March 2022

MARCH 2022 | ADAR • NISSAN 5782

n O k c a B i Maccab For 2022

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WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY MARCH 16-17TH PARTICIPATE IN THE FOUR MITZVOT OF PURIM: 1) HEAR THE MEGILLA (STORY OF PURIM) TWICE 2) GIVE CHARITY TO TWO PEOPLE 3) SEND FOOD BASKETS (MASHALOCH MANOT) TO ONE FRIEND 4) PARTAKE IN A JOYOUS FEAST We have locations all over San Diego!

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| SDJEWISHJOURNAL.COM March 2022

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

visit kindnessSD.org @kindnesssandiego

@kindness-initiative

@kindnessinitiativesd

@thekindnesssd

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Contents

PUBLISHERS

MARCH 2022 | ADAR • NISSAN 5782

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

Jacqueline Bull

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Nathalie Feingold

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Eileen Sondak

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Donna D’Angelo

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SENIOR CONSULTANT

Ronnie Weisberg

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Features 22 Making Maccabi Magic 25 Not Because They Are Jewish, but Because We Are 31 Rare Impressionist Masterpieces from France

Grace SDMA’s Gallery Walls

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

Jonathan Ableson | Senior Account Executive Alan Moss | Palm Springs EDITORIAL

editor@sdjewishjournal.com

Columns 9 From the Editor | The Power of “Maus” 12 Israeli Lifestyle | Farther Off Than Heaven 14 Examined Life | Hatikva: Hope Springs Eternal 16 Religion | Can You Out-Perform Feeling Not Good Enough 18 Personal Development and Judaism | Your Mamba Mentality 42 Advice | The Jewish Boomer’s Drivers’ Test

Departments 10 What’s Up Online 34 Local Offerings 36 News 39 Diversions 40 Food

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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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LETTERS

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Dear Friendship Circle Families, Volunteers, and Supporters, When something wonderful happens in the Jewish faith we say the blessing of “Shehechiyanu,” thanking G-d for having reached a milestone or experiencing great news. We have great news about our Friendship Circle!

As you know, Friendship Circle of San Diego has been on a challenging journey for more than a year. I am thrilled to announce that with dedicated, behind the scenes work and encouragement from many and a hardworking team of Chabad Rabbis we are ready to embark on a new beginning.

To update you, Friendship Circle is no longer associated with Chabad of Poway. We will be an independent entity not associated with any specific synagogue, but serving any that avail themselves of our programming. We will run according to the best practices for nonprofits as detailed by the State of California and the IRS. We have a new Board of Directors and a new set of bylaws.

We have hired an enthusiastic young couple, Rabbi Yossi and Rebbetzin Muka Rodal as our Directors. They are warm, friendly, creative and organized. They are experienced in the areas of FC needs.

Your past support made it possible for us to help so many — you added meaning, love, companionship and enriching life-experiences for our Friendship Circle participants. With your continuing friendship, support, confidence and G-d’s blessings our Friendship Circle will positively impact many lives by including those with disabilities in our community.

There is a time to heal and a time to grow. With your support and friendship we will have a great new beginning!

With joy and relief, Elisheva Green

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The Power of “Maus” In university, I was a “Writing” major. Then it was fairly uncommon to have separate “Writing” and “English” departments. There was a healthy rivalry between the two departments. The writing majors thought the English majors were stuffy Shakespeare fanatics and the English majors thought the writing majors were chaotic narcissists. I was caught in the transition years where you had to take the prerequisite module in English before you could take the workshop in writing. So if you wanted to take a playwriting class, you would need to take the English class about reading plays before you could take the class that would teach you how to write your own. (This set-up was phased out in my second half of college experience).

One winter semester, I was in a nonfiction English class. It was called a “six-to-nine” because it was once a week, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Six-to-nines had a completely different feel to the standard twice-a-week daytime classes. Everyone basically ate their dinner in the class and the long stretch of time, at night, would lull you into a strange hypnotic state of mind. Before signing up, all the course description would tell you that it was the English class about the genre of nonfiction. It would turn out that the whole class would be about nonfiction from the Holocaust. We read “Night” by Elie Wiesel, we learned about European geography and where the different camps and ghettos were and we also read “Maus” by Art Spiegelman.

In “Maus” the Jews are mice and the Nazis are cats.

And this metaphor is illustrated to powerful effect as a nonfiction comic. Spiegelman portrays himself in

the present interviewing his father and also the stories his father tells him. I remember the book to be deeply stirring and richly layered. There is the layer of the dad’s accounts, the interview between the dad and the son and even conflicts with Spiegelman and his wife about how to create the book that became “Maus.” You never forget that this is a Jewish person relaying the experiences of their own father and struggling with how to do it best and the complexities of the relationships of all the people involved in the web. This dynamic is what makes it unique from what I would call more straight-forward memoirs. You as the reader can see how the story being told affects the people telling them. You as the reader see how the experience of Speigelman’s dad affected Speigelman’s childhood and how it affected him in creating “Maus” as an adult. A big thing that “Maus” teaches us is how the scars of experience get passed down by generations and no matter how removed we may feel from the events of the Holocaust, the aftershocks still exist.

While taking a night class about the Holocaust, in the dead of a dark Michigan winter was a definite low point for my serotonin, I’m immensely grateful for the experience. The right professor or the right book, or if you got really lucky, both, could leave a lasting mark. A

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WHAT’S UP

Online

Hummus in space? Joint Israeli-NASA project aims to help astronauts grow chickpeas in zero gravity While NASA has succeeded in growing lettuce, cabbage, and kale in space, under a program named “Veggie,” it has never tried to grow chickpeas. Israelis Yonatan Winetraub of SpaceIL floated adding chickpeas to the program for several reasons: They are a superfood, packed with iron, phosphorus and folic acid, in addition to protein. They are easy to grow and they mature quickly.

of travel, the shuttle will reach the International Space Station (ISS), located 300 miles above the Earth.

The greenhouse, the size of a quart container of milk, will be delivered to the American side of the ISS.

Winetraub and a team of scientists and engineers from Israel and Stanford University sent up a sealed miniature greenhouse on a NASA cargo shuttle. After a day

Inside the white metal box will be 28 chickpea seeds from Israel that Winetraub and his team will attempt to germinate and grow — remotely, using special software — in an environment free of gravity and natural light. The plants in the greenhouse will be grown for one month and then will be refrigerated until they are brought down to Earth in June.

