April 2022

APRIL 2022 | ADAR • NISSAN 5782

Passover Issue WoW Festival

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Contents

PUBLISHERS

APRIL 2022 | ADAR • NISSAN 5782 | PASSOVER ISSUE

Mark Edelstein and Dr. Mark Moss EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jacqueline Bull

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Nathalie Feingold

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Eileen Sondak

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28

44

Features 28 Wow WoW Wow

Without Walls Festival Returns to Liberty Station

33 Michael Jeser Award Winner Lisa Montenko —

‘Friendship Applications are Open’

40 Stay Where You Are, Jessica Lemoine Will Come to You.

PASSOVER 24 Community Seders 31 Surviving These Times 36 Considering Women at Passover 38 Ma’ot Chittim — Money for Food

Columns 10 From the Editor | Family Legacies 14 Personal Development and Judaism | Your Guide to Effortless Effort 16 Israeli Lifestyle | We’re Here Because We’re Here 18 Examined Life | Overcoming Prejudice: The Parable of Bessie and Nancy 20 Religion | A Disruption in the Force 50 Advice | Pesach Around the World 2

Departments 12 Our Town 44 Local Offerings 47 Food COVER “The Frontera Project” from Mexico’s Tijuana Hace Teatro and New Feet Productions. Photo by Cristina Byrne. See full WoW Festival coverage on page 28.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Donna D’Angelo

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Ronnie Weisberg

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

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assistant@sdjewishjournal.com SDJJ is published monthly by San Diego Jewish Journal, LLC. Subscription rate is $24 for one year (12 issues). Send subscription requests to SDJJ, 7742 Herschel Ave., Suite H, La Jolla, CA 92037. The San Diego Jewish Journal is a free and open forum for the expression of opinions. The opinions expressed herein are solely the opinion of the author and in no way reflect the opinions of the publishers, staff or advertisers. The San Diego Jewish Journal is not responsible for the accuracy of any and all information within advertisements. The San Diego Jewish Journal reserves the right to edit all submitted materials, including press releases, letters to the editor, articles and calendar listings for brevity and clarity. The Journal is not legally responsible for the accuracy of calendar or directory listings, nor is it responsible for possible postponements, cancellations or changes in venue. Manuscripts, letters, documents and photographs sent to the Journal become the physical property of the publication, which is not responsible for the return or loss of such material. All contents ©2022 by San Diego Jewish Journal. The San Diego Jewish Journal is a member of the American Jewish Press Association and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

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Family Legacies I’ve always been interested in family traditions and family myths; I’m not really sure why. If I had to guess it would be because my extended family lived in the far away land of Canada growing up. It was an elaborate ritual to get to them: the driving, the border crossing, the landscape changes. They spoke a little different from me, did things slightly different, but they were still family and we were a part of each other. I’ve listened with interest to the family legends, the tales spanning decades and countries. I’ve even done genetic testing and found distant cousins. Maybe it’s because there is a six and eight-year age gap between myself and my siblings and they had a childhood together that I can only experience in legends and in photos. Maybe I’m just interested in stories. (The origin myths in my mythology class were always my favorite — Yggdrasil the tree of life in Norse myth, how Gaia gave birth to the sky, Uranus, in Greek myth.)

One of my favorite books from university was “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” which follows one family and their fukú or curse through many generations. The fukú manifests differently for each member and is more tragic than mystical. I’m fascinated by family curses and family legacies because I think we all have them. Of my immediate blood family, four out of five have broken toes in their life; most of them have broken the same toe multiple times.

When I broke my first toe a couple years ago, I simply sent them a picture of the purple swollen thing and they responded by welcoming me to the club. It was just understood by all that this was likely to happen.

Generational stories are popular right now. “Turning Red” and “Encanto” come to mind, even “Moana” a few years back could be claimed to be part of this trend. These films have been discussed mostly in terms of their cultural relevance, but there is something to be said about our preoccupation with our ancestors and their legacies.

These ideas dovetail nicely with Passover as we turn an eye to the past. A

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Our Town

by Linda Bennett and Emily Bartell

This years 32nd Annual International Jewish Film Festival offered two ways of viewing the vast selection of films scheduled. Whether in-person or virtually from the comfort of your own home, the caliber of offerings gets better every year! As usual, Christina Fink, Chair, Joyce Axelford, Founding Chair, and their whole committee put together a fabulous event. How lovely to have been able to enjoy both virtual and in-person programming.

grandparents are Jean & Franklin Gaylis and Alyse & David Kirschen of Orange County. Thrilled greatgrandparents are Zelma Brameld, Rhoda Gaylis and Evelyn Sherman.

The 8th Annual Cabaret Night at Temple Emanu-El was a wonderful success. Benefitting the Morton J. Cohn Torah School, the evening showcased all the great talent of temple members and local community, young and old. It was great to see so many folks after way too long.

Some of those we ran into were Marc & Lynne Glazer, Peter Huot & Andrea Musicant, Andrea Ladmer & Bob Silverman, Donna & Barry Lander, Eric Poliak & Peggy Han, Shari Ressel and Adam, Roni Breite, Ellen Gruer, Geri Sander and Mark Evans, Emily & Larry Goldenberg with Noah and Nettie, and Claire & Natalie Fritz.

Yom Huledets Sameach to...

How lovely to be amongst those in attendance recently at La Valencia Hotel for pianist David Geist! It had truly been way too long since we were able to enjoy his musical talents. Others we saw thoroughly enjoying themselves in the listening audience were Sofia & Leon Kassel, Rusti Bartell, Mary & Jon Epsten, Ginger Dunst (in from LA), Harris & Angela Steinberg and Roberta & Norm Greene.

Mazel Tov to Todd & Jackie Kirschen on the birth of their daughter Olivia Mia. Born on Jan. 18, Olivia’s

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Mazel Tov to Carol Fox and Ron Fox (z”l), on the birth of their sixth great-grandchild, Ilai Ze’ev Skop. Born on Nov. 6, 2021 in Jerusalem.

Madeline Gershwyn celebrating her 80th birthday.

Norman Greene celebrating his 80th birthday.

Diana Brav celebrating her 80th birthday.

Don Hicks celebrating his 84th birthday.

Roz Freedman celebrating her 86th birthday.

Sandra Silverstein celebrating her 87th birthday.

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Don Goldman celebrating his 89th birthday.

Dr. Albert Algazi celebrating his 95th birthday.

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PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND JUDAISM

THIS WAY TO EDEN

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

Your Guide To Effortless Effort I’m a coach. People hire me because they want to get unstuck, show up or break through to a new level. Mostly, I find people come to me with external circumstances of how they’re held back.

(I’m seeking a great relationship or want to improve my existing one. I hate my career and I feel depressed. I can’t seem to lose weight and I’ve tried everything.

I know I can do more, be more, have more!). It’s my job to point out the diseased thinking underneath and offer medicinal tools and ways of thinking that serve their lives instead of their lives, by default, existing in service of flawed beliefs.

For example, a highly accomplished client of mine told me he feels like he only functions at 10% of his ability. To most of the world, this guy is fearless, bold and extraordinarily successful. But in his mind, he’s held back. I noticed that he’s always on the move and as long as he stays busy, he feels happy. But in the quieter, slower moments, he feels depressed, disconnected, hopeless and generally down on himself. It is as though he associates his usefulness with his worthiness. I suggested he slow down and build a positive, loving relationship with himself. My belief is that loving ourselves and being our own best friends is the highest spiritual work we can do in this world. When we love ourselves fully, we show up as our truest and highest selves.

My client heard this and said, “Uh oh...are you gonna make me soft?”

