L'Chaim Magazine February 2023 Issue

FILM FEST RETURNS

SD JEWISH INTERNATIONAL FILM

FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 33 YEARS

P lus: TU B'SHEVAT

Film Fest is Back — San Diego Jewish International Film Festival returns to the Lawrence Family JCC

1000 WORDS

Cohen: Mother of the IDF Canine Unit

PUBLISHERS

Diane Benaroya & Laurie Miller

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Alanna Maya

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Laurie Miller

CONTRIBUTORS

Ariela Alush, Barbara Birenbaum, Franklin Felber, Donald H. Harrison, Stephanie Lewis, Salomon Maya, Jana

Mazurkiewicz Meisarosh, Terra Paley, Mimi Pollack, Rachel Stern, Eva Trieger, Deborah Vietor, Chana Jenny Weisberg, Cheri Weiss

ADVERTISING & SALES

Diane Benaroya: dianeb@lchaimmagazine.com

prayers & passages

Celebrating Nature on Tu B'Shevat

The festival of Tu B'shevat (celebrated this year on February 5 & 6) is considered a “minor” holiday on the Jewish calendar. Unlike the major (or “pilgrimage”) holidays of Shavuot and the first and last days of Passover and Sukkot, there are no prohibitions against any kind of work on minor holidays (which also include Purim and Chanukah). This holiday’s name is taken from its date on the Hebrew calendar: the fifteenth (denoted by the Hebrew letters tet – vav, pronounced “tu”) in the month of Shevat.

Like the other minor holidays, Tu B'shevat is not mentioned in the Torah. It was only later that the rabbis accorded it special status as one of the four “New Years” on the Jewish calendar. The others are the first of Tishrei (aka Rosh Hashanah), the first of Nisan (the month of the Exodus and rebirth of the Jewish people), and the first of Elul (when cattle were counted and prepared for tithing to the priests in the Great Temple).

According to the Torah, fruit was not to be eaten from a tree during its first three years after planting: “When you enter the land and

plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten.” (Leviticus 19:23) In the fourth year, the fruit was to be considered as “holy” and was to be given as an offering to the Temple priests. From the fifth year on, the people were finally able to partake of the tree’s bounty.

For this agrarian society, the rabbis determined that the 15th of Shevat would be the “New Year for Trees” as a way to calculate the age of all trees regardless of their actual planting dates. It was assumed that by this date, most of the severe rains would have fallen in the Holy Land, and trees would begin a new cycle of growth as Spring began to approach.

In Kabbalistic times (16th century), the followers of Rabbi Isaac Luria celebrated Tu B'shevat with special rituals, including a festive meal (Seder) as a way of honoring God’s Divine presence in nature; particularly the land, trees, and the blessings of abundance that they provided. Fruits, nuts, and wine of various colors formed the basis of their Seder, each item receiving its own

specific blessing. This tradition has been passed down through the generations and has increased in popularity throughout the Jewish world with festive Seders and special Haggadot written for the occasion. (Many Tu B'shevat Haggadot may be found online.)

Today, the celebration of Tu B'shevat has expanded and is now known as the “Jewish Earth Day.” On this day, we can renew our commitment to protecting the health and well-being of our planet by educating ourselves on ways we can preserve our natural resources. In Israel, the holiday has long been associated with the planting of trees — a visible homage to the renewal of nature. We are blessed to be caretakers of God’s world. As noted in Psalms 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Let us celebrate our good fortune this Tu Bishvat by taking the time to honor God’s abundance and ensuring that it is available to all future generations.

RABBI-CANTOR CHERI WEISS IS THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF TEMPLE EMANUEL IN HONOLULU, HAWAII.

mazel & mishagoss

Posing Questions that would Cross a Rabbi's Eyes

After taking a class on Jewish mysticism, I’ve become a much deeper thinker about reincarnation and resurrection, but some concepts still pose confusing dilemmas for me. For instance, if our soul is put inside many different bodies over the course of thousands of years, and all those bodies return to life simultaneously, (after Mashiach arrives) can our soul hold a contest to see which of its bodies best fits into a size 6 Versace dress? And also which profession can afford to buy it at Nordstrom? Stuff like this truly perplexes me.

And will all the dozens of husbands I’ve been married to over many lifetimes hold a general meeting to discuss things like, “Did she dust under the piano when you were married to her?” Or “How did you put up with her dried-out brisket for 55 years? I had to become a vegetarian shortly after we said, “I do!”