World of Wordle inspires a new game: Jewdle

How this Jewish politician in Brooklyn wins friends among progressives and the haredi Orthodox

In yet another addition to the world of Wordle offshoots, an Australia-based Jewish community organization has created Jewdle — a distinctly Jewish version of the wildly popular online word game. Jewdle offers six-letter words from English, Yiddish, Hebrew and Aramaic.

In the same week that he rallied against a natural gas company’s expansion plans, Lincoln Restler repeatedly condemned a series of antisemitic incidents in Brooklyn.

Jewdle also throws in a Jewish educational component, adding explanations and context once a player gets a word right.

“This seemed like a really perfect way to create Jewish relevance within a very popular, secular context that so many people around the world are accessing right now,” Alon Meltzer, the game’s creator said.

Such positions may be par for the course for a member of the New York City Council, but they also reflect Restler’s unusual ability, as a newly elected member of the council, to build coalitions within both progressive groups and the large Orthodox community in his Brooklyn district.

Progressive values and Jewish identification come naturally to Restler. He was previously elected as district leader and worked as a community activist. As a young child he participated in acts of service at the Reform Brooklyn Heights Synagogue with his parents.

Continue reading these articles at sdjewishjournal.com

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| SDJEWISHJOURNAL.COM March 2022

Join Us as we Come Together Again for an Evening of Community and Philanthropy!

Jewish Family Service

Evelyn & Ernest Rady

Play It Forward

Marie Raftery & Dr. Bob Rubenstein Scott Schindler

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Celebrating the 2022 Honorees Marcia Hazan Gratitude has been—and always will be—Marcia Hazan’s guiding principle. Both in the boardroom and out in the community, Marcia approached every day of her 18 years on the JFS Board as a new opportunity to give back to the city she loves. A dedicated philanthropist and respected leader, Marcia has generously invested her time and energy into addressing the urgent needs of her fellow San Diegans.

For more than a decade, Danielle and Brian Miller’s passion for helping children thrive has strengthened our community. As the owners of the award-winning toy stores Geppetto’s, the Millers believe that toys are more than just fun—they are a tool to help kids prepare for successful futures. The Miller’s commitment to empowering children amplifies our Jewish value of Kehillah (community).

Join Us www.jfssd.org/gala

Thank you to our generous underwriters - view roster online.

Underwriting Opportunities Diane Voit • (858) 637-3029 • dianev@jfssd.org

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ISRAELI LIFESTYLE

LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE

by Andrea Simantov | andreasimantov@gmail.com

Farther Off Than Heaven The son-in-law, who I’d met twice, sent me a ticket after delicately explaining that three years was too long for my daughter and I to not see one another in the flesh and, “to put it frankly,” she needed her Mommy.

They were expecting another baby soon and he’d drawn a loving but clear picture of emotional frailty due to the unimaginable length of time and physical distance that separated us.

Did he know that I, too, was walking into walls and holding myself together with spit and glue? They have a twoyear-old son who I still haven’t held in my arms. For Daniel, “Gramma” is a curly-haired, loud and animated illusion that occasionally appears on a small screen, sputtering and stopping at will, relying on South Africa’s most-unreliable electric grid. How was I handling my own sense of disconnect? By sending my daughter funny memes, swapping recipes, sharing nothing deeper than a humorous anecdote. I kept things so meaningless and shallow because I feared getting permanently sucked into an inescapable abyss of sadness.

I had told myself that it didn’t matter so much, that all of the government mandated cancellations and flightstoppages were difficult for everyone and no one wants to hear my weeping over a mere distance of 5,659 miles. Three years. In a world that boasts rapid transit, low-cost airfares and split-second cyberconnections, we’d suddenly become

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immobilized. My now 93-yearold mother became too far away to hug because of America’s interminable “red country” status for much of last year.

Ethiopian Air was ruled out because Addis Ababa was dealing with civil war; Emirates Air was fairly priced but, unimpressed with Pretoria’s Covid fight, was flying into Johannesburg but not out. If I wanted to leave on the same carrier, I’d have to hoof it to Capetown first. Thus, I flew Turkish Air. Was I concerned that relations between Tel Aviv and Istanbul were still strained?

I was more concerned that I might not receive a kosher meal on one or both legs of the flight. (Spoiler: No kosher food was ordered. Surprisingly, Istanbul Airport does not boast a kosher deli.)

I arrived on a Sunday morning to an eerily quiet OR Tambo airport and found my very-pregnant daughter holding a massive bouquet of flowers; we fell into one-another’s arms with sobs and kisses. She cleverly did not bring the baby because she thought he might be frightened from the unrestrained emotions of this reunion. She had planned correctly.

For 14 days I was Mommy. In my little corner of a restaurant-sized kitchen, I set up a hot plate and separate pots, cooking foods that reminded my baby of home. Three eggplant salads. Apple

sauce. Gedempte chicken. Persian rice.

My extremely charming, generous, handsome and non-Jewish son-in-law went to a law-school reunion while our little group enjoyed Shabbat. On Friday night, my daughter and I made a grape juice kiddush, ate challah, sang songs, giggled and reminisced. I’d left a small light on in my room and climbed the stairs, curling into bed with my grandson to read the books I’d shlepped from Jerusalem. From this day forward I will associate “Goodnight, Moon,” “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “Are You My Mother?” with the glow of Sabbath candles and a smell of cholent.

Are there any universal lessons to be gleaned from the past two years of plague? One might be that life has a way of disregarding even the best intentions.

I am neither a prophet or seer. Still, I can confidently state that by acting kindly and developing a loving ‘eye,’ I’ll get it right more often than not. The rest, I’ll leave to Heaven. A

Mazel tov to the Winner & Finalists of the

MICHAEL JESER OUTSTANDING JEWISH PROFESSIONAL AWARD We celebrate these outstanding professionals who help create and sustain thriving Jewish life in San Diego.