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Effortless effort can also be referred to as a flow state and often feels fun and easy.

Effortless effort falls into your lap as though it flew to you.

I reminded him that he is hustling around the clock and yet feels like he’s only functioning at 10% of his ability. His functioning therefore can’t be hinged on his work ethic because no one works harder than him! So, we need to explore what’s fueling him. Like a car, we all need gas to move forward seamlessly. We need lots of water, oxygen, rest and nutrition to expend creativity, effort, learning and any kind of movement. Our mindset works similarly: If you’re feeling held back, you likely are tethered to beliefs that aren’t serving you.

For example, many people assume that they need to work really hard to have what they want. While effort is generally a precursor to a result, we don’t need to exhaust ourselves in order to create exceptional results. In fact, the fastest way to get the most

impactful results is by creating our efforts, counterintuitively, as effortless.

Effortless effort can also be referred to as a flow state and often feels fun and easy.

Effortless effort falls into your lap as though it flew to you — you didn’t have to chase what you wanted.

There are three possible paths to expend effort effortlessly. The first way is simply not to do much at all. For example, napping when tired creates a great result (feeling energized) without having to work. While effortless and important at times, this path generally doesn’t create the results we desire.

The second way to expend effort effortlessly is to genuinely love the process. I hate running. I’m not a runner.

So, how much effort do you think is required for me to take a run? Let me tell you: a lot! Why? Because every stride feels painstaking. Time slows down. Time may even stand still. Every muscular discomfort is accentuated.

Breathing is uncontrolled. But, rowing?

I love rowing! I’m good at it too. Time flies when I row and my legs are pretty strong and getting stronger. I could row for ages and feel great. How much effort is required for me to row? My heart rate might be elevated, but the experience of rowing feels effortless and fun to me.

Whenever we want to create a result, focusing on a process that we love and feels good is key to sustainability, flow and, of course, success. continues on page 17 >>

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ISRAELI LIFESTYLE

LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE

by Andrea Simantov | andreasimantov@gmail.com

We’re Here Because We’re Here Succumbing to the cyber-lure of clickbait, one recent evening I compulsively watched several short films about the 1916 Battle of Somme, fought by Great Britain and France against the German Empire. In over four months, a million men were either wounded or killed. 100 years after the battle, two repertory theaters united to create a live exhibit in commemoration of the event which, not surprisingly, most of the onlookers claimed not to know about. Hundreds of actors were dressed in period uniforms and did not interact with one another.

They marched in respective units along main thoroughfares in London, Manchester and Birmingham, stopping to sit in city parks, floors of train depots and lolled about shopping centers. Serving as living-memorials to the deceased, curious onlookers approached and asked what they were doing. Silently, the respective actor presented a card with the name, age and one line that outlined the death of the soldier he was portraying. This haunting piece of living theater was made even more poignant when, either enmasse or individually, actors began singing the anthem “We’re Here Because We’re Here.” This dirge was apparently sung in the trenches before the fight and is set to the tune of Auld Lang Syne.

Approximately 3400 years ago, a nation was freed from human bondage.

The events that surrounded this welldocumented event have been studied, dissected and recorded a myriad of times

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and will undoubtedly continue to be subjects of both celebration and debate. What I find most fascinating in my studies is that not all of the slaves left. The most frequently posited number of emigres is 20%, meaning that 80% of Hebrews who toiled for the pharaohs placed their collective tomorrows in the hands of their masters.

They weren’t forgotten. “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know” is an old saying that clearly illustrates well-founded fears about following an upstart-troublemaker named Moses into a merciless desert for a promise that sounded almost laughable. Still, an intrepid 20% of weary, scarred and desperate children of Israel embarked on a path of redemption, navigating the brutal journey with a GPS called faith.

The Exodus from Egypt was never intended to be a one-off event but instead serves as a guidepost to the entirety of Jewish existence. Three times a day in prayer we recall the redemption; not because we’re short on material but because bondage is an immutable human condition that needs to be addressed constantly. The question must be asked, “To whom/what am I beholden today?”

Too many people I know view the Passover season with a jaundiced eye.

A feeling of deprivation fills the air. That chametz thing (leavened foodstuffs) is so rigid! And different dishes? How primitive can we be?

What if, instead, we approached the season with a desire to better understand the slaves who left Egypt? Or to connect to our mothers and grandmothers who approached the pre-Pesach cleaning with an aura of spirituality and gratitude? Any endeavor that lessens an inflated ego, feeling of entitlement and haughtiness is a good thing. Here we are being given an opportunity that transforms ourselves both personally and alters our relationships with others. A burden? No, a gift that allows us to become whatever we strive to be. continues on next page >>

Israeli Lifestyle

continued

There is no finish line in the quest for freedom. We all live with our personal Egypts and can lazily succumb to “the devil we know” or, instead, each day reclaim our partnership with Heaven and grab the proffered brass ring of liberation, independent thought and moral pursuit. It’s all about choice.

The common citizenry of England can be brought to tears when an event that occurred a mere 116 years ago serves to remind them of the tremendous cost for liberty. Those of us who are blessed to join a Passover seder this year can experience a spiritual high that comes with knowing that we are part of a holy 20% that placed one foot in front of the other, ensuring a place at the table for all of us. A

Personal Development

continued

The final way to expend effort effortlessly is to be so committed and devoted to the result that any effort pales in comparison to accessing what lies on the other side. This is a powerful force. Imagine I hold a 5 million dollar check in my hands for you. You have no car, no shoes and no wallet. Is the effort too great to navigate across the city of San Diego to claim your check?

Absolutely not. You can call a cab and promise to pay the driver later, you can hitchhike or ride your bike, you can barter your services or goods to obtain a segway and ride all the way over to my house with no problems. Suddenly, you have way more solutions than problems.

You won’t lack courage in asking for help.

You won’t feel deprived of creativity or resources for finding a solution. The

desire to deposit your check is far greater than the obstacles in your way.

Everything that I acquired has come from this place of effortless effort. Any spiritual or physical abundance that I’ve attracted has required me to choose the path of effortless effort. The reward was so great and my willingness was so high that I experienced my effort as fun and easy. Alternatively, the effort was so wellsuited for me that it felt natural. Usually, both forces are at play. The key, the magic bullet, the number one factor that will draw you to what you want is not living in your head. Rather, drop into your body and let your inner voice (intuition, inner sage, gut feeling) offer you the path to get unstuck, show up and break through to your next level effortlessly. A

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EXAMINED LIFE

OUR EMOTIONAL FOOTPRINT

by Saul Levine, M.D., Professor Emeritus in Psychiatry at UCSD

| slevine@ucsd.edu

Overcoming Prejudice: The Parable of Bessie and Nancy Bessie (my late mother) and Nancy (my late mother-in-law) were an unlikely pair of “machatunim” (Yiddish for both sets of parents of a married couple). Bessie was short, four foot 10 inches tall (on a good day), while Nancy was relatively tall, five-foot-nine inches and of course towered over Bessie. Bessie was raised in relative poverty in Montreal, her Jewish father and mother having immigrated from a war-torn shtetl in Latvia early last century and they lived in an immigrant Yiddish-speaking neighborhood made up of crowded row houses. Largely due to the Holocaust, Bessie was an atheist, sometimes an agnostic, decidedly not a shule or temple attendee, but she was a proud supporter of Judaism and Israel.

Nancy was born in California into an upper middle class family, home and neighborhood. Her ethnic background stemmed from Scottish and Norwegian roots. Nancy’s family were Episcopalian, and while not regular church-goers, they were confirmed Christians, as were all their friends.