I also discovered a reincarnation belief that Jewish souls go around again and again in “family groupings” so your loved ones can always remain together. But with one caveat … your relationships might change or switch around. Can this mean what I think it means? My youngest daughter physically resembles my beloved grandma, who was always so kind and nurturing to me. Could that just be their shared DNA or has my grandma actually returned so we’d stay closely connected? Peeking into my collegeaged sleeping daughter’s bedroom, (Is that you, Nana? I miss you so much!) I lean over

to cheerfully whisper, “Good morning!”

“It’s never good morning!” she retorts. I freeze. (Wow! That’s utterly amazing. Morning = Mourning! I’ve been told it’s not healthy to grieve so much. Only my Nana would offer profound advice like that upon first opening her eyes!) “Mmmm, I sure miss homemade chicken soup,” I continue hopefully. “How about making a pot today?”

“Go away! Cook your own dumb soup!” my daughter shouts, throwing a pillow at my head. I suppose that could be considered borderline nurturing? I have another idea. Nana loved to knit and I’ve kept a lovely cardigan she made many years ago. “Look at this sweater?” I say, as my daughter combs her auburn hair. (Nana had reddish hair too!) I peer into her eyes for signs of recognition of a garment she once lovingly created. “Oh no, you don’t! You’re not handing that ugly thing down to me. If you want to wear oldfashioned stuff like that, that’s your business, Mom. But if I were you, I’d put it in my next garage sale!”

Fine. Maybe we don’t go around in family circles. But that’s even more exciting! That means I could have been someone famous in a previous life! My brain goes to work making obvious correlations to all my quirky personality traits. 1) I hate being pitied - I used to be Eva Peron singing, “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina!” 2) I refuse to play tag in pools because I get headaches from children swimmers chanting incessantly - I was Marco Polo’s wife! 3) My favorite meal is an

Orange Julius with a Caesar salad - I was Cleopatra! 4) I constantly tell my kids to speak up because I can’t hear them - I was Charlie Chaplin’s mother! 5) When we’re out of cereal, milk, or eggs for breakfast and my kids are starving, I eye Hostess Twinkies and think, “Whatever…Let ‘em eat cake.”I was Marie Antoinette! 6) When lecturing my daughters, instead of saying, “Listen here, young ladies,” I say, “Go to your room, Little Women.” - I was Louisa May Alcott! 7) I don’t use profanity and my biggest cussing outburst is, “Oh shoot. Shoot! Shoot!”— I was Annie Oakley! 8) I talk to my engagement ring and sometimes even confide my deepest secrets to it. There can be no doubt that I was Marilyn Monroe … because wait for it … diamonds ARE a girl’s best friend!

Alright. So maybe I won’t have a past life regression based on the above evidence. And perhaps when resurrection occurs, people will have far more important matters to work out with God than their many husbands’ opinion of them. But I’m signing up for more Kabbalah classes and this time I’m bringing my twelve-year-old son (who used to be my Rabbi!) because he’ll surely ask far more intellectual questions than I am capable ofand together we’ll get to the bottom of this!

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Encinitas (760) 854-4212 cottageencinitas.com

Esther Cohen joined the Haganah and then the IDF. PHOTO COURTESY JNS.ORG.

ESTHER COHEN: A REFUGEE FROM THE NAZIS, SHE HELPED CREATE THE HAGANAH AND IDF CANINE UNIT

Esther Cohen was born in 1930 in Würzburg, Germany, as Else Karola Sichel. Her family fled before the Holocaust and she subsequently joined the Haganah militia and later the IDF’s canine division, the Oketz Unit.

“I remember the Nazi rise to power and Hitler visiting my town,” Cohen said.

She witnessed the gradual deteriorating circumstances for Jews. She recalls an incident around Christmas time in 1934: She was out with her grandmother and they saw decorations.

A lady asked, “Are you excited that Santa Claus will bring you presents?”

A 4-year-old Cohen replied, “We don’t believe in Santa Claus, we have the Hanukkah man.” Her grandmother interrupted, telling the bewildered German lady: “The child doesn’t know what she’s talking about!”

She recalls another incident where she wanted to see a Shirley Temple film but Jews were forbidden from going to the cinema after the Nuremberg Laws had been passed in 1935. However, a sympathetic non-Jewish neighbor volunteered to take her. But she did not enjoy the film for fear that someone would figure out that she was Jewish.

Her family escaped to the British Mandate of Palestine in September 1938, when she was 8 years old.

Cohen said that it was not easy adjusting to a new country. They managed to get her

grandparents out of Germany shortly after Kristallnacht, following much paperwork. Her parents opened a grocery store.