Winner Lisa Motenko Associate Executive Director Hillel of San Diego

Finalists

Jordan Daniels

Carly Ezell Lobenstein

Sarah Greenstein, LCSW

Diana Stern

Communications and Creative Specialist Leichtag Foundation

Director of Engagement Jewish Federation of San Diego County

School Counselor San Diego Jewish Academy

Club J Director Lawrence Family JCC

jewishinsandiego.org | 858-571-3444

The Michael Jeser Outstanding Jewish Professional Award is sponsored by Jewish Federation of San Diego County in memory of former Federation President and CEO Michael Jeser, z’’l. Michael was a lifelong, passionate Jewish communal professional with a deep commitment to nurturing and mentoring talented young Jewish professionals. This award honors his legacy and embrace of San Diego’s Jewish community, and recognizes dedicated entry to mid-level professionals at local Jewish communal organizations.

EXAMINED LIFE

OUR EMOTIONAL FOOTPRINT

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

| slevine@ucsd.edu

Hatikva: Hope Springs Eternal You are no doubt familiar with the stirring words and melody of “Hatikva,” the national anthem of Israel and the de rigeur music for many Jewish events and holidays throughout the Diaspora.

The Hebrew word Hatikva literally means “the hope,” referring to the longsought national home for the Jewish people, as well as the desire to live in an environment of mutual caring, civility, security and peace.

“Hope springs eternal in the human breast,” wrote the English poet Alexander Pope, whose dictum is still as profound as it is poetic.

Hope is indeed a powerful Life Force.

It is the fervent aspiration we hold during difficult circumstances that things will get better and enables us to face and overcome personal challenges. Hope is unique to our species because it requires words and thoughts to contemplate possible future events.

There are countless dramatic stories of hope existing even in the most dire circumstances. My late father was raised in a destitute and dangerous war-torn shtetl, yet he never lost hope, which enabled him to withstand these hostile forces, overcome their effects and grow as a person.

Our hopes spring forth from our wishes, yearnings and desires that challenges or threats can ameliorate and there can be a better tomorrow.

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It is by its very nature optimistic and activist, encouraging us to work towards overcoming.

During periods of major turbulence in our lives, hope serves as a personal beacon, much as a lighthouse beckons sailors during periods of darkness and stormy seas.

Even in ancient times people felt that the spirit of hope had the power to reverse bad luck, stave off evil spirits and heal afflictions. Charms and candles, talisman and amulets, incantations and rituals have always been employed in every culture and country. They serve as “security blankets,” symbols of hopes (and fervent wishes) for the relief from emotional or physical pain.

Physicians present to patients and families realistically encouraging news whenever possible because hope during serious illness can improve mood and spirits and actually foster healing and recovery.

Hope provides a haven from pessimism, fear and dread. It galvanizes our courage and mobilizes our energy and vitality. It enhances our mood and our creative thinking.

Hope also contributes to our propensity to help others who are in distress, including strangers as well as loved ones. Heroism is frequently spawned by the presence of hope during times of danger and destitution. It is

one of the great human motivators, engendering a sense of purpose and aspiration during desperate times.

Even when there are seemingly few possibilities of escape from misery, human beings have persevered and persisted, holding onto slim threads of hope.

Of course, there are ‘false hopes’ which can be misleading or even destructive. Merely waiting passively for an impossible situation to resolve can be demoralizing and self-defeating, as vividly captured in the play “Waiting For Godot” by Samuel Beckett.

While we have much to be grateful for, the current times (pandemic, global warming, political instability) have led many people to feel remarkably stressed and more vigilant and reactive. There is evidence that we are living in times of heightened anxiety and uncertainty, fear, dread and mistrust of our political leaders, and worse, of each other.

When we are in such profound turmoil, we all need to “light our internal candles” of hope, which serve as a spur for us to overcome. There have surely been times in your own life when your problems seemed insurmountable, yet you retained your inner hope that enabled you to overcome, turn things around and grow in personal well-being and wisdom.

Hatikva, indeed! A

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RELIGION

POST-POLITICAL

by Rabbi Jacob Rupp | rabbirupp@gmail.com

Can You Out-Perform Feeling Not Good Enough?

There is something common amongst most of the highest-achieving people I coach.

They can’t imagine a life without their negative voices pushing them.

Surely, you assume at a certain point of achievement those nagging voices of “you’re not good enough” go away.

After all, the voices are pointing to real things; you’re not yet qualified enough, rich enough, smart enough, good looking enough. But the truth is that they never go away until you’re ready to just confront them. And the reality is that these voices, which are so common for so many of us, don’t indicate a problem — they are the problem.

Oftentimes we try to perform or qualify ourselves out of our negativity, but to no avail. There will always be someone better than us. And the more that we try to achieve our way out of our negative internal chatter, the louder it becomes and the more we feel we need to do.

Instead, try this. Recognize that you like feeling bad. You like feeling bad?

How so?

It is normal for you to feel like you aren’t enough. The familiarity is there.

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The reality is that these voices, which are so common for so many of us, don’t indicate a problem — they are the problem.

And you attribute a lot of your success to it. If you didn’t feel bad, you wouldn’t try...right? Wrong.

We can also endeavor and achieve out of a place of being “enough.” Good enough. Smart enough. Happy enough.

Then our efforts add value instead of distracting us or creating more internal noise. So how do we get rid of the voices?

Simple: recognize that we want to. Get sick of feeling bad about yourself. Start to actively notice and pay attention to the times we speak to ourselves in ways that we wouldn’t speak to our friends or loved ones. When you hear the negative voices come up that make you feel bad, start by

noticing them. Then ask yourself, “how would I like to feel right now?”

Most people don’t start with the end in mind; they just assume it is what it is.

If you want to feel qualified, competent, confident, joyous, define the outcome. Define how you want to go about your life. Do you want to feel confident on sales calls? Do you want to feel good about yourself when you go to the gym?

Define your outcome. And then find a place in your life where you have already achieved that state. Cultivate that feeling without needing to justify it. Live in the feeling and you will find that the voices start to change. Your internal chatter will change around your feelings. The more that you create your feelings intentionally, the more you will see your outer world change to reflect your inner world.

There is a deep kabbalistic meditation that “G-d is your shadow.” We live too often in the world of reactivity, but by being proactive with how we want the world to be we can actually create our outcome. Begin with the end feeling in mind. Get tired with feeling bad. Accept that you can perform even better when you feel great about yourself. A

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PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND JUDAISM

THIS WAY TO EDEN

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

Your Mamba Mentality We recently enjoyed a scholar-inresidence weekend at our synagogue.