Bessie was unathletic, an excellent student and voracious reader, politically outspoken with strong feminist, progressive and socialist views, a supporter of left-leaning liberal Democrats. Nancy was a good student, gregarious and popular, an exceptional athlete in a variety of sports with a sunny disposition. Nancy’s family were politically conservative and

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staunch Republicans. Nancy graduated from a four-year out-of-state university, while Bessie could not afford to go to a local city college as she had to work full-time to support her parents. Neither of these incongruous women were “shrinking violets.” Although from very different backgrounds and predilections, they were both assertive. They held strong opinions and were outspoken in their marriages and families, with their friends and in public.

When my fiancée Ann and I planned to have our mothers meet for the first time, we had initial trepidations. As different backgrounds, social circles and world views set them apart, we knew they were not destined to be ‘bosom buddies.’ By the time they met, Bessie was close to 80 years of age, and Nancy was around 60, thus fairly set in their ways.

We expected that their meeting would be courteous and fairly superficial, but we also knew that despite the politesse, if political or social views were uttered, sparks could fly. What we feared most was the possible appearance of antagonism and verbal fireworks. Given their backgrounds and personalities, we knew that strong opinions could make things deteriorate. Our mothers, the two protagonists in this drama, also worried about the meeting. They were aware of their contrasting backgrounds and opinions and had sensed our anxieties.

At that first meeting, our mothers were polite and stiff at first, sizing each other up, feeling each other out, but as the moments passed there were no ruffled feathers. Despite different world views, they had common interests in their soon to-be-wed offspring and potentially shared grandchildren.

Niceties were soon replaced by genuine interests in each other. They learned about each other’s very different lives, their intelligence and styles, their thinking and speaking openly, as well as their mutual concerns. The more they spoke and learned, the more they appreciated each other. The get together of these two antithetical women turned out to be warm and caring.

What happened subsequently was even more surprising, and indeed, moving. They actually forged a remarkably close personal relationship which lasted for over a decade. Here were two people who before meeting harbored discomfort and potential dislike for one another, but soon came to know, respect and admire each other, learn from each other, comfort and confide in each other and even serve as shoulders to cry on.

We need to reach out and connect with each other. We would do well to follow the lessons of Bessie and Nancy...Aluva Sholom, May They Rest In Peace! A

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RELIGION

POST-POLITICAL

by Rabbi Jacob Rupp | rabbirupp@gmail.com

A Disruption in the Force Colloquially, society expects at some point in life, perhaps the midpoint, that we experience a crisis. Entrepreneurs and founders appreciate that crisis (or ‘opportunity’ as we like to recast it) happens much more often than just once. It is constant oftentimes in life and business, but never feels good as we traverse the darkness.

Perhaps the greatest challenge of being in a state of crisis is that we don’t fully embrace it, appreciate it and approach it with the level of optimism and excitement that we should considering how often we are beset by challenges. Instead of riding the wave, we tend to second guess and judge ourselves, others and the market instead of appreciating and questioning the next step that is around the corner.

Being in a state of crises implies that the time has come for a course shift– to embark in a new direction. This is frightening at first and then problematic because you get used to trusting your old method of doing things. You feel comfortable in your environment, employing your personality traits the way you always have. This concept of crises is very general; it can apply to one who loses/breaks up with a loved one or someone suffers a business failure or painful defeat, to someone who is generally unhappy with where they are in life.

A crisis is when your current needs, wants, or desires don’t fit your life. The

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We tend to second guess and judge ourselves, others and the market instead of appreciating and questioning the next step that is around the corner. more you try to continue the course, the more the crisis builds. A crisis is like a hole in the boat; it doesn’t go away the longer you ignore it. In fact, it gets worse. Often we try to paint the boat with a hole in the bottom, filling life with every distraction to avoid dealing with the real issue.

The crisis builds as you allow yourself to stay locked into your current state/ job/relationship/mindset and not consider the possibility that the time for transition or to move on has come.

Oftentimes you deny the very loud messages from within and without that things aren’t working anymore until you’ve completely demolished whatever state you were previously in, leaving yourself with nothing.

A simple example is building a company. Initially profit and demand for your product or service may be in abundance. You feel valuable and that

your team appreciates you and your skills are being properly utilized. Over time there is a “disturbance in the force.”

Competition floods the market, the margins are reduced, market conditions change. You don’t feel valued, or the company and your position doesn’t fit you anymore. While it may make sense to just begin looking for other options, new people, or new opportunities, we feel a tendency to stay at the table just a little bit too long. We stay until we are so upset and miserable that we either have driven our company into the ground or are forced out, thus destroying something completely until you have no other option but to leave. This works in relationships as well.

The process of staying in something once it is time to move on is one type of reaction to crisis. The second type or stage of crisis occurs once you have destroyed or been removed from said position/relationship/mindset because then you face a terrifying reality that the things that used to define you, or were fixtures in your life, simply are no longer. And what remains in that space is the black hole of uncertainty about who you are, what you will do or how you progress. That is the crisis dealt with in this program.

As with everything in life; mindset must precede action, but action is paramount. We must do, but we must understand what to do and how to think continues on next page >>

Religion

continued

about something. That is the niche question we will address.

In the cult classic “Who Moved My Cheese,” the author expounds a fundamental concept: things change. Life is fluid.

The pain that occurs when our expectations of an easy and static life are shattered is far worse than the pain of actually dealing with the difficulties and flows of life.

Dr. M Scott Peck begins his bestseller “The Road Less Traveled,” by explaining we should learn to expect challenge and change and when we feel them, embrace them as part of life. But practically, you or I don’t do that. Rather you stick with something until you are frustrated and miserable and have no other options but to leave your current reality. This is what to do then.

As a practical tool, I encourage you to journal. The prompt for week one is to reflect on times when you hung on too long. When and why did you do this? How did you want things to change while things were “falling apart.” Why did you stay, when did you eventually have to go and what made it so hard to change course before it was too late? A

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PASSOVER

Community Seders Compiled by Nathalie Feingold and Jacqueline Bull

Chabad CHABAD OF CARMEL VALLEY

4881 Almondwood Way San Diego, CA 92130 chabadcv.com Apr. 15, 7 p.m.

Apr. 16, 8 p.m. $55 Adults $25 Children

Full details are made available after registering for the event.

CHABAD OF CHULA VISTA OTAY RANCH

Chula Vista, CA 91913 619-836-0770 jewishchulavista.com Apr. 15, 6:30 p.m. $60 Adults $30 Children

Enjoy an outdoor in-depth Hebrew/ English Passover experience, with plenty of translation and an abundance of explanation while enjoying a meal with all the trimmings. The Seder is led by Rabbi Mendy & Mussie Begun. Go to their website or call to register.

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CHABAD OF CORONADO

chabadofcoronado.com Apr. 15, 7 p.m.

Apr. 16, 8 p.m. $54 Adults $36 Children $150 Family

This event is held at a private residence with a catered dinner.

Location available after registration.

CHABAD OF EAST COUNTY

7290 Navajo Road, Suite 207 San Diego, CA 92119 jewishec.com Apr. 15, 6:15 p.m. $36 Adults $22 Children This seder is a four course dinner.

Registration is required. Guests can register at their website.

CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF RANCHO SANTA FE

jewishrsf.com

Full details for the seder are available after registering for the event online.

Reform

Orthodox

CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL

BETH JACOB

Apr. 16, 5:30 p.m. $55 Adults $20 Children (ages 6-12) $10 Children (age 5 and under)

Apr. 15, 8 p.m. $49 Members/$55 Nonmembers

9001 Towne Centre Drive San Diego, CA 92122 cbisd.org

This event features a catered dinner and Haggadot will be provided. See website for full menu.

