation for the outcome. A San Marcos High senior said, “I was kind of honored to be able to build a structure for a homeless person. All of
us are excited to see the final project. It’s going to be cool.”
The home building/skilled labor industries have provided materials and additional instructional support. Says Mark, “We have had plumbers, electricians, fire safety system installers, roofers, and window installers come to our schools to work with our students. It is a great opportunity for our students to talk with building trades professionals about what a career in the trades is really like. We would love to have more trades professionals come and work with our students.”
Addressing the needs of high schoolers to graduate with real skills and accomplishments, a worthwhile goal in itself, Mark said, ”Hundreds of students, most of whom come from lowincome families, have benefitted from our program by learning valuable trades skills. For many, working in the building trades could be the first step on the ladder of the American dream for them and their families.”
It is Mark’s goal to expand the Warrior Village Project to other schools throughout San Diego County, building skills, character and tiny houses. A
Facing page: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for first completed house. Top photo: Malaine Rodriguez (Recruiter) and Nathan Snyder (Plumber) of Pacific Rim Mechanical with SMHS students in SMHS Movable Tiny House #15. Bottom photos, from left: James Houts of Milgard Windows teaching students to install windows at RBHS; cabinets built at Palomar College installed in first house.
We Have Been Blessed — Big Time!
by Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort
What a difference a month makes!
We have been profoundly blessed, and for this we must be profoundly grateful. Baruch Hashem, thank G-d, the Middle East, and especially Israel, is much safer today than even a month ago. The immediate Iranian threat has been neutralized, thanks to the expertise and courage of the US armed forces and the IDF, along with a determined policy from the political echelon of both countries. If we had been told about the current situation on Oct. 8, 2023, I doubt we would have believed this possible.
Let’s take a quick inventory: the Hamas terrorists have been almost entirely decimated, and their fighting capabilities have been severely degraded. The Hezbollah terrorists have been almost entirely decimated, and their fighting capabilities have been severely degraded. The Iranian armed forces have been shown to be incapable of protecting its terrorist proxies, its own airspace, its leading generals, its nuclear scientists, its politicians, its propaganda sources, its banking systems, its nuclear program, its ballistic missile program and its various state-controlled mechanisms for controlling and terrorizing its own population.
Consider this: the Iranian Mullahs have spent decades planning and investing in the destruction of Israel
and the U.S. They have spent hundreds of billions of dollars (money that could have been spent on improving the lives of their citizens) to feed into their hateful worldview. In just a few weeks, all their nightmarish plans have been utterly pulverized.
At least for now, the forces for good can operate from a position of strength.
Why did they invest so much and work so hard to destroy Israel and the west? They are motivated by hatred. They hate Israel because it is the Jewish state, and they hate the U.S. because it protects Western civilization. That is not all they hate. They hate Muslims, too. That is why they are behind destabilization efforts across the Middle East and beyond.
The Saudis, Egyptians, Jordanians, Syrians, Lebanese, the Gulf states and many more are all breathing a sigh
of relief at this moment. They know that Israel is not their enemy. They know that Israel will never engage in an offensive war against them. They know the Iranians would have, if they thought they could get away with it. Now that the nuclear threat has been dramatically degraded, they know that their region and the world is a much safer place. The weaker the Iranian regime, the better off the world is. Baruch Hashem — thank G-d!
Of course, we know the work is not done. Vigilance must be maintained. It may be necessary for more armed work. In fact, everything the Iranians are saying publicly seems to indicate that
regime remains in power. But at least now the forces for good can operate from a position of strength. Maybe, just maybe, there has been enough of a paradigm shift to allow for true peace to break out in that troubled region.
It is astonishing that the terrorist proxies did not fire a shot during Iran’s time of dire need. Either they couldn’t, or they wouldn’t, knowing that they would have been pounded into powder had they tried.
There is still a lot of work to do. We have to work on correcting the false narratives being promulgated in the mainstream media and on college campuses around the country and
sure the fringe, antisemitic elements of the party do not gain control.
There is a lot of work remaining. We must work tirelessly to bring home all the hostages. Israel must complete the utter defeat of the Hamas terrorists and free the poor, innocent Gazans. Israel must help them find a way to live in true peace and freedom.