It was in the store that she met Austrianborn cynologist (canine scientist) Rudolphina Menzel (1891–1973).

Menzel helped to establish the canine unit for the Haganah, the forerunner of the modern-day IDF Oketz Unit.

“I always loved dogs,” Cohen said. Menzel used mostly Boxers that she had brought over from Austria. The Haganah also relied on German-origin breeds such as German Shepherds, Dobermann Pinschers and Great Danes because these were the breeds that Jews had brought from Europe.

Menzel was also involved in reviving Canaan Dogs, Israel’s national dog breed. But Cohen said that Canaans cannot be used for battle because “they are not so courageous.” She describes Menzel’s work with dogs as “highly innovative” and “adaptable.”

Cohen was in a scout movement as a child and many in her circle of friends ended up joining the Haganah. Her work in the dog unit began in a camp at Kfar Haim, near Haifa. She eventually became an officer and an instructor for the unit. Cohen said that she acquired much of her skills from Menzel and from her own practical experience.

One of her first tasks was to teach a group consisting of a few Holocaust survivors about dog mating habits.

“Dogs are pack animals and you have to show them who the alpha is. But you also have to reward them,” Cohen said.

“I was only 19 and yet here I was facing people who were much more experienced in life than me, and I had to explain something difficult. It was very challenging. But after that was done, I was not afraid to do anything.”

Cohen recalls one incident at the outbreak of the 1948-49 War of Independence when she and her family took a bus to see her grandparents near Haifa and were forced to turn back due to fire by Arab forces. She also witnessed a skirmish between the Haganah and the Irgun, a rival Jewish militia before they ended up merging into the IDF.

Her Haganah training included instruction in the KAPAP system of defensive tactics, hand-to-hand combat and self-defense. She also learned stick-fighting and jujitsu. She had a sidearm.

The Oketz Unit trained dogs for numerous tasks including guard duty and searchand-rescue. Cohen also revealed that they

utilized messenger dogs and employed spies embedded deep within the Arab lines who used a whistle that had a frequency that humans could not hear to summon the messenger canines. These spies would send valuable information via these dogs back to the Israeli side.

“Long before modern-day communication, this was a safe and efficient way to send messages that really helped in the war,” Cohen said.

“Dogs are pack animals and you have to show them who the alpha is. But you also have to reward them,” she said. Cohen also recalls one particular dog that would fake a limp when asked to perform difficult drills, and they therefore could not use it. Not many dogs were killed in action, but she witnessed seven of them succumb to rabies.

She was later stationed at Tzrifin. On one occasion Egyptian forces saw a massive Great Dane in the Negev and mistakenly reported

that the Israelis were using “trained tigers.”

Cohen left the IDF in 1950. The Oketz Unit she helped create was disbanded in 1954, although the military continued to use dogs. Oketz was revived in 1974 and the unit saw action in Lebanon.

Cohen eventually married her childhood friend, Alexander Cohen, and the couple moved to a farm. Today she enjoys a quiet retirement in Haifa and has two children, six grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

Esther Cohen at home in Haifa. PHOTO COURTESY JNS.ORG.

FOR THE LOVE OF FILM

33rd Annual San Diego Jewish International Film Festival

When organizers for the San Diego Jewish International Film Festival begin their screening process to find the best of the best in movies and bring them to San Diego to screen at the SD Jewish International Film Festival, they set out to build a comprehensive schedule of exciting films and corresponding events that showcase them.

“There were so many good films,” Christina Fink, Chair of the SDIJFF says. “I would say that in total, we probably looked at about 300 films, which we narrowed down to the 35 in the festival this year.”

The festival’s 33rd year in San Diego, is being held in a hybrid format, February 16-26 in-person at the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre, and February 26-March 3 online. The decision to allow a streaming option, according to Fink, is central to the festival’s mission.

“Our mission is really to serve the community and we continue to recognize that there are people that either don’t want to or

can’t come to the theater [to watch these films in person] and [the streaming option is] our gift to continue share film in the best way we can.”

The opening night film, Karaoke is a “darling, funny Israeli comedy,” Fink says. “The themes are very universal of a couple that’s been married many years. What marriage is a little bit stale? What do you do about that?”

Karaoke is one of eight Israeli films to be screened at the Garfield this month. A true international festival, of the 35 total films being screened, six come from France; three come from Poland; two each come from Germany, Austria, and Spain; one each come from Belgium, Italy, and the United Kingdom; and 11 hail from the United States.