TEMPLE ADAT SHALOM

15905 Pomerado Road Poway, CA 92064 adatshalom.com

Apr. 16, 4 p.m. Family Seder Apr. 17, 6 p.m. Adult Seder Adults: $48 Members/$54 Non-Members Children (ages 5-12): $27 Members/$30 Non-Members Children (under age 5): $5 each Registration is requested.

4855 College Ave San Diego, CA 92115 bjsd.org

Conservative NER TAMID

12348 Casa Avenida Poway CA, 92064 nertamidsd.org

CONGREGATION B’NAI CHAIM

29500 Via Princesa Murreita, Ca 92563 bnaichaim.com

Apr. 16, 7 p.m. $25 This event is the Seder according to Broadway. Registration is required on their website.

OHR SHALOM

2512 Third Avenue San Diego, CA 92103 office@ohrshalom.org ohrshalom.org

Apr. 16, 5 p.m. $36 Adults $18 Children CONGREGATION B’NAI TIKVAH

2510 Gateway Road Carlsbad, CA 92009 bnaitikvahsd.org

Apr. 16 $50 Members/$60 Non-members $30 Children under 12

Apr. 15, 6 p.m. $65 Adults $55 Members $35 Military $35 Children

RSVP is required, email for more information.

Registration is required on their website.

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nges with kindness le al ch s ’ fe li ng ti ee M munity. in our Jewish Com

Do you know someone who could use some Kindness?

You may not know this, but someone you know might be masked and in need of help. Please send them our way.

Ana* is just 18 years old. The unexpected death of her father earlier this year left her homeless, alone, and with no means of support.

She is a bright young woman and a member of the San Diego Jewish community. Thankfully, her bereavement counselor connected her with Kindness Initiative. Ana now receives financial assistance through Kindness Initiative and she was set up with a volunteer angel family. She attends weekly Shabbat dinners and finally feels she belongs. She was also connected with a tutor and is now getting straight A’s. Additionally, our organization KI helped her out of an abusive living situation and secured her safe housing. We are proud to say that with our help, Ana can look forward to the promising future she deserves. *Name has been changed to protect privacy.

Last year Kindness Initiative was able to help over 100 individuals with the customized care that they need. This year, we want to continue to expand our membership and help our Jewish community thrive.

contact us at info@kindnessSD.org or call 858-216-1666

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visit kindnessSD.org @kindnesssandiego

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25 th

Anniversary Rabbi Cantor Arlene Bernstein A T

B E T H

SATURDAY

MAY 7

I S R A E L

6:00PM

Join us for a celebration featuring Cocktails, Dinner, Entertainment, and more!

To buy tickets: www.cbisd.org/programs/bernstein

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FEATURE

Wow WoW Wow Without Walls Festival Returns to Liberty Station April 21– 24

by Jacqueline Bull The La Jolla Playhouse is bringing its Without Walls (WoW) Festival back in person and back at Liberty Station this month (April 21-24). This four-day arts festival brings immersive and site-specific theater to big outdoor spaces for crowds and small boutique shows on stages.

Before it was known if the festival would be able to be held in-person, conversations had already begun about doing another WoW Digital for 2022.

“Usually we are out seeing things and the artists are out creating things. There is a big ramp up where you know we have a year or two to scout projects and artists. This year we were having more conversations like ‘What do you want to make? How long do you think it will take to make it? What are all the X factors that you have to consider?’” festival producer Amy Ashton said.

“We knew we wanted to come back strong and at a scale that would feel on par with the festival’s 2019 experience,” Amy said.

Producing a four-day festival with 24 different pieces ranging in size and scope for a wide public audience requires a lot of thought and consideration. Amy explained that she aims for variety and balance. She likes to have a mix of outdoor shows that passersby in Liberty Station can just spontaneously join and watch as well as smaller, intimate shows. The full schedule is robust and one could spend the whole festival getting a taste for all of the shows. Other considerations she cited were making sure to include

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some Spanish language programming and shows that can be repeated several times over the course of the festival, shows that are very interactive and some that work just to observe.

One of the chief considerations for site-specific theater is, of course, the site. (“The best pieces are the ones that are really aware of and adaptive to the space.”)

One piece that makes really intentional use of the space is “On her Shoulders we Stand.”

“It is all set in military tents. So there will be constructed military tents out on the lawn where each one goes into one another. Each one is its own room exploring the ways that during WWII particularly the Latina population was affected by the national gathering around the forces, the people who fought, the people who stayed home. It is a really beautiful exploration of that time and again being at Liberty Station on a decommissioned military base with that story, with that population in San Diego feels really good,” she said.

Similarly “Monuments” projects large-scale portraits onto the trees of Liberty Station which creates new public art in a space that already has many monuments.

Strengthening the local connection to the site, there will be collaborations with Malashock Dance company, San Diego Dance Theater and San Diego Ballet.

“For me, my favorite thing about this work is what it does to you when you are outside of your comfort zone or the expected day-to-day. My dream is that audience members — honestly this is so cheesy — but thinking ‘Wow I never thought that was theater. I never thought I would see this thing. That was cool.’ It’s simple, but that it is surprising in a good way,” she said.

“When something surprises you, you open your heart a little bit more I think because you are a little more open to what the possibilities are. And so if you see something in a place you didn’t expect, or you are in a performance, or a performer interacts with you, or you interact with another audience member in a way you never really had before that makes a little bit of a bigger space in your soul for the art to settle.” A

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PASSOVER

“Never give up what you believe, because we are each responsible for making this world a better place.”

Surviving These Times

by Rabbi Ben Leinow We each have formative memories that helped create and establish who we are.

I suggest you create a family and special friends gathering for a Seder where you tell your stories of who you are — past and present. This year’s Passover is a time to share life experiences.

I am going to share some of my life experiences that shaped who I am to give you an idea of what I am suggesting for your Seder.

I was born in March of 1936. The first Seder I remember I was four-yearsold. We were an Orthodox family. I was fortunate enough to have had six uncles.

Each uncle had two different opinions on every issue. I remember at one of our Seders when my uncles argued late into the night (they called it a debate)

whether a chicken laid an egg or G-d had the goodness of discharging an egg. My uncles loved each other and each would have laid down his life to protect one of the other brothers or members of the family. My mother’s family was from Lublin, Poland and my father’s side was from Kiev, Ukraine.

When I was 11, I played baseball.

I was chosen to be on a playground baseball team. I was a good hitter, so I was fourth at bat. In our first year I lived through one of those formative situations. We were in the last inning — two outs, bases loaded.

We were two points behind and I was up at bat. I hit a long fly that was easily caught. The game was over and I had failed. I suffered, but we had a good

parent-coach. Believe it or not, in the last game of the second year the same situation happened. I expected the coach to pull me out. The coach left me in at bat and I hit a homer. It taught me never to give up and that there could be a second chance.

At my Bar Mitzvah I remember giving respect to family members who lived through the Holocaust in Poland and France. All of our family would give everything we had to bring peace, love and calm to the spirits of the Survivors.

We all felt connected to one another.

One of my uncles at my Bar Mitzvah was my Uncle Meyer, a World War II hero. He was a Marine Sergeant with stripes up and down his uniform. He had continues on next page >>

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continued

the distinction of fighting in every Pacific Island battle. He came to my Bar Mitzvah on a motorcycle. Because he drove to synagogue on Shabbat, members present at the service said he could not come up to the Bimah. I was unhappy, but on the next day he gave me a ride on his motorcycle. While on the ride he said to me, “Never give up what you believe, because we are each responsible for making this world a better place.”