But, Baruch Hashem, thank G-d, we have been blessed in miraculous ways, and we are all much safer today thanks to these blessings. There is so much to be happy about. We all must certainly add some prayers of thanksgiving! A
Of Security, Tragedy & Cherries
by Galia Miller Sprung
Majdal Shams, a picturesque
Druze village in the foothills of Mt. Hermon, is renowned for its luscious, deep purple cherries. Now, tragically, the name brings up horrific images.
One year ago, on Saturday, July 27, 2024, Hezbollah aimed a rocket at a soccer field where children were playing and fired. The result was devastating: 12 children were murdered and over 40 residents were injured.
Since that day, visitors to the Golan come not only for the cherries but also to pay their respects at the site of the attack.
During our recent tour of the Golan Heights and Mt. Hermon, my husband and I knew that a visit to the soccer field would be a significant and emotional part of the day. But we started at the top — literally: Mt. Hermon, Israel’s highest point with an elevation of 9,323 feet.
The tour was organized by the NGO, Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF) to see the areas so prominent in the news — Syria and Lebanon. The
tour’s participants probably have varying political views, but all were interested in seeing the sites firsthand and hearing analysis from military experts.
Mt. Hermon — A Magnificent Monument
Riding the Mt. Hermon cable car to the upper station, we enjoyed magnificent panoramic views: westward toward the Upper Galilee, southern Lebanon, and the Hula Valley; eastward in the direction of the IDF posts and the famous “Sinkhole Valley” battlefields from the Yom Kippur War.
Leaving the cable cars, our group gathered across the road from the mountain station. My husband and I went directly to the monument for 14 Golani reconnaissance fighters who were killed in the battles to retake the Hermon in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. One of the names on the memorial is Chaim Haran (Chuck Hornstein), who was my husband’s close friend. We, along with dozens of Golani fighters
past and present, stood on that same spot two years earlier during the unveiling ceremony for the monument. Nearby was another monument commemorating four of those recon fighters who received commendations for bravery.
Our guide, Col. (Ret.) Tal Raz, was armed not only with the extensive knowledge of a licensed tour guide, but also with the knowledge and experience of a former IDF commander. I get lost sometimes when the focus of a guide’s talk is on battles and military history, mainly because of the army jargon. On most trips with Israelis, you’ll find former IDF soldiers, and they often lapse into exchanges mentioning battalions, companies and brigades. They reminisce about the majors, colonels and generals they served under. As usual, one of the men on the tour was a veteran of the Hermon battles. He told his story of the events of 50 years ago, but it felt like yesterday for most of us standing there, including me.
New outposts and a field hospital to treat the Syrian Druze population is now in the northern Golan Heights.
Security — The Eyes of Israel I followed Tal’s arm as he pointed out the sites below, the distant hills. The Hermon is often referred to as “The Eyes of Israel,” and standing there near the monuments, with the clear views of the Hula Valley, Lebanon and Syria, it’s clear why. Without being political, the strategic and security value of the Golan Heights and the Hermon is indisputable.
An advantage of going on tours with the IDSF is its ability to gain access to closed military areas. Today, this meant an opportunity to gain an even higher vantage point on the Hermon — if you were willing to hike 15 minutes winding your way up the hill to the ridge.
“Look to the north,” Tal commanded as we hiked. “That’s the ‘Hermon’s Crown,’ where IDF troops are stationed.” He pointed out new outposts in the northern Golan Heights. We reached the ridge that overlooks an expansive valley. “See the L-shaped low structure and the building to its right?” Tal said. “That’s a new outpost. The other is a UN post,
and next to that is the field hospital set up by the IDF to treat the Syrian Druze population.”
Yes. New outposts and a field hospital in what was, until last December, part of the demilitarized buffer zone on the Syrian side. Now, the IDF is there. With the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Israel declared the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria void. When Assad fell, the Syrian army abandoned its positions, leaving a vacuum in the crucial buffer zone. Israeli troops moved east into the zone, taking defensive positions to prevent any incursion into Israel from rebel forces who had taken control of Syria.
After a short drive down from the Hermon, we stopped by a border fence at the “Shouting Hill,” and it is exactly as it sounds. It was a popular spot after the Six Day War when Israel gained control of the Golan Heights. Druze families found themselves on different sides of the border. Families on the Syrian side would gather by the UN observation
post — elevation 3,609 feet — while families who now found themselves on the Israeli side stood by the border fence, where we were now standing. “Fadia had a baby boy!” a proud father might yell into a bullhorn, hoping his words would traverse the one and a half miles from a UN post. “Mabrouk (Congratulations) on the new baby!” might be hollered back.