This particular scholar travels the world to share and record remarkable stories.

His demeanor is friendly, confident and warm. He wears small glasses, a suit and is clean cut. He seems like a solid neighbor that would jumpstart your car or give you a cup of sugar in a pinch. The whole weekend he animatedly shared true story after story to an enraptured crowd. His final presentation totally caught me off guard. He broke out a guitar and began to sing sporadic parts of his story with the accompaniment of a flute player. I was surprised because this guy didn’t strike me as an “artist” or a “creative.” He was a good orator, and nice enough, but what kind of traits did he need to possess to make it as a successful storyteller — a singing, successful storyteller?! Any guy with glasses, a suit and a neighborly smile would make a great and safe accountant presumably. Some unknown variable must be lying underneath our scholar’s conventional exterior that allowed him to create an exceptional career.

My answer came to me before the question: this guy was willing to make a fool out of himself. He was completely willing to fail. His love of the stories and the people behind them and his passion to share his gifts with the world eclipsed his fears and insecurities.

This is the core of authenticity. It’s the powerful choosing of one’s own truth

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This is the core of authenticity. It’s the powerful choosing of one’s own truth over attachment or acknowledgment from others. over attachment or acknowledgment from others. My evidence was that this grown man was sitting front-and-center telling (singing) stories for a living. His career was far from convention. Even if he felt that he was gifted and desired to share inspiration in a meaningful way, he needed to be fully ready for others’ judgments, the possibility of failure and the inevitable rejection. He needed to be willing to show up authentically as himself (melody and all) even at the expense of others’ respect. Apparently, his choices worked out well for himself.

He’s a busy, in-demand professional who enjoys the benefits of an appreciative audience both psychologically and financially. But, his willingness, his persistence, his courage, his conviction to be authentic needed to predate his success.

Kobe Bryant coined the term “Mamba Mentality.” In Bryant’s own words, the Mamba Mentality is the continued

“pursuit of being the best version of yourself.” One of my clients was seemingly born with Mamba Mentality.

He naturally immerses himself in books, podcasts and teachings to feel elevated and perform optimally. But, alas, he would find himself on something of a performance rollercoaster ride. He’d feel inspired, enjoy the momentum of his inspiration and then something or someone would knock him off of his feet and he’d take a downward spiral.

He knew his relationship, wellness and career could be so much better but he was beginning to lose hope in finding the path to get there.

In contrast to the storyteller, my client was still building the dedication to his own authenticity over his attachment of others’ comments and even the judgment in his own mind. It wasn’t enough for my client to consume inspirational content to feel good. He needed to check in with himself and ask: Am I being true to myself? What do I want and am I honoring those desires? If failure is an inevitable part of success, wouldn’t it be better to fail while being myself instead of to fail while trying to please others?

Kobe Bryant himself did not consider an extreme work ethic to be the secret to his long-term success. Bryant certainly pushed himself even during off-seasons to practice hard. He built relationships with his predecessors who he admired and studied old games to observe continues on page 20 >>

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Personal Development

Larry M. Katz continued

technique and best practices. But the singular factor that most impacted the incredible span of his career was his connection to self. He constantly checked in with his body and napped if he needed rest, meditated if he needed focus and practiced physical therapies and recuperative exercises.

He also continued to stay connected to his own vision of greatness and that drove him each day. He invested in himself and built himself to be a trophy-winning, recordsetting basketball player.

Riding ourselves until burnout does not create our next level of success. Slowing down enough to clearly identify and offer ourselves what we need most (also known as loving ourselves) allows us to recover and refuel. The willingness to be our truest, highest selves — like my client, like Kobe, like the storyteller — is what creates the people we are destined to be. Your goals of tomorrow will not be achieved by the person you are today. You need to build yourself differently, with Mamba Mentality, at the possible expense of acceptance from others, embracing the aspects of you that make you both extraordinary and weird. You must look yourself in the mirror and perhaps notice a good accountant at first glance, but after close examination, see a great storyteller. A

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Making Maccabi Magic

TED REIDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY

by Jacqueline Bull

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| SDJEWISHJOURNAL.COM March 2022

When the JCC Maccabi games were set to come to San Diego in 2020, I met with the committee chairs on a sunny day in Del Mar and they told me about how excited they were to have Maccabi in their home city again and the connection they had to the games. A couple months later, the pandemic started, the games were canceled and the fate of the event was left up in the air.

Now the games are back this summer (July 31–Aug. 5) and that same committee is moving full steam ahead. An event of this size takes a massive amount of preparation and truly an entire community of hosts and volunteers working together. This Olympic-style event is the largest annual gathering of Jewish teens in the world. The games are set to bring 1,500 Jewish teens, 300 coaches and thousands of families to San Diego this year. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the games.

The games are shaping up to look close to what it would have looked like pre-pandemic. The ArtsFest unfortunately was not able to be brought into 2022, but the San Diego event will still be the first in Maccabi history for the Access Games for Jewish teens with cognitive and developmental disabilities.

“We are thrilled to be hosting the long-awaited JCC Maccabi Games in 2022. Not only is our entire community eagerly looking forward to marking four decades of JCC Maccabi magic, we want to embrace the opportunity to rally around this gigantic display of Jewish

COVER FEATURE

There is power in this moment. pride and belief in our Jewish future.

The expansion of the program to include JCC Maccabi Access elevates our goals in bringing a diverse group of Jewish teens and communities from across North America together for sporting experiences that — combined with Jewish cultural, social, social action and leadership elements — will create deep, rich and transformative experiences, inspiring and augmenting the Jewish journey of every person touched by JCC Maccabi,” Betzy Lynch, CEO of the Lawrence Family JCC, said.

Adding Access to the games exemplifies one of the core guiding principles of the games that was present when I first talked with the chairs in 2019 and is present now: Rachmanus. This is the yiddish word meaning compassion,

We want to embrace the opportunity to rally around this gigantic display of Jewish pride and belief in our Jewish future. but broadly in the Maccabi sphere refers to how the event isn’t just about the sports and the competition. The games bring together a big spread out community and in many cases foster lifelong friendships and enrich one’s Jewish identity.