I was happy.

Another formative experience was when I was driving a rented car in Israel. All of a sudden I heard a crunch and I knew I had been hit in the rear and side by another car.

I did all of the American things. I asked for drivers license, insurance, his address and phone number. The driver of the other car was upset with me, but I insisted on all the info. When I returned the car I gave all the info to the car rental company. The attendant looked at all the info on the counter and said: “What do you want me to do with all that paperwork?” I said to him, “I wanted the company to know it was not my fault. He told me, “It’s okay don’t worry.” It was 11 a.m., and I explained to him that we had a 4 p.m. appointment, so we needed a car by 3:30 p.m.. He said to me, “Don’t worry we will have a car for you.”

Our hotel was within walking distance so we had a late breakfast and eventually returned to the car dealership. At the counter the attendant handed me the keys and said that we could find the car parked at the curb like before. As we walked up to the rental car I noticed that the car was the same color as the one we had been driving. As we got closer it began to appear to me that it was the same car. I said to my wife, “They are giving us back the damaged car. We cannot drive that. It will be a problem. I’m going to go back and read them the riot act and get another car!” Fortunately, we continued to walk to the car.

When we got to the car I went to the back to see the damage, I was amazed to see that the car was completely fixed and even the paint was dry.

I went back to the attendant and I said, “How did you do that?” He said, “If you want to make things good, you look for the problems and you fix them immediately.”

Why do I share with you these personal moments in my life? I wish to encourage you to share personal moments of life with your family and friends. We need to listen to one another because we need to fix things. We must question: Will there be war or peace? Will we understand the difference between good and evil? Will there be disagreement or understanding? Will we hate or love life?

We are at a time and place where we must reach out to make the world a (loving) better place. Rather than only talk about what happened thousands of years ago, our families need to talk about what is happening today and tomorrow.

We need to laugh, sing songs of joy and love one another as a family of friends.

Happy and healthy Passover to you all. A

FEATURE

I believe in Jewish continuity, Jewish spaces...and community building.

MICHAEL JESER AWARD WINNER LISA MONTENKO

‘Friendship Applications are Open’

by Nathalie Feingold Lisa Motenko, the Associate Executive Director at Hillel of San Diego, is officially the first recipient of the Michael Jeser Outstanding Jewish Professional Award. This is an honor posthumously dedicated to former Federation President and CEO Michael Jeser that awards a devoted professional at a Jewish communal organization in San Diego. Lisa was one of five finalists, all of whom demonstrated exceptional professional work and a strong commitment to Jewish leadership.

“First of all, I’m so incredibly honored to receive this in Michael Jeser’s name and to be the first recipient. I didn’t know Michael personally, but I’d heard of him through my years at Hillel and from being in San Diego and it sounds like he was the ideal, beloved leader,” Lisa said.

As a child growing up in Orange County, Lisa spent much of her time in her synagogue and United Synagogue Youth (USY) group. She credits the

USY group as shaping her lifelong passion and love for experiential Jewish learning — she later earned a certificate in experiential Jewish education after spending a year studying in Jerusalem.

She studied both Hebrew and Spanish in college and sang in a Jewish acapella group. Her love of Jewish music even led her to start a Jewish acapella group at UC Berkeley.

No matter how varied and diverse her interests were, one thing always remained clear for Lisa: She would pursue a career in Jewish professional leadership.

“It’s a calling more than a career. It’s what I’ve known that I wanted to do deep-down, intrinsically my whole life,” Lisa continued, “I think of that quote: ‘if you do what you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.’ That’s how I feel about what I do.”

That feeling was cemented when she landed her first job out of college at Berkeley Hillel.

“I knew from my first week there that that’s where I needed to be. I believe in Jewish peoplehood and Jewish continuity and Jewish spaces and community building,” Lisa explained.

At that first job, she started a Challah for Hunger Fellowship at Berkeley Hillel that has been going strong for nearly 12 years. Another highlight from her career is starting Honeymoon Israel in the Bay Area. From the time she started the program to the time she left the Bay Area, the Jewish community had expanded greatly and 400 people had participated on trips to Israel.

“It was the thrill of my life,” Lisa said. “I helped create such a vibrant community and I don’t even have words to describe how proud I feel of being able to have my hand in that.”

Through her current role as Associate Executive Director at Hillel of San Diego, Lisa oversees programming and engagement on four college campuses: continues on page 35 >>

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UCSD, Cal State San Marcos, USD and SDSU. Most of her work at Hillel of San Diego has been concurrent with the pandemic; she transformed a time of isolation into an opportunity to come together and innovate new ways to keep students engaged virtually.

“Given the situation, we did a fantastic job of engaging with students and reaching out to them while we were in virtual spaces. We got creative and that was when we really came together as Hillel of San Diego,” Lisa said.

Hillel started a program called the “Unity Shabbat” that invited students from all four campuses and surrounding community colleges to participate in Shabbat virtually, which boasted over 100 students in attendance via Zoom.

Lisa believes that having a strong vision and being authentically Jewish are the keys to her success as a Jewish communal professional.

“Judaism is a lifelong learning process. One of the things I love about my job is learning alongside my staff and students and being authentically who I am as a proud, learned Jew and emphasizing that I’m still on this journey with them,” Lisa said.

“My vision is to have a space on campus where every student feels comfortable coming as they are and excited to be Jewish,” Lisa explained.

Lisa plans to realize this vision and to be at Hillel of San Diego for the long haul.

“As I told the selection committee, we hope to be here forever. This is our last stop. I want to spend the rest of my career in this Jewish community,” Lisa concluded, “I want to invite people to get to know me and for me to be able to get to know them. Friendship applications are open.” A

MICHAEL JESER AWARD FINALISTS

(FROM LEFT)

Jordan Daniels, Sarah Greenstein, Carly Ezell Lobenstein and Diana Stern.

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Considering Women at Passover

by Patricia Goldblatt

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| SDJEWISHJOURNAL.COM April 2022

I

recently became aware that it was the first Passover when the three angels in Genesis Chapter 18 visited Abraham and Sarah. They promised Sarah would, in her old age, give birth. Not stated explicitly, however, the story describes the events that include Abraham telling Sarah to knead some cakes (ugot) for their guests.

This same term is used regarding the Passover matzah that their descendants would consume every year on Passover.

This revelation for me works perfectly with the themes I’ve come to associate with Passover, those sweet ones of springtime, family, food, dreams and freedom.

One can imagine Sarah’s shining face after so many years of praying for a child when she is told that she will become a mother. And soon this pronouncement yields Isaac, named for Sarah’s mirth, her outright laughter at the news. And although we tend to see women as perhaps secondary players in the great tome, there are moments such as these: Sarah’s response, her delicious unabashed laughter that escapes her mouth bringing a serious text to a halt as she and we contemplate that almost impossible notion that this woman may personally triumph and fulfill her dreams of motherhood, even at a mature age.

And truly, how many times have women in the throes of fertility treatments interrupted the busy hodgepodge of their days to contemplate the possibility of such an event, invisible angels circling their heads and the daily music of their lives standing still with that hopeful dream of family. And even more breathtaking when that desire is fulfilled by the awesome event, the silence is deafening. So Passover suggests early on the fulfillment of women’s hopes.

Sarah for too many years must have felt “passed over” as she watched her friends and members of her family give birth, pining for children. Yet when she had given up hope, the angels came, sat

PASSOVER

Passover suggests early on the fulfillment of women’s hopes. at her table and “passed over” her home to give her incredible news. So here I ponder the word “Passover” itself that identifies the wondrous event such as the release of the Israelites from slavery.