The practice eventually dwindled when cell phones came into common use. Still, standing at the border fence with Syria, even though today it is the buffer controlled by the IDF, was a chilling reminder again of just how close we are on all our borders to those who want to destroy us.
Cherries — From the Druze of the Golan
We continued to the shuk, the marketplace of the Druze village of Majdal Shams, not far away. “Don’t be disappointed if the cherries aren’t good now,” Tal warned us. “This is the end of
on next page
Left photo: “Shouting Hill” from the Israeli side of the border fence. At right: Author and husband David at the memorial for the 14 Golani recon fighters.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GALIA MILLER SPRUNG.
Of Security, Tragedy...
the season. Don’t take the soft ones!” With that, we were off to bargain our way to a few pounds of cherries. I walked around checking prices, but the vendors had their own cartel. Soft: 30 NIS; hard: 40 NIS. I opted for the hard ones, took a plastic container and started to fill it with my chosen cherries. “Hey! What are you doing?” the vendor yelled at me. “If you hand pick them from the carton, it’s 50 NIS!” I looked around me. No one was laughing. He was serious. “Okay,” I said, “I’ll scoop.” However, I discreetly threw away as many damaged ones as possible. I couldn’t leave without tasty cherries from the Druze of the Golan.
Tragedy — The Soccer Field
Our last stop loomed ahead. Our driver deftly maneuvered the bus around the narrow, hilly streets of Majdal Shams to take us to the soccer field. Kids were in the middle of a practice session, running and kicking the ball. But not as though nothing had happened. That’s impossible.
As the bus approached the parking area, we saw large pictures of the 12 children and youth who were killed. A corner of the playing field remains as it was after the attack. Lying outside the damaged field were mangled burned bicycles, scooters and an off-road vehicle, now permanent reminders of the disaster. Pieces of black mourning cloth are tied to the chain-linked fence. Imagine your kids playing every day just inches away from the spot where a rocket exploded and is now filled with wreaths, individual pictures next to team hats, scarves and other personal favorites of each victim.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Afif Tafesh, in charge of community security, was waiting for us. He described the events of that horrific day as he stood in front of the fence at the goal end of the field. The pictures of the children behind him covered a large section of the fence. The words were in Arabic, but the date was clear: 27-07-2024.
A corner of the playing field remains as it was after the attack...permanent reminders of the disaster.
We learned more about the village and Druze culture from Afif. Of the estimated 150,000 Druze in Israel, 12,000 live in Majdal Shams. Druze are known for their loyalty to the State of Israel with an enlistment rate of over 80%. Sad proof of this is the 12 IDF officers and soldiers who have lost their lives in the fighting since Oct. 7. The highest ranking among them was Col. Ehsan Daqsa, commander of the 401st Armored Brigade.
We saw the holes from shrapnel in the outer walls of the migunit — the shelter — no one had time to enter. There were holes in the community building near the field as well. The soccer field will become a permanent monument, and a new field
will be built in the space where we were standing — between the field and the community building. Afif has hopes for a new sports center in the memory of the victims of that awful day. Three days after the tragedy, Israel assassinated Fouad Shukr, Hezbollah’s chief of staff, in Beirut and the one responsible for the attack.
We slowly made our way to the bus, pictures of the victims on every structure. We left the Golan carrying our few pounds of cherries, but this time I carried something much heavier. I carried the shared sense of loss, pain and destruction. A
The children from Majdal Shams who were killed in the attack.
PHOTO COURTESY OF EILEEN GOLDSTEIN.
BY MICAH SIVA
Paneer Shashlik with Harissa Sauce (Kebabs)
Summertime means time to fire up the grill and get spicy! I like to think outside the box when it comes to grilling season, using one of my favorite vegetarian proteins, paneer! Paneer is fresh, non-aged, pressed cheese that holds its shape during cooking. It is common in Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cuisine. I like to use “Sach Foods” brand. Harissa is a spice blend or chili paste from North Africa made of dried chilis, garlic, and spices. It’s spicy, smoky, sweet and complex. Whether you like it mild, medium or spicy, you’ll love these cheesy, vegetarian kebabs!