All of the chairs have a personal tie to the games beyond enjoying fun

community events. Adam Jacobs, for example, started the games as an athlete, went on to become a coach and is now one of the chairs putting the event on.

Many others had their kids participate in the games or were a host family for the visiting teams. Chair Larry Katz’s children are still friends with the teens that they hosted in 2008.

And it is not just the chairs that are thrilled to be a part of the festivities.

Wayne Harris and Naomi Harris are delighted to be host families again.

They were previously host families when the games were last in San Diego 14 years ago. They hosted four teenage girl volleyball players from Dallas, which brought their house of five to a house of nine. The Harrises enjoyed watching the games and the dinners with the other host families. One of their daughters even carried on the tradition by participating herself in a different host city.

There is a sense of excitement and longing in putting on this event two years after it was originally planned.

It is the same sort of feeling I get from talking to theater directors finally able to put plays on their stages again. And it reminds me of what Federation’s new CEO Heidi Gantwerk said, “Coming out of Covid, I think there is a need for this reconnection to Jewish life. There is power in this moment.”

There is power in this moment and I wonder if the resilience shown by everyone involved in putting on the event after such an absence of big, rowdy, in-person Jewish camaraderie events makes it that much more special. A San Diego’s JCC Maccabi team is looking for host families, sponsors and volunteers. They have a goal of 750 host families and have 1500 volunteer shifts over six days. Visit jccmaccabisd.org to learn more or register.

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FEATURE

Not Because They Are Jewish, but Because We Are JFS Pledges to ‘Welcome the Stranger’ Through New Co-Sponsorship Initiative

by Nathalie Feingold JFS has been shaped by the global crises of different eras; whether it be the Great Depression, World Wars or the Holocaust. Yet throughout all of this tragedy, they have remained a powerful source of light for people in need and have risen to the crisis of our time.

“There are roughly 80 million displaced men, women and children around the world who remain in immediate danger — fleeing war, persecution and more. The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened conditions on the ground for some countries and resulted in a temporary suspension on resettlement travel last year,” JFS CEO Michael Hopkins said.

“This puts a significant strain on an already vulnerable population, with the United Nations estimating that around 74% of refugees do not have the ability to meet all of their basic needs because of the pandemic.”

Michael and the JFS team realized that, with the numbers of displaced

refugees growing exponentially, there was a critical and extensive need for their resettlement services in 2022. JFS quickly responded to the call by partnering with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS); together they established a new community co-sponsorship initiative. This comprehensive initiative supports refugee families in their process of resettling and integrating into new homes and communities.

JFS is preparing to resettle 500 individuals scheduled to arrive in San Diego in the coming year. They plan to expand their local capacity to serve the large number of refugees. Their new co-sponsorship initiative and the accompanying services provided are a key part of this expansion.

“Support from co-sponsorship groups will enable refugees to form community relationships that support long-term integration. This project will result in a more welcoming local community,

increased understanding of refugee needs and create powerful bonds between co-sponsor groups and the refugees they welcome,” JFS Director of Strategic Partnerships Carole Yellen said.

Through this initiative, JFS invites congregations, havurot and community members to form volunteer groups that will provide hands-on support to refugee families as they integrate into San Diego. The volunteer groups will directly engage in refugee resettlement efforts by providing financial and in-kind contributions, volunteer services and emotional and resettlement support.

Some of the services required to support refugees are housing, employment, education and cultural guidance.

“Our goal as an organization, in general, is to ensure families and individuals of all faiths, backgrounds and ages build strong pathways to self-sufficiency and brighter futures,” Michael said. continues on next page >>

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JFS Initiative

continued

JFS remains one of the primary refugee resettlement agencies in San Diego County. Historically, welcoming new immigrants has always been one of the core tenants of JFS. The organization was founded in 1918 by a group of Jewish women known as the “Jolly Sixteen.”

“Early on, their efforts were dedicated to welcoming new immigrants — those who came from the other side of the world and sought refuge in the United States for the first time. Over the next two decades, the agency’s work was shaped by the global crises that defined the era — the Depression, World War II and the Holocaust,” Michael explained.

Over 100 years and several global crises later, the Jolly Sixteen’s mission to welcome and support refugees with open arms remains paramount.

“The Jewish values that inspired the Jolly Sixteen continue to guide our

work today. We remain committed to ‘Welcoming the Stranger,’ a command repeated in the Torah no less than 36 times — assisting not because they are Jewish, but because we are,” Carole explained.

“As we retell the story of Exodus annually during Passover, our Jewish community remembers how, we too, were once strangers in a strange land.

And our Jewish value of B’tzelem Elohim reminds us that everyone is deserving of dignity and that we are obligated to help repair the brokenness in our world through acts of loving kindness.”

Carole emphasized that volunteers are at the heart of JFS; a strong group of committed volunteers is fundamental in fulfilling JFS’ Jewish obligation of “Welcoming the Stranger.” This is especially vital considering the large number of refugees expected to arrive in San Diego this year.

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“We couldn’t do any of this work without our numerous, dedicated volunteers and ongoing community support. Our most immediate needs are related to housing — including helping us build relationships with landlords and property managers that can offer secure, stable housing for incoming resettled families,” Carole said.

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FEATURE

Rare Impressionist Masterpieces from France Grace SDMA’s Gallery Walls

by Nathalie Feingold The Bemberg collection rarely leaves its permanent home in Toulouse, France. However, necessary renovations required to maintain the historical French building that houses the works presented a rare opportunity for the San Diego Museum of Art. Providentially, SDMA sprung to action and negotiated an agreement to bring over 60 impressionist masterpieces to San Diego for the time being.

This will mark only the second time that the remarkable collection, titled “Monet to Matisse: Impressionist Masterpieces from the Bemberg Foundation,” will be on view in the United States. The exhibition is open to visitors Mar. 19 through Aug. 7.

The Museum’s walls will be adorned with countless iconic works from some of the most renowned impressionist painters of all time, such as; Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and Camille Pissarro, to name a few.

“We’ve got these masterpieces in San Diego and I really think the works

are going to resonate with our visitors.

It’s an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see works that very, very rarely leave their home in France,” Dr. Michael Brown, Curator of European Art at SDMA, said.

The show will cover a range of different movements starting with impressionism and the subsequent movements inspired by the revolutionary style, including; postimpressionism, pointillism and Fauvism.