For too, in the Passover story, the angel of death (not a good omen) passes over (a very good omen) Israelite homes marked with lamb’s blood to save the babies. And even the end of servitude in Egypt connotes 40 years of wandering in the desert wherein the Israelites felt passed over by G-d and despite manna and assurances, they worshipped the golden calf and believed themselves forsaken as they once had been in Egypt.

And there too the power of G-d’s words confounds the human that satisfies as well as confuses. But the words of prayer provide a path to mitigate the rigors of mind and body.

And moving beyond our progenitors in the story, in Egypt we meet Pharaoh’s

daughter, perhaps to be foreseen as a righteous Gentile. She is, of course, not Jewish, but in another surprising twist, she is the woman who will save baby Moses and hide him from her father, Pharaoh, who has decreed that all Hebrew males be slain. The daughter’s name is Bitiah, and in response to Miriam, Moses’ sister, she allows (even pays) their mother Jochavid to nurse him. Moses, therefore, will have his early years in his rightful family, only to transition and be adopted into the Egyptian palace. One might speculate that Moses’s knowledge of both families fortifies his sense of comprehension of divergent worlds that he will eventually conquer, allowing him to lead our people out of Egypt.

In some families at the Seder, a cup of water is set out for Moses’s sister Miriam.

This feminist tradition symbolizes Miriam’s Well, which provided water for the Israelites in the desert, considered healing and restorative for the 40 years of wandering in the desert; it also symbolizes the importance of women during the Exodus. And for me, because of Cairo (Fustat), Genizah’s location besides Miriam’s Well, it reminds me of the storage place in the synagogue from the Middle Ages, every scrap and document that was associated with or mentioned G-d’s name.

We retell the story of the servitude, the plagues and the thwarting of our

annihilation in the Haggadah, as now in 2022, we are peacefully surrounded by our families who recline at the table. We read that after hundreds of years in exile, our ancestors departed Egypt. Their slavery had ended. And as they stood on the shores of the Red Sea, they rejoiced.

While Moses and the men sang Shirat Hayam, Miriam, our heroine, led the women. They exploded in song, dancing and shaking their tambourines. One might, as well, extrapolate that Miriam symbolizes the source and symbol of all that sustains us through our difficult journeys when we wander far from our homes. And likewise we smile to consider the siblings: Aaron speaking for his brother Moses, given the promise on Mount Horeb that he will lead our people out of Egypt to Canaan, land of milk and honey and Miriam, their sister.

That light source that originated with G-d lifts the faces of children and women rejoicing in The Haggadah that is filled with songs and stories and words. How

many times do we all rock with Daiyenu, as our choir of children at the table roll their eyes, or contemplate the rounds of Chad Gadya, the tender little goat?

And what of the big eyes that insist they see Elijah’s wine disappear less than a millimetre, wondering how the prophet will find their house and not trip over the stoop in his lightheadedness? And here too I recall my oldest grandson when we explain why we dip, but do not suck our fingers; he recoils that “those [plagues] are not good things!” And I imagine once more Sarah holding Isaac close to her heart in wonder and gratitude.

But if we return to Miriam, a righteous woman for her strength, we might think too of King Solomon’s psalm in the Proverbs, sung Friday nights: “Eshet Chayil” opens with the words “A woman of valor, who can find? Far beyond pearls is her value.” A pearl is a product formed inside an oyster, caused by an irritant, maybe a grain of sand or a parasite that penetrates the shell.

Perhaps once considered by some, that women’s voices were difficult, strident, bothersome or unnecessary to the text, we can intuit and applaud Miriam’s spirit of rebellion, Sarah’s laughter and at Purim just passed, Vashti’s insistence to say no. These, our role models, are essential to understanding our culture, religion and our lives of purpose.

It is in these changing times that we ensure that a Jewish woman’s place is not just as a loving mother or a cook at our festivals, for young women today need role models of action and dissent, discussion and reassurance.

Women’s lovingkindness, their insight, perseverance and strength can be celebrated with Moses, Aaron and all the men who lead us out of the desert after the dark days of slavery. To these thoughts, on Passover and other holidays, we can fill and raise our wine glasses, concurring, “L’ Chaim.” A

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PASSOVER

This year we have an abundance of opportunities to fulfill this precious mitzvah.

Ma’ot Chittim — Money for Food

by Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is perhaps the best known of all the Jewish holidays.

Who amongst us doesn’t remember sitting around a table celebrating the Seder, the traditional Passover meal with our family and friends?

There is a reason why Pesach is so well known. In fact the Haggadah, the special Passover prayer book that we read from during the Seder, tells us the answer. An emphasis is placed upon transmitting the story of our people’s exodus from Egypt to our children.

One of the most crucial Mitzvot, divine commandments, is the commandment to “Teach them [Torah and Mitzvot] diligently to your children.” On top of that we are told, “And you shall tell your children on that day [on Passover, the story of the exodus].”

It is precisely this strong emphasis of this particular story, which has resulted in our observance of Passover with such zeal till today — some 3,334 years after the first Passover. It is the story of Passover and the observance of Pesach, filled with its special observances, which

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informs our divine service for the balance of the year.

It is no wonder then that we make a special pre-Passover appeal to help those in need, specifically for their Seder requirements. This unique monetary request has a special name, Ma’ot Chittim, which means money for food (literally bread). All year we are commanded to give tzedakah (charity). But before Pesach that regular commandment evolves into a supercommandment. It is so important that it is better that we simplify our own Passover plans a bit in order to give extra ma’ot chittim.

This year we have been presented with an abundance of opportunities to fulfill this precious mitzvah. While we certainly have to maintain our financial support of our local poor and worthy institutions that help distribute funds/ food to the needy, these days we have been presented with a moment that necessitates that we rise to the occasion.

Thousands and tens of thousands of our brothers and sisters in the Ukraine

have been rendered penniless;they have literally been made into refugees overnight. It is hard to imagine the hardships that they are being forced to endure. One day they are living at home and are the beneficiaries of a robust Jewish community with all of its requisite institutions that help support Jewish life and the next day they have been forced to flee for their lives.

And let us not forget the countless Jewish institutions around Europe and Israel that have graciously and generously received these refugees doing their utmost to make them feel welcome, cared for and safe.

I view the Jewish response to the Russian invasion as nothing short of a human miracle of (nearly) Biblical proportions.

I read a thought told by Natan Sharansky, the famous Jewish ‘refusenik’ from the Soviet Union who shared that during the times of the Communist regime in the former USSR to be labeled a Jew in one’s passport meant continues on page 42 >>

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FEATURE

My life goal is to be available and meet people where they are at any moment.

Stay Where You Are, Jessica Lemoine Will Come to You.

by Nathalie Feingold Jessica Lemoine, teacher, mother and active Jewish community leader, believes that all people should feel honored and embraced, regardless of their differences.

“My life’s work is a place for all people.

I truly believe that everyone should be accepted with love and compassion and honor– regardless of where they come from, what their race is, what they believe, what their sexuality and gender choices are. Everyone should feel comfortable and honored and loved at all times, in all spaces,” Jessica said.

Now it’s her turn to be honored.

Ohr Shalom, Jessica’s synagogue, commended her for her years of service as Youth Programs Committee Chair at their annual gala in March.

Nearly a decade ago, Jessica started a Jewish youth group at Ohr Shalom for 7th through 12th-graders. She was motivated by her desire to ensure a strong, thriving youth group for her two sons. She has years of experience teaching teenagers, so she offered her knowledge and vision to Rabbi Meltzer of Ohr Shalom, who was fully on board with the idea.