SERVES 4
INGREDIENTS
Harissa
• 2 medium red bell peppers, washed and dried
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 4 tsp. harissa seasoning
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp. date syrup
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Wooden skewers, soaked in water for at least one hour
Shashlik
• 1, 6-oz. block paneer, cut into 1-in. cubes
• 2 medium zucchini, cut into ½ in. thick circles
• 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1 in. pieces
• ½ red onion, cut into 1-in. wedges
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
PREPARATION
Make the Harissa
1. On the grill: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Add the peppers whole and let cook for 12 to 16 minutes, using tongs to rotate and char all sides until blackened.
2. In the oven: Place the oven rack a few inches below the heating element. Line a baking tray with foil. Place the whole peppers on the foil-lined baking sheet and broil, turning to char all sides for about 15 minutes.
3. Once charred, add them to a heat proof bowl, and cover tightly with a lid or plastic wrap to steam for at least 10 minutes.
4. Peel the peppers to remove the charred skin with your hands; remove the seeds.
5. Add the charred pepper to a food processor with the garlic, harissa seasoning, olive oil, date syrup, lemon juice, salt and pepper, pulsing until well combined but not fully smooth.
Make the Shashlik
1. Meanwhile, make the shashlik. Skewer the paneer, zucchini, bell pepper, and red onion in an alternating pattern. Brush with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
2. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Grill for 7 to 9 minutes, rotating halfway through until the vegetables are tender.
3. Serve the skewers with harissa.
Local Arts
BY EILEEN SONDAK
NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE
northcoastrep.org
North Coast Repertory Theatre is showing off the Tony Award-winning musical, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” a brilliant comedy that puts an amusing twist on an intricate murder plot, and boasts an imaginative score. The results are pure fun and exhilarating entertainment. The show will light up the stage through Aug. 24
THE OLD GLOBE THEATRE
theoldglobe.org
The Globe’s outdoor Festival Stage continues to showcase the Bard’s “The Comedy of Errors,” a mix of madcap comedy and merry mayhem. In this uproariously funny play, mistaken identities and confused lovers propel the zany plot. You have until Aug. 24 to get in on the fun.
The Old Globe’s White Theatre will unveil the West Coast premiere of “Deceived” on Aug. 9, which will run through Aug. 31. “Deceived” is based on the psychological thriller “Gaslight,” and it will send shivers down your spine with its strange occurrences.
LAMB’S PLAYERS THEATRE
lambsplayers.org
The Lamb’s Players is taking a sentimental journey back to the 1970s with “The ‘70s! The Golden Age of the Album.” If you’re a fan of the era – or just looking for a good time with vintage music – head to the Lamb’s Coronado home before it ends its run on Sept. 14. The troupe has been successful with musical revues for a while, but this song-filled extravaganza may be the best of the bunch.
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY
ART SAN DIEGO
mcasd.org
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego has added “Celestial and Terrestrial Worlds” and “Land and Sea” to its current offerings. These selections from the collection feature the use of landscapes to examine local and global concerns.
Also on view is “Yan Pei-Ming: A Burial in Shanghai,” slated to stay on through Jan. 4.
NORTH COAST REP: Lauren Weinberg, Andrew Polec and Katy Tang in the musical comedy “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.” Photo by Aaron Rumley.
OCEANSIDE MUSEUM OF ART
oma-online.org
The Oceanside Museum of Art is displaying “Step Inside the Space Between: Texture Studies by Dinja Harris.” The exhibition is a blending of yarn, sculpture and illumination. Get a feel for these artworks through Oct. 12
LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY
theconrad.org
“Takeover at the Jai” is slated for Aug. 7, and Aug. 8 features “Strung Together.” “Hommage” is on tap for Aug. 10, and “Midweek Masterworks” takes the spotlight on Aug. 13. On Aug. 14,“Synergy: Tasting Notes” gives audiences a re-imagined twist by pairing food with a Dvorak masterpiece. “Love Songs” takes over on Aug. 15. “Synergy: Book of Ayres” is the Aug. 16 offering, and “Synergy: Dance at the Jai” comes our way on Aug. 17. There’s another “Midweek Masterworks” on tap for Aug. 20, and “Profound Reflections” is slated for the 22nd. The SummerFest finale, “Starburst,” bursts on the scene Aug. 23 to close the eclectic season on a high note.
LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
lajollaplayhouse.org
La Jolla Playhouse is getting ready to bring a new musical to the Potiker Theatre. “The Heart” takes audiences on an emotional journey through 24 suspenseful hours in the life of a terminally ill woman. As she awaits the arrival of her life-saving heart, we meet the people who are impacted along the way. The show, at the Playhouse Aug. 19 through Sept. 21, promises to keep you on the edge of your seat, with an electronic score to add to the excitement.
BROADWAY SAN DIEGO
broadwaysd.com
Broadway San Diego will bring “Shucked” to the Civic Theatre Aug. 12-17. This new musical has earned rave reviews for its originality and unexpected delights. “Shucked” has been described as funnier than all other musicals combined — which is pretty high praise. The great cast includes Miki Abraham from Broadway, so we should be in for quite a treat. Sounds like a must-see for musical theater buffs.
OMA: “Step Inside the Space Between.”
BROADWAY SAN DIEGO: “Shucked.”
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Sonia Cevallos – Oceanside
Joanna Schulmann – La Jolla
Dianne Bodzin – San Diego
Gabriel Glass – Santa Monica, CA
Mikhail Mak – Chula Vista
• Fight anti-semitism
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Lewis Schainuck – San Diego
Victoria Cohen – San Diego
Sara Betech – Chula Vista
Edith Smargon – La Jolla
Jordan Kellner – Vista
Irene Samuels – Santee
Arlene Sterling – La Mesa
Deborah Friedlaender – La Jolla
• Support Naval Hospital San Diego & Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton
• and much more Meet 2nd Sunday of the month 11:00 AM Veterans Association North County (VANC) 1617 Mission Ave,
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by Marnie Macauley marniemacauley@gmail.com
The Care and Feeding of a Gifted Child (Heaven Help You!)
My dear San Diegans:
Today, in our education issue, I give you a personal story with strategies that will hopefully make your journey with your “genius” child a blessing (instead of a curse). Enjoy!
Is every healthy Jewish child... gifted?
Yes. Even if he has trouble “tying” his Velcro sneakers—at five. But you should see him help mommy cook a brisket! He’s in charge of aluminum foil, and he cuts off the perfect size. And he’s a whiz at “fixing” with our business account ledger—on the computer—to surprise us (“David! Stop it! Stop it right now!”).
If this sounds a bit familiar, the “Teflon trope” called “genius” is widely encouraged in a manic society where everyone should be, could be, must be “perfect.” The best.
I speak from experience. I have a gifted child (now an adult). First, to settle any highly fair skepticism, he tests at 153 I.Q. (For irritation quotient.) Mazel Tov! I assure you, an honor it isn’t. What was it? The start of my lifelong relationship with Rolaids.
Being an older first-time mother, I knew nothing about “birthing.” My late husband knew everything as he had children from a prior marriage.
My “inane prideful imagination” started with the ultrasound. The
Boundaries, expectations and discipline must not suffer, no matter how articulate the debate.
nice lady doing it said, “That’s odd,” (and smiled as she called for another technician to look). It seems my developing son appeared to be...“counting his fingers.” His father just shrugged while I pasted this photograph in the baby book. A sure sign.
The day he was born, my normally calm, British husband, said, “Hmmm. I’ve never seen that: a one-day old infant lifting his head straight up and trying to look around.”
When a Jewish Brit walks around in mild wonder, a crazy Queens N.Y. Jewish mom runs—at the mouth, I’m ashamed to admit.
We hired an au pair, as I, the quintessential mommy wannabe, was also a workaholic. (Still am.) Rose was from England. She wasn’t the sharpest crayon. Our son passed her at 2 years old. She did notice that at 1 ½ years old, he knew all his letters on the fridge. That was the start of nutty-mom teaching him to read, which he did, shocking all who witnessed this miracle which means half of New York City. Ditto for math. Even his generally sensible grandpa was uncharacteristically unhinged.
At 3 years old, he got into one of the toniest prep schools in New York, where all the mothers wore “I’m a Harvard Mom,” dated 18 years in the future. We had the status of lining up the only heavily used Hyundai in a sea of shining Lexuses at the front gates.
Yes, our “genius” did amazing things, including appearing on Broadway at 9, but there was also the time at 11, when he drove our car to a nearby state. And this was only the start. More, his grades proceeded to dip each year as he argued quite vociferously that homework limited originality. Desperate, I found a college that accepted gifted teens with the mission that they were ready for university work and could skip high school. He composed a concerto and responded to Plato’s “The Cave” to get in. (Imagine 200 “geniuses”—male and female, hormonal, in the woods together.