Michael explained that the selection of works follows a chronological timeline spanning from the 1870s to the 1930s.

Michael predicts that the collection of works will feel right at home on the museum’s walls.

“It’s really becoming a part of our museum for the few months that we have it, we’re going to be living with it and celebrating it within our galleries,” Michael said.

The two major themes explored in the collection are landscapes and domestic life. Impressionism’s thin brush strokes and shifting colors perfectly capture

both sweeping, open landscapes and the intimate, close-quarters of everyday domestic life.

Michael highlighted two artists that are featured heavily in the exhibition: Berthe Morisot and Camille Pissarro.

Their works embody the overarching themes of domestic life and landscapes that define the show.

Morisot was a highly successful female painter; in fact, Michael informed me that she was the only woman artist featured in the earliest recorded impressionism exhibition in 1874.

“Morisot’s represented by a couple of really exciting works in the show, and with the way that we’ve installed the show, she’s one of the stars,” Michael said.

He then described one of Morisot’s oil paintings of a dreamy, abstracted garden scene in Nice, France.

“She creates this sense of abstraction in this garden scene that went beyond what other impressionists were doing; it’s revolutionary for the history of art.

It’s a really beautiful work of art with continues on next page >>

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Masterpieces

continued

its open brush work and sense of color, wind and atmosphere; it’s a joyful scene,” Michael described.

Camille Pissarro is another prominently featured artist in the show.

Pissarro was a painter of SephardicJewish heritage. Michael showed me a touching Pissarro oil portrait depicting a domestic scene of his young son Felix.

“Pissarro was a very interesting character because he was older than most of the impressionists and served as their unofficial dean and mentor.

He had this fatherly relationship with the impressionists and he helped them a great deal in exhibiting their work, he was also an early proponent of painting outdoors.” Michael explained, “Georges Bemberg, the collector, I think had a real rapport with Pissarro as a historical figure.”

Michael has a fondness for Morisot and Pissarro, in particular, because of the joyous nature of their paintings. This is an affinity that he suspects collector Georges Bemberg shared, as well.

“I get a sense of happiness and joy out of the works that are in this particular show. I think that’s what the collector was going for. He was attracted to an aesthetic that celebrates beauty and this jewel-like color that Morisot and Pissarro, especially, bring to their works of art,” Michael said.

The Impressionism movement was revolutionary for its time– it rose to prominence at the dawn of the modern age, a time of great progress, but conversely, great conflict, as well.

“Impressionism is born out of a rebellion against the establishment. It’s also a movement that celebrates nature,

being outside, taking refuge in landscape, and in the case of artists like Morisot and Pissarro, a celebration of the importance of domestic life,” Michael explained.

Michael believes that modern audiences in San Diego can deeply resonate with and learn from the Impressionism movement.

“The celebration of nature is one of the foundational things about San Diego, we have the ability to be outdoors basically whenever we want, so we have this natural connection with the outdoors. Also, the approach of freedom of expression is so important in our times, in 2022,” Michael concluded. A

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

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.

THRU MAR. 13: Trouble in Mind A new production of the American classic that “The New York Times” recently called a “rich, unsettling play that lingers in one’s memory long after its conclusion.”

THRU MAR. 20: El Borracho This world premiere dramedy was developed for the 2020 Powers New Voices Festival at the Old Globe.

▲

Jesse J. Perez as Raul in “El Borracho.”

Coronado Playhouse All content is on coronadoplayhouse.org MAR. 18-APR. 16: Murder on the Orient Express This classic Agatha Christie whodunnit has all the intrigue, humor and glamor you want.

San Diego Repertory Theatre

▲

Richard Baird and Frank Corrado in Harold Pinter's "The Homecoming" at North Coast Rep. PHOTO: AARON RUMLEY

North Coast Repertory Theatre All content is available on northcoastrep.org.

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

MAR 2-27: The Homecoming A newcomer enters a toxic family dynamic with funny and vicious results.

Cygnet Theatre All content is available on cygnettheatre.com.

MAR. 23-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.

San Diego Museum of Art

All content is available on sdrep.org.

All content is available on sdmart.org

MAR. 3-MAR. 27: The Great Khan Gengis Khan intervenes in this coming of age story.

MAR. 12, 10 A.M.: Edwin Binney 3rd Memorial Lecture: The Divine Dances of Krishna in The Arts | Online Speaker Forrest McGill delves into the deity Krishna and how they were depicted through dance.

La Jolla Playhouse All content is available on lajollplayhouse.org.

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| SDJEWISHJOURNAL.COM March 2022

▲

MAR. 8-APR.17: Bangin' It: A Bangin' New Musical This world-premiere musical comedy explores the world of competitive bhangra dancing.

“The Eternal Dance: Rasamandala” from the Edwin Binney collection.

San Diego Opera All content is available on sdopera.org.

MAR. 26-APR. 3: San Diego Opera Presents Roméo et Juliette | The Civic Theatre San Diego Symphony musicians bring this classic to life with guest conductor Yves Abel.

The Reuben Fleet Science Center ▲

Conductor Yves Abel.

All content is on rhfleet.org and requires registration.

MAR. 7, 10:30 A.M.: Sharp Minds This lecture explores nanotechnology in medicine.

MAR. 10, 12, 6 P.M.: Two Scientists Walk into a Bar The themes for this month are climate change and women in STEM.

San Diego Natural History Museum All content is on sdnhm.org.

▲ Chinese virtuoso pianist Lang Lang at La Jolla Music Society.

La Jolla Music Society

ONGOING: Nature Hikes This month’s hikes are at Dictionary Hill Open Space Preserve, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, Iron Mountain, Crestridge Ecological Reserve, William Heise County Park

All content is available on ljms.org.

Patrons must provide proof of vaccination.

MAR. 18, 5 P.M.: WinterFest Gala This gala features a reception, dinner and music from the pianist Lang Lang.

MAR. 27, 1 P.M.: TEDxSan Diego The theme of this independent TED event is “Connect, Engage, Transform.” ▲

Iron Mountain traihead, Poway.