The Centerpiece Film, which Fink says is the “true center of the festival” is a documentary called Rock Camp. A camp for adults who are just crazy about rock and roll, Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp allows participants to study and play instruments with famous musicians. An institution and cultural phenomenon that has been going on in Los Angeles, New York and other cities since 1996, Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp is the brainchild of music producer David Fishof. Rock star “counselors” include Roger Daltrey, Alice Cooper, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, Nancy

L-R: RogerDaltrey, Slash, and David Fishof in Rock Camp. Courtesy LFJCC

Wilson, Joe Perry, Jeff Beck, Slash and countless other rock legends. The counselors teach, inspire and jam with the campers over the course of four days. Each Rock Camp concludes with all of the counselors and their respective campers, performing together. David Fishof, Founder of Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp, will speak after the film’s screening on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.

Other receptions throughout the festival are designed to bring people back to the JCC and to increase the festival feeling and make a screening there feel different than going to the movies.

“The events and seeing friends and neighbors at the movies is a great part of ‘festing,’” Fink says, “so there will be many receptions scattered throughout the festival. We’re trying to put on some kind of reception or event for all the seven evening films, and then we have a few events being sponsored by community groups.”

A SDIJFF tradition, Friday screenings are known as Women’s Day at the Festival, and films presented on these days feature either women as protagonists of the film or have a female director. Films to be screened include Alegría and Haute Couture on Friday, February 17; Searching For Gerda, Taro and Cinema Sabaya on Friday, February 24.

“It doesn’t mean men can’t come to these showings,” Fink says, “but [we hope that these screenings bring women’s groups] like a

lady’s book club for a girls day out with a friend and lunch.”

In another way to foster community and bring people together, the Festival offers some screenings free. Check the schedule for more information about these films, including titles, synopses, and screening times.

The importance of a festival like this being held in San Diego, according to Fink, cannot be understated.

“Historically, we have brought some very big names to the community with this festival, and we continue to do so to support the people in our community; as a way to bring people together and to give back for all the support they have given [the Festival staff] over the years,” she says. “This festival is the only place you can see these films on the big screen here in San Diego, so it’s a great way to get out and support the arts.”

THE 2023 SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL RUNS FEBRUARY 15-26 (IN PERSON); AND FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 3 (ONLINE). FILMS IN PERSON WILL BE SCREENED AT THE DAVID & DOROTHEA GARFIELD THEATRE AT THE LAWRENCE FAMILY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS, 4126 EXECUTIVE DRIVE, LA JOLLA, CA 92037. TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT 2023SDIJFF.EVENTIVE.ORG/WELCOME. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL AND THE FILMS BEING SCREENED, VISIT WWW.LFJCC.ORG.

BORSCHT

BY SONYA SANFORD @SONYAMICHELLESANFORD

My family immigrated from Ukraine in the late ‘70s. Although they quickly adjusted to life in America and started cooking in new ways, there were certain foods from the Motherland (or the shtetl) that were always fixtures growing up: beet salad, stuffed cabbage, piroshki, marinated and pickled vegetables, and borscht.

There are countless recipes for borsht, and they differ wildly from home to home. In our family, borscht is always made vegetarian, served warm, and with a dollop of good sour cream. This is my grandmother’s recipe, which she gratefully passed down to me. Her borscht has been and will always be one of my favorite foods.

Borscht

Serves 6-8

INGREDIENTS

4 medium beets (about 1 pound), peeled

2 large carrots (about 1 pound), peeled

1 large yellow onion, chopped

3-4 Tablespoons oil, or as needed

4-6 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tablespoon tomato paste

1/2 cup chopped fresh tomatoes, or canned

tomato puree

1 pound potatoes, diced into small cubes (Yukon Gold)

10-12 cups homemade vegetable broth or water

1-2 bay leaves

3 cups chopped cabbage, or other dark leafy greens

2 Tablespoons dill stems, chopped fine

1/2 cup dill fronds, chopped

1/2 cup parsley leaves, chopped

Juice of 1 lemon

Salt and pepper, to taste sour cream or crème fraiche (to serve) freshly chopped dill and parsley (to serve)

DIRECTIONS

1. Using a food processor with the shredding disc attachment, or using the medium-size hole on a box grater, grate the beets and carrots. You can also dice the beets and carrots small if you prefer borscht with diced vegetables.

2. Add the oil to a large pot on medium heat. Add the shredded beets, carrots, onion and salt to the pot. Sweat the vegetables over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened. Add the garlic and cook for 2-3 more minutes, until the garlic is fragrant. Add the tomato paste, and chopped tomato to the pot, and stir well.