But that’s another story. The college has since closed, sadly.)
Meanwhile, eventually, with hard work and a reconfiguring of values, including the position of mama’s head, he is now a functional human being who is only mildly miserable, most often about the fate of the world.
And we adore each other most of the time and always will. I find his intellect and odd way of viewing the world fascinating, and hopefully he’s learned a few tricks from this old dog.
STRATEGIES IF YOUR CHILD IS A GENIUS.
The following are strategies I wish I had been told long ago.
First, if you suspect a genius in your midst, make sure. Do test the child, but not in toddlerhood. Theoretically, age 8 works well, but you can test younger. Here’s why you might want to get a pro
opinion: Genius is as different from even the very intelligent as children with below average IQs are to the norm of about 100. Simply, a smart kid with about a 125 IQ has almost limitless possibilities, but one with 150 IQ is a bird that doesn’t flock. Some years ago, in discussing this with a member of the team responsible for administering intelligence testing, she explained, “The genius thinks entirely differently from the rest of us. In some ways, it’s like they’re in another dimension.” Buckle up, for this is a very bumpy ride. Despite grandpop’s opinion, you need to get the correct story so that you know what you’re dealing with.
1. Praise Wisely.
Praising for “success” or “natural gifts” is like telling our daughter, “Congratulations! You’re so gorgeous!” De-emphasize. The child’s smart and of
course will ace his ABC’s. (He’s known them for a year, assuming they’re still teaching them.) Acknowledge with a nodding smile. This isn’t in a heavy praise op. You want to praise effort and determination, with specificity and personalization on a challenge met and mastered. The child did a particularly thorough job on a creative piece of writing. The verbiage? “You worked hard on this and it shows. I especially liked your use of imagination to show us you see AI co-existing with man. I’d love to see more of this creation.” In one or two sentences, you: were specific, (AI), helped him see himself as imaginative, showed support for effort and offered excitement over the continued journey. This process will move the child away from expecting things to come too easily and feeling entitled — a common problem with the gifted. continues on page 44 >>
2. Accept Failure.
Failure is often met with harsh selfcriticism. The gifted child will find it hugely disappointing and “unfair” to “fail.” The best thing we can teach is that failure can be our best friend. It’s not only acceptable, it’s essential to teach us what won’t work and to keep plugging. Even Einstein took over 15 years to develop his Theory of Relativity. Once again, the skill is perseverance and determination, not instant success.
3. IQ doesn’t equal EQ (Emotional Intelligence).
Remember above when I got the story that homework was irrelevant, even damaging? Very clever, very manipulative, very wrong. It’s an easy trap for parents to fall into. After all, if little Harley can produce a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in second grade, we should all pay attention to her superior nonsense. No. It’s intellectually seductive, but a kid is a kid is a kid. Just think of it as a particularly brilliant way of worm-holing. Boundaries, expectations and discipline must not suffer no matter how articulate the debate.
Once again, the skill is perseverance and determination, not instant success.
4. Challenge is all. Put the child in a suitable environment with other highly bright children so the child may realize while unique, the luck of brilliance isn’t. There are many other geniuses out there who work at their goals. Your child needs healthy competition and role modeling. One genius? Extraordinary. Ten geniuses? What else is new? Unfortunately, there aren’t enough schools for this group as no problem “in society” is assumed, yet a child who isn’t with peers may wind up wasting potential and the “world” is giving them the entitlement they “deserve.” There are a lot of geniuses on the sidelines, quoting “Atlas Shrugged” to themselves.
ROTISSERIE AFFAIR CATERING
5. You must do, practice and insist on all of the above to help your child sail this phenomenal yet risky course.
No showboating. Little Harley is... little Harley. She’s bright? Yeah, moving on. You must practice praising and encouraging determination, persistence, discipline and patience, over “easy success.” In your own life and your child’s. That also means not being duped or sandbagged by little Harley or Harold. It’s hard. A child like this is a gift with the potential of becoming a curse. That simple difference requires a careful tread so that development is solid, wellrounded and as grounded as the Western Wall. A
Marnie Macauley, MS, Columbia University –Creator of Strategic Relationship Thinking (an innovative way to solve problems), writer, editor, author, lecturer, clinician, and administrator – is a straight-shooter, with a distinctive voice and take on the world in her columns, features and books. She has been nominated for both an Emmy and a Writers Guild award.
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