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The News

JCF Hosts Book of Life Signing Ceremony

New and Eclectic Jewish Musical Cabaret

by Yiddishland California Yiddishland California is presenting a unique Jewish musical cabaret produced by Lisa Fishman on March 5, starting at 7 p.m. The eclectic show includes Yiddish, English and Ladino songs, accompanied by piano and clarinet. The performance sweeps through Klezmer tunes, Yiddish Theater hits to ballads, love songs and timeless classics with an original twist. Tickets for the show are $36, the musical cabaret is open for all audiences, both in-person and live via Zoom. The show is promised to be an entertaining, theatrical and emotional journey.

For more information visit yiddishlandcalifornia.org.

JCF is hosting a community Book of Life Signing ceremony on Mar. 27 at 11 a.m. The Book of Life is signed anytime an individual or family promises a legacy gift or establishes an endowment for a Jewish organization or synagogue.

Inscriptions can include the donor’s personal thoughts, life experiences and their philanthropic vision that accompanied their donation. The Book of Life inscriptions are permanently displayed at JCF’s offices and website.

So far, over 150 individuals and families have inscribed their names and thoughts into the Book of Life, “expressing their commitment to Jewish values and heritage.”

For more information about the ceremony, visit jcfsandiego.org/legacy/book-of-life.

USD Honors JFS with Kaleidoscope Award for Good Governance JFS received the prestigious 2022 Kaleidoscope Award for Good Governance. The award was presented by the Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego and was in the large organization category; a sector that is reserved for nonprofits with an annual budget of over $10 million.

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The award honors the board leadership of San Diego’s nonprofit sector and annually commends organizations and their boards for their service in providing leadership, guidance and oversight.

“The process of strengthening our governance has been one of incredible

teamwork,” JFS Board Chair Emily Jennewein said. “It is an honor to receive this recognition and serve as an example of the importance of good governance.”

The Old Globe Announces Powers New Works Fund

JCC’s Grand Reopening of ‘The Bean’ Coffee Shop

San Diego philanthropists Paula and Brian Powers recently donated $2 million to The Old Globe. Their generous gift led to the creation of the Powers New Works Fund and will support new play development at the theatre.

JCC reopened their coffee shop, “The Bean,” after a 20-month hiatus.

The reopening also introduced their exciting new partnership with “The Arc of San Diego,” the largest and most comprehensive provider of services for individuals with disabilities in San Diego County.

Through this partnership, The Bean is now staffed by clients of The Arc since their reopening in November.

The funds will go towards supporting the annual “Powers New Voices Festival,” playwright commissions, readings, workshops, production of digital works and more.

“Through our involvement with the New Voices Festival, we saw how many steps a new play goes through on its way to full performance—from script sourcing and play commissions to script development, readings, and workshops. The Powers New Works Fund will provide the Globe with additional resources to support and expand this effort to bring the best new plays to the stage,” Paula and Brian Powers said.

Thanks to the support of the Powers’, The Old Globe is set to present their eighth annual “Powers New Voices Festival’’ live and in person April 6-10.

The festival will feature readings of new and original American plays.

The Bean will remain a gathering place within the community, as it has in years past. Their long-term plan is to support other local businesses and organizations by selling locallycreated goods crafted by individuals with disabilities.

The opening also introduced their new partnership with “Snakebite,” a local San Diego business — they will be selling Snakebite’s premium small batch coffee in their store.

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Elena Gritzewsky - Playa de Rosarito, MX Cecilia Felzer - Encinitas Hillel Mazansky - La Jolla Marcia Hirtenstein - San Diego Charles Riemer - El Cajon Robin Lees - El Cajon Ruth Simak - San Diego Stanley Smiedt - La Jolla Jerry Schneider - La Jolla Sharon Sweet - Rancho Santa Fe Sheila Fuerst - San Diego

May their memory be a blessing.

AM ISRAEL MORTUARY We Are San Diego’s ONLY All-Jewish Mortuary

On behalf of AM Israel Mortuary, We extend our condolences to the families of all those who have recently passed. The families of those listed above would like to inform the community of their passing.

Members of the JFDA- Jewish funeral directors of America, KAVOD - (Independent/ Family owned Jewish funeral directors) Consumer Affairs Funeral and Cemetery division

Serving the community for over 40 years.

(619) 583-8850

6316 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego For a list of currents services and additional info:

www.amisraelmortuary.com CA, Lic. #FD-1320

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DIVERSIONS

Acclaimed Sundance Film ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ Explores Love and Awkwardness on the Bar Mitzvah Circuit

by Stephen Silver, JTA News A new Jewish coming-of-age movie begins with the hero, at age 12, getting rejected by an older girl at a bar mitzvah.

Then the movie jumps to a decade later, as the main character embarks on a career as a bar mitzvah “party starter.”

It’s an unlikely vocation for a character who isn’t Jewish, especially one created and played by someone who isn’t, either.

But that’s the premise of “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” one of the more highly-regarded films that debuted at the (virtual) Sundance Film Festival.

Directed by and starring the young filmmaker Cooper Raiff and acquired by Apple TV+ for a $15 million distribution

The film earned an Audience Award from the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival.

deal, the film uses the bar mitzvah circuit as a backdrop for an aimless young man’s maturation. Its title, a lyric from the ubiquitous DJ Casper dance track

“Cha Cha Slide,” will prompt a Pavlovian response from anyone who’s attended any shindig overseen by the likes of this film’s protagonist.

The movie’s bar mitzvah parties fall in line with most mainstream Hollywood depictions of the occasion, where it appears that the entire class at school, as well as their parents, are invited to each week’s festivities.

There’s another, more subtle Jewish connection to the film’s music: Its score was composed, in part, by Este Haim, of the rock band Haim, and whose sister Alana starred in “Licorice Pizza,” another recent Jewish-themed coming-of-age movie. A

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Food

by Micah Siva

noshwithmicah.com

Funfetti Hamantaschen Hamantaschen doesn’t have to be filled with just apricot or poppyseeds! Modernize your Purim treat with a splash of color and sweetness that the whole family will love! Oil doughs are much easier to shape than butter based hamantaschen, making these a great treat to make with your loved ones!

MAKES 2 DOZEN DOUGH:

PREPARATION:

• 1 large egg

1.

In a medium bowl, combine egg, sugar, oil, vanilla, almond extract and lemon zest until smooth.

2.

In a large bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. Pour wet into dry ingredients.

3.

Mix until a dough forms.

4.

Flatten into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 45 minutes.

5.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line 2 trays with baking paper.

6.

• ¼ cup sprinkles

Place dough on a floured surface, top with sprinkles and roll to 1/8th inch thickness (if they are too thick, the dough will crack when shaping.

7.

EGG WASH:

Using a 3-inch circular cookie cutter, cut out circles, setting them aside. Repeat with remaining dough.

8.

Use a pastry brush to brush the egg wash on the dough (this helps to glue the dough together).

9.

Place 1 tsp. white chocolate chips in the center of each circle.

• ⅓ cup sugar • ¼ cup oil • 2 tsp. vanilla • 1 tsp. almond extract • 1 tsp. lemon zest • 1 ⅓ cups flour • 1 tbsp. cornstarch • ½ tsp. baking powder • ¼ tsp. sea salt

• 1 egg, whisked • 1 tsp. water FILLING: • ½ cup white chocolate chips

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| SDJEWISHJOURNAL.COM March 2022

10. Fold the dough into a triangle, pinching the corners tightly.

11. Brush with egg wash.

12. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden.

Join the Simon Wiesenthal Center in ensuring that generations to come will not have to endure nor bear witness to the atrocities of human genocide. Link

“I share my story with thousands of children each year at the Museum of Tolerance.”

- Gloria Ungar, Holocaust survivor

your name in perpetuity to the Center’s mission of memory by joining the Simon Wiesenthal Legacy Society.

Simon Wiesenthal

LEGACY SOCIETY SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER

For more information on Planned Giving: RABBI MEYER H. MAY, Executive Director, Simon Wiesenthal Center rabbimay@wiesenthal.com or 310.772.2424 * The Simon Wiesenthal Center, Inc. is a qualified tax-exempt nonprofit corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The tax identification number is 95-3964928.

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ADVICE

ASK MARNIE

by Marnie Macauley, M.S.

| marniemacauley@gmail.com

The Jewish Boomer’s Drivers’ Test Strategies That “Work.” (Not. Enjoy.)

Shalom my dear San Diegans: I have to take my road test soon in this State.

My primary strategy? I need to change States. The last time I was behind the wheel, maps were in and “i-” was just a letter. Now, someone named Sissy or Pissty guides driving people — often, from what I can see, in the wrong direction.

You see, the thing is, I believe that we Jews need our own driving test. Here’s an actual question that was on the Nevada Driver’s test. Will I have to know this on the Road Test? Assume you are traveling 65 mph and suddenly need to stop. How far will your car go, before you come to a complete stop, including reaction distance and braking distance? A) 168 feet. B) 656 feet. C) 494 feet. What are we? NASCAR mechanics? Gentiles?!

Read the following quiz options and see if you agree.

Getting It! Driving Strategies for The Jewish Boomer’s Drivers’ Test (humor) 1) Stopping on the shoulder of a freeway is permitted: A. Never.

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| SDJEWISHJOURNAL.COM March 2022

B. When you’re driving carpool and the little Melnick mazik sticks gum in your grandson’s keppie for the third time.

kvetch to the Department of Highways while organizing a fundraiser to get it fixed.

2) Which vehicle must always stop before crossing railroad tracks: A. A truck filled with dynamite.

B. Irrelevant. What Jew lives or drives near a railroad track?

6) Who in the car must be in an approved restraint system in the back seat?

A. Anyone under age two.

B. All the kinder until they: either reach puberty or the teacher confirms they are unusually gifted.

3) Who may drive faster than the maximum speed limit?

A. Emergency services.

B. Anyone over 67 on a prescription diuretic.

4) When may you drive with an open container of alcohol next to you?

A. Never.

B. After Pesach, when you take home the three bottles of leftover Manischewitz you brought which your fancy cousin had the chutzpah to open, but refused to use because it wasn’t a $140 Carmel Limited Edition.

5) If a traffic signal light is not working, you should: A. Proceed with extreme caution.

B. Stop, get out of your car, wave down the other drivers, encourage them to

7) If you see a pedestrian with a white cane at a crosswalk, you should: A. Give the pedestrian the right of way at all times.

B. STOP immediately, leave your vehicle, run to the crosswalk and offer to help him cross. It’s a mitzvah!

8) What does the two-second rule mean?

A. You should keep at least a two-second distance between you and the car ahead.

B. If you’re the passenger, you should check with the driver every two seconds to remind him where he’s going.

9) What is true about driving too slowly?

A. It is against the law if you block traffic.

B. You could miss the Early Bird Special, or the Black Friday sale at Walmart. continues on next page >>

Advice

continued

10) Texting or electronic messaging while driving is: A. Illegal.

B. Legal if you’re texting your daughter to report a nice young man next to you with M.D. plates who, when you casually fished at the light, mentioned he wasn’t married.

11) When driving on a slippery surface such as snow or ice, you should: A. Be especially careful on bridges.

B. Tell yourself, “Oy am I a nudnik? Why am I not in Miami?!”

SCORING: 9–11 “B” answers. Mazel Tov! You can drive day or night from San Diego to Tel Aviv!

7–8 “B” answers. You may drive only with a restricted license “W” for “Witness Beside You.” 0–6 “B” answers. You’re Gentile, so we suggest you study this test then retake it should you be planning to drive anywhere in or around Brooklyn. A

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E N R O L L TO DAY !

Register at JuniorTheatre.com Or Call 619-239-1311

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The grand and sweeping retelling of one of the most tragic love stories of all time

Roméo et Juliette CHARLES GOUNOD

Darlene Marcos Shiley, Lead Production Sponsor March 26, 29, April 1, April 3m, 2022 | San Diego Civic Theatre

FOR TICKETS, VISIT SDOPERA.ORG OR CALL (619) 533-7000 Buy with confidence: SDOPERA.org/Safety Join us for Life Sciences Night at the Opera, bringing together the leaders of San Diego’s Life Sciences industry for a pre-opera networking event followed by San Diego Opera’s production of Roméo et Juliette on Tuesday, March 29. Visit sdopera.org/lifesciences

Scan this QR code with the camera app on your smartphone for a sneak preview of Roméo et Juliette.

EXPERIENCE THE EXPRESSIVE POWER OF THE HUMAN VOICE