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Jessica said, “Over the years, we built an amazing group of teens who are now in their 20s that are super close and still friends.”

Whether in her personal life, her classroom as a math teacher at San Diego Jewish Academy or in her role as youth liaison at Ohr Shalom, Jessica makes sure to create a space for all people of all backgrounds to feel seen, heard and loved.

She developed this welcoming mentality in part because of her upbringing. She’s the daughter of a Black father and a Jewish mother.

She often jokes that she’s both biracial and bi-religious. But her experience traversing through both worlds is what allows her to fully embrace and understand people of all cultures, religions and races.

“When I’m amongst the Black community, I’m happy to be a Black woman of color. When I’m amongst the Jewish community, I’m delighted to be a Jewish woman leader. My life goal is to be available to people and meet people

where they are at any moment,” Jessica explained.

Although she has developed a strong sense of self to the point that she’s become a leader in her community, she wasn’t always this comfortable. She spent a lot of her youth feeling confused and questioning her place in the world.

“Am I black? Am I white? Am I Jewish? Am I not? I spent some of my earlier years wondering where I am going to land. Humans want to feel like they’re heard, they want to feel understood and they want to feel like they have a place in the community,” Jessica continued, “I feel like there should be one grown-up out there that a young person can turn to and say ‘I’m struggling with my place’ and just have an ear for them and say, ‘I hear you and I see you.’”

So she took it upon herself to become that grown-up, a fierce advocate for kids who might not feel like they fit in.

She emphasized that, although she has the ability to flow freely between communities, it was important for her continues on next page >>

Jessica Lemoine

continued

to raise her sons with traditional Jewish values. So, she found a home for her family at Ohr Shalom. Upon arriving 12 years ago, she felt immediately embraced by Rabbi Meltzer — someone who she believes also possesses the ability to meet people where they are.

“He was so welcoming and accepting of everyone that I felt like this is the space for me, I can support this space.

This is who I am anyways and who I want to be. He’s created a wonderful space at Ohr Shalom for the acceptance of all cultures. It’s important to him and he lets it be known,” Jessica explained.

Over her last decade on the board at Ohr Shalom, she’s become a respected and beloved leader in the community.

When asked what her teenage self would have thought if she could see herself today, receiving an honor from a conservative synagogue — she said her first reaction would have been one of surprise.

“My first thought would have been, ‘Wow, the world has come a long way.’ I would not have guessed that a traditionally conservative synagogue would be ready and willing to honor someone who had grown up in both cultures and communities. That there could be so much acceptance in society is a great thing,” Jessica said. A

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2022 03 SDJT The Lightning Thief ad Jewish Journal.pdf

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tremendous hardships. From difficulties finding good jobs to discrimination getting into the better schools, being Jewish was a mark of additional difficulty.

Sharansky marveled at how the times have changed.

He commented that now, during this humanitarian catastrophe it is precisely the Jews who are being saved due to the intervention of the international Jewish community.

“Ashreinu mah tov chelkainu,” Happy we are! How wonderful is our portion!

This miraculous level of support demonstrates our keen interest in and love of our fellow Jews. Incidentally, it provides a shining example to all the nations of the world of how to move with alacrity to save one’s people when they need help and how we all must try to help each other.

It is almost Pesach and we are undoubtedly busy preparing our homes for the joyous holiday. We are also planning how to distribute our ma’ot chittim. Let us resolve to dig even deeper this year and to include the refugees and the communities that welcomed them in our charitable giving plan. Let us find a way to enable them to sit at the Seder table and to thank the Almighty for being redeemed from Egypt while passing on the message of eternal freedom to their children, just as we do with ours! A

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Local Offerings All events are now in-person unless specified otherwise.

Cygnet Theatre All content is available on cygnettheatre.com THRU APR. 24: Water by the Spoonful This Pulitzer prize-winning drama follows the life of veteran Elliot and the online chat room that becomes a family.

Coronado Playhouse All content is on coronadoplayhouse.org THRU APR. 16.: Murder on the Orient Express This classic Agatha Christie whodunnit has all the intrigue, humor and glamor you want.

The Old Globe All content is available at theoldglobe.org Patrons must be fully vaccinated or show a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of the performance.

APR. 19-MAY 29: Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ This musical production demonstrates Bob Fosse’s deep appreciation of dancing, reimagined by director Wayne Cilento. Cilento himself starred in the original production of the Broadway hit.

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Patrons must be fully vaccinated or show a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of the performance.

APR. 20-MAY 15: Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits A comical production that celebrates Broadway’s greatest hits through parodies. This show includes tributes to “Chicago,” “Phantom,” “Fiddler” and others.

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La Jolla Playhouse All content is available on lajollaplayhouse.org THRU APR. 17: Bhangin’ It: A Bangin’ New Musical This world-premiere musical comedy explores the world of competitive bhangra dancing.

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▲ Peter John Chursin in Bob Fosse’s Dancin’. PHOTO BY RACHEL NEVILLE

APR. 21-24: WOW Festival 2022 This exciting four-day festival takes place in the Arts District at Liberty Station. The lineup promises over 20 productions by local, national and international artists in several different mediums.

La Jolla Music Society All content is available on ljms.org.

Patrons must provide proof of vaccination or wear a mask at all times.

APR. 2, 11 A.M., 3 P.M., 7 P.M.: San Diego Sings! | The Baker-Baum Concert Hall Fifteen talented local choirs join forces to perform all day.

There will be a total of three concert sessions to choose from throughout the day.

APR. 22, 8 P.M.: DakhaBrakha | The Baker-Baum Concert Hall This Ukrainian “ethno chaos” band will be performing as part of La Jolla Music Society’s Global Roots Series. Their music promises to be an embrace of instrumentation from around the world with a variety of musical influences such as indie rock, hip hop and pop.

San Diego Symphony All content is available on sandiegosymphony.org.

THRU APR. 3, 7:30 P.M.: Roméo Et Juliette | The Civic Theatre San Diego Symphony Musicians bring this classic to life with guest conductor Yves Abel.

APR. 20, 21, 23, 2:30 P.M., 7:30 P.M.: Mendelssohn’s ‘Italian’ | California Center for the Arts, Escondido A “musical voyage” to Italy led by conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl, based on Felix Mendelssohn’s ‘Italian Symphony.’ ▲

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San Diego Museum of Art All content is available on sdmart.org THRU APR. 30: 2022 Artists Guild Spring Exhibition SDMA Artist Guild’s spring exhibition is officially available online at sdmaag.org/2022-SpringExhibition. The virtual exhibition features 140 stunning international artworks.

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APR. 1, 3:30, 4 P.M.: SDMA+ DISCO RIOT DANCE ARTSTOPS Gallery Talk with Wang Qingsong The modern dancers of DISCO RIOT bring their talents to the museum’s rotunda as they explore the “‘Art of the Americas’ through movement and physical expression.”

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The Reuben Fleet Science Center All content is on rhfleet.org and requires registration.

APR.. 4, 10:30 A.M.: Sharp Minds Dr. David P. Fenning of UCSD leads “Solar Everywhere: How Advances in Nanoscale Engineering May Make Solar Cells Truly Ubiquitous,” a discussion on nanoscale “perovskite” solar cells, a renewable energy source with the potential to disrupt the status quo.

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THRU MAY 3, 11 A.M.: StudioX Going Places The Center’s makerspace features weekly hands-on activities and projects aimed at exploring transportation concepts. Projects include derby tracks, wind powered cars and hovercrafts.