3. Add the diced potatoes, broth or water, and bay leaf. Bring the liquid up to a simmer, then turn down the heat. After 30 minutes, add the chopped greens, and chopped dill stems to the soup. Simmer for 15-20 more minutes, or until the greens and all of the vegetables are completely soft and tender. Turn off the heat, and add the chopped dill fronds, parsley, and lemon juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Add more lemon juice if desired.

4. Serve hot with sour cream or crème fraîche and a sprinkle of fresh chopped dill.

Notes:

Tomato is an important ingredient in this soup — it lends a note of acidity and depth

to the sweet beets. When they’re in season it’s best to use fresh tomatoes, but that said my grandmother has even been known to use jarred Marinara sauce in a pinch.

Sonya Sanford is a writer and chef based out of Portland, Or. She is a screenwriter, and food writer specializing in Ukrainian and Soviet food, modern Jewish food, and seasonal cooking. Her culinary background includes cheffing, food styling, teaching, and food writing, and she was the founder and owner of Beetroot Market & Deli. She is a regular contributor to The Nosher, and you can find her recipes there, on her Instagram @sonyamichellesanford, and on her website www.sonyasanford.com.

Join Sharsheret in the Kitchen for “Ukrainian Cuisine” a free virtual healthy cooking demo with Sonya Sanford on Thursday, February 9 at 5 p.m. PST / 8.p.m. EST. Register at https:// link.sharsheret.org/sonyasanford. This program is part of the “Sharsheret in the Kitchen” series, bringing nutritious and delicious kosher ideas to empower all of us at risk for breast and ovarian cancer to make healthier diet choices thanks to generous support from Cedars-Sinai.

SHARSHERET, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, IS THE JEWISH BREAST CANCER AND OVARIAN CANCER COMMUNITY. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY BREAST OR OVARIAN CANCER, OR HAS ELEVATED GENETIC RISK, CONTACT SHARSHERET FOR FREE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT SHARSHERET.ORG OR CALL (866) 474-2774.

TU B'SHEVAT

BY DR. ELANA HEIDMAN

As a child in Louisville, Kentucky, Tu B’Shevat was celebrated in the typical ways. Crafts, snacks, and some environmental messages, and planting parsley that would grow by Passover trying to connect the dots of Jewish identity together. But I will never forget the first time Tu B’Shevat hit home: on a family trip to Israel in my late teens with my Grammy Esther. As we drove through Tel Aviv, she suddenly burst with excitement, “Oh my goodness! I think I planted those trees! I remember planting those trees right there!”

She went on to tell us that growing up as a Palestinian Jew, every child, school, and family took part in the planting of trees, keeping alive a tradition that seemed as ancient as the soil in which they were planting - a tradition that continues until today. Born in 1924 in Rovno, Poland (now Ukraine), she was a Tu B’Shevat baby, celebrated each year alongside the birthday of the trees of Eretz Yisrael. Her father Shraga brought the family to the Homeland when Grammy was only 9 months old, and she grew up among the newly planted trees blossoming through Jewish pioneering and passion. At 99 years young, Grammy Esther is proud of her history and connection with this land, even speaking to her Sabra descendants in Hebrew, helping them to feel close to her even though she lives so far away.

Living almost 18 years in Israel, I feel my life is intertwined with hers and the legacy her parents set forth all those years ago. My kids

know the stories about the trees Savta Esther planted in Tel Aviv, just as we have been planting our own every year since they were born. I make sure they understand we wouldn’t have this holiday without the land and the history that inspires us daily, and that the two cannot be separated.

Tu B’Shevat has a particular beauty to it, as it goes beyond religious beliefs or practices. It is a celebration of the connection of the Nation and the Land through the tangible symbols of her fruits; a celebration of renewal after the harsh winter. It allows even those of us who have no personal relationship with Judaism’s theology to feel inspired, especially when it stirs the nostalgic warmth we feel when thinking about the trees of Israel that we may have helped plant over the years. Whether literally or figuratively, the seeds we sow in our lifetime are a transformative part of our family’s history, individually and collectively as the Nation of Israel.

In a world where extremism is encroaching upon us from every direction, this type of connection is exactly what we need. It is a chance to return to the simplicity of our roots, an informal and fun way to express the Jewishness so many feel, even if they cannot explain why. As we move farther away from the memories that helped formalize Tu B’Shevat as a part of Jewish life, it becomes even more important to share those tales taught by our predecessors and to

revive the depth of meaning that is imbued in the holiday. Our nostalgia is the answer. It is crucial that the Jewish ancestral connection passed down to each one of us is relayed to the next generation. We must not allow anything to damage our ancient heritage and destiny. Whether hosting a seder, cooking with family, reading an article, or planting a tree, let’s take this time to raise a glass of Israeli wine and celebrate a connection that has withstood the test of time, distance, destruction and exile. Tu B’Shevat is a chance to remind ourselves of the renewal that each one of us also needs to carry onward that of the roots that bind us, that of the trees of our biblical homeland, that of the ancestors who walked the land before us.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR TU B’SHEVAT CONNECTION IS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS AT WWW.ISRAELFOREVER.ORG.

TEST YOUR JEWISH IQSM

1. In what month and year did Israel declare that it was an independent nation?

a. July 1776

b. May 1948

c. May 1967

d. June 1967

2. Which of these biblical figures are not brothers?

a. Cain and Abel

b. Moses and Aaron

c. Simeon and Zebulun

d. David and Jonathan

3. Israeli commandos attacked the airport at Entebbe in 1976 to free Jewish hostages in which African country?

a. The Congo

b. Ethiopia

c. Libya

d. Uganda

4. Which member of the Roman royal family converted to Judaism and translated the Torah into Aramaic, a translation still widely used today?

a. Herod

b. Hadrian

c. Onkelos

d. Josephus

5. Which Jewish leader had a bounty put on his head, dead or alive, by the British government, and later dined on a kosher meal with the queen of England?

a. Benjamin Disraeli

b. Menachem Begin

c. Yitzhak Rabin

d. Abraham Stern

6. Which of these cities was not a major center of Torah learning?

a. Raanana

b. Yavneh

c. Pumbedisa

d. Sura

7. Which of these European nations was the first to expel its Jews?

a. England

b. France

c. Portugal

d. Spain

8. Abraham’s wife Sarah had what relationship to Lot’s wife, who turned into a pillar of salt?

a. Sister-in-law

b. Mother-in-law

c. Cousin

d. None

9. Which of these authors was not a renowned Jewish author, known for Jewish-themed books?

Singer

a. Isaac Bashevis

b. Sholem Aleichem

c. Ezra Pound

d. Philip Roth

10. Although Jews make up only about one-quarter of 1% of the world population, Jews have been awarded approximately what percentage of all Nobel prizes?

a. One-half of 1%

b. 1%

c. 10%

d. 25%

[Tu B'Shevat] allows even those of us who have no personal relationship with Judaism’s theology to feel inspired, especially when it stirs the nostalgic warmth we feel when thinking about the trees of Israel that we may have helped plant over the years.

CONGREGATION ADAT YESHURUN

CELEBRATES DOUBLE CHAI ANNIVERSARY

BY MICHAEL R. MANTELL, PH.D.

La Jolla, California was forever changed in 1987 when a group of Jews led by Rabbi Jeff and Rebbitzen Shoshie Wohlgelernter created Congregation Adat Yeshurun, a vibrant, diverse, inclusive Orthodox community known for its welcoming atmosphere of caring and spiritual growth. Rabbi Wohlgelernter initially agreed to lead the synagogue for one year, but remained an energetic, robust, spirited and beloved spark, brilliantly teaching and encouraging congregants from all levels of observation, and creating “one family” bound by Torah, shining brightly for 36 years.

Double chai, the 36 years the shul has been serving the community, has great meaning for Adat Yeshurun. It reflects two lives, the childhood 18 years followed by the young adult 18 additional years, and the shul’s energy makes it clear that it is fully prepared to build on this healthy start, and grow further into its adulthood.

The shul began with one family and now has over 270 families. Adat Yeshurun’s magnificent, family-friendly campus was constructed in 2001 and has a beautiful Mikvah on the premises. The Wohlgelernters set the foundation for the beautiful Torah community it is today, with 36 years of love and devotion.

Rabbi Jeff retired from Adat Yeshurun as of June 30, 2020 and has transitioned to Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Adat Yeshurun in La Jolla, California, to make aliyah and continues to teach many classes

for the congregation via Zoom in Israel.

In Pirkei Avot it teaches, “Aseh lecha Rav, Choose a Teacher.” As Adat Yeshurun looks forward to many more decades of continued growth, the much-heralded congregation is fulfilling this for future generations, under the inspired leadership of Rabbi Daniel and Rebbitzen Brooke Reich, and for Adat youth