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APR. 1-MAY 2: Border BioBlitz Join the binational effort by helping record change in the plants and animals found along the U.S./Mexico border. For more information visit: sdnhm.org/education/community-science SATURDAYS IN APR.: Nature Studio: Earth Month April marks community science month! Visitors of all ages are encouraged to participate in their nature studio, open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to create original art informed by local community science projects.

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Food

by Micah Siva

noshwithmicah.com

Gluten Free Halva Brownies Say goodbye to the Passover desserts you dread every year and hello to fudgy brownies packed with rich chocolate flavor and nutty halva. My secret to Passover desserts you’ll want to eat year round? Alternative flours like almond flour and coconut flour!

SERVES 12 INGREDIENTS:

PREPARATION:

• ½ cup coconut flour

1.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line an 8x8 baking tray with parchment paper.

2.

In a medium bowl, combine the coconut flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, sugar and sea salt.

3.

Add the eggs and melted chocolate, stirring to combine.

4.

Fold in halva and chocolate chips.

5.

Bake for 15-17 minutes.

6.

Let cool before slicing.

7.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days.

• ½ tsp. baking powder • ⅓ cup cocoa powder • ⅔ coconut sugar • ½ tsp. sea salt • 4 large eggs • ⅓ cup melted chocolate • ½ cup halva, crumbled • ½ cup chocolate chips

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A NIGHT TO DREAM

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This illustration was designed by Mahlani Gumabon England, one of the talented students of art teacher Edward Moller in San Diego Opera’s Artist Residency program at Lincoln High School. It was inspired by our upcoming production of El último sueño de Frida y Diego (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego), which will have its world premiere in October 2022.

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Pesach Around the World: Part 2 My Dear San Diegans: In our hunt for unique Pesach traditions, we continue with fascinating customs. As we discussed in an earlier article, while Jews worldwide have their Seder and Haggadah, traditions vary.

While the words may be familiar there are different melodies, customs and special foods that impart a distinctive flair to Passover traditions from Portugal to Persia. As we know, American Jews generally follow the customs of Ashkenazic Jews (from Eastern Europe); yet what sounds unusual in America is actually quite common among the many Sephardic and Mizrahi. While Sephardic communities often share similar customs, they vary in nuance by country, foods that were available and by regional culinary traditions. According to Rabbi Herbert Dobrinsky’s “A Treasury of Sephardic Laws and Customs,” Seder plates must include the shank bone (zero’a), egg (betzah), bitter herbs (maror), haroset (symbolizing mortar), green vegetable (karpas) and a second green vegetable (hazeret). The three matzot and dipping liquid (either salt water, lemon juice or vinegar) are outside the plate. Before boxed matzo was readily available, some Sephardim baked a thick pita-like matzo for the seder and a waferthin variety for the rest of the week.

Haroset (symbolizing the mortar the Israelites used to make bricks) differs the most around the world. It’s usually sweet, made in large quantities and

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eaten for each meal during Passover. A typical example is haroset made with chopped apples, walnuts, sweet wine and cinnamon. It’s often thick before the walnuts are added.

Persian Jews have mixed spices with over a dozen kinds of fruits and nuts, including dates, pomegranates, bananas, oranges and pistachios. Venetian Jews have blended chestnut paste and apricots. The Greek Jews of Zakynthos have soaked raisins in vinegar, added pepper and finely ground brick! True to the holy books, but to the tongue?

Yemenite Jews have used chopped dates and figs, chili pepper and spicy coriander. “Water, water! Did you let it run a little?”

From Portugal to Persia: At the Passover Seder, the Jews of IndianIraqi-Syrian ancestry have chanted each paragraph of the Haggadah in a combination of Hebrew and Arabic. As for symbolic food, romaine has replaced horseradish; a thick date syrup called halek is their haroset; celery leaves have been used instead of parsley for karpas; lemon juice is favored over salt water and they use Mama Cardinowitz’s Kosher breadsticks instead of matzo.

I jest, but just about the breadsticks.

The rest is the emmes.

The largest Seder in the world is celebrated in Kathmandu, Nepal.

With unlimited access to the Atlantic hundreds of Israeli travelers gather

in Nepal to consume 1,100 pounds of matzo — with lots of kosher wine.

Morocco, Matzo & Plates: Morocco’s Jews have many fascinating customs.

Retired lobbyist Irene Kaplan, whose grandfather had been chief rabbi in Fez, Morocco explains: “Moroccans celebrate the end of the eight-day holiday with a mini-festival, Mimouna.

‘It’s like a moving party from house to house,’ Kaplan said. With restrictions on unleavened goods now lifted, her father would put flour on his hand, touch guests on their foreheads and wish them terbah — success in Morocco. He would pass plates holding the ceremonial foods over the heads of dinner guests, while reciting, ‘In fear we left Egypt with the bread of affliction, and now we are free.’

The symbolism is that the angel of death should pass over everyone for the coming year,” said Kaplan.

During Mimouna, (the Arabic word for wealth or good fortune), tables are laid with an array of sweets as symbols of good luck. Traditionally a time for matchmaking, Mimouna has become a picnic day in Israel. Some believe it is also the birth day of Maimonides.

“In Iraq, at the end of Passover, “sant-il-khadra,” a year of good fortune!” is said.

Good Tidings — Ashkenaic vs.

Sephardic. In Ashkenazic homes when the 10 plagues are recited, custom

demanded that each person dip a pinky in the wine 10 times. Sephardic families were more superstitious! Often, only the leader recited the plagues so that others would not be “contaminated.” Among Levantine and Balkan Jews (from Turkey, for instance), nobody even looked at the wine, spilled. While Sephardic Jews have not usually had a Cup of Elijah or hid the afikomen, symbols from the Seder plate have been transformed into good omens for year-round protection against the “Evil Eye.” No walking under ladders here.

A Little Head Klop: The tradition of tapping guests on the head started in Spain in the 14th century. The Seder leader, Seder plate in hand, walked around the table three times tapping it on the head of each guest. This may connect to the Talmudic custom of “uprooting” the Seder plate so guests might ask questions about the Jews in Egypt.

Many Moroccan, Turkish and Tunisian Jews adopted this tradition, which is said to bless those whose heads are tapped. A little klop a little blessing, is this Jewish or what?

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Breaking Matzo into Hebrew Letters: For Syrian Jews yachatz (breaking the middle matzo) may have related to Kabbalistic meaning. Broken into the letters “daled” and “vav” correspond to numbers that add up to 10 or the holy emanations of God. In Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Libya, the matzo has been broken into the Hebrew letter “hey,” which corresponds to the number five.

Hungarian gems: Three passages in Exodus refer to the Israelites receiving gold and silver from the Egyptians. In Hungary, the Passover table sparkled with the family’s silver and gold jewelry to represent the precious metal objects given to the Israelites as they were leaving by the Egyptians.

Jewish Trendy White: Hasidic and Moroccan Jews usually wore white to Seder, possibly to signify joyfulness. White was also sometimes worn on the High Holidays.

Elijah’s Welcomed: As the prophet Elijah visits every Seder, different cultures welcome him in their own way.

Ashkenazi Jews leave a goblet of wine out figuring he must be thirsty. In Morocco, Jews set up a throne with cushions and decorations figuring he was also tired. Ashkenazi Jews often open the door to allow Elijah in and show me one person whose door hasn’t swung or a person hasn’t entered at just the “right” time.

Despite where we’re from, or even how we practice Judaism, on those two days, We Jews from all parts of the world come together as one. It’s not in the clothes, the charoset, or who carries what; to us, Passover reminds us of our history, including our present suffering and looks to peace and joy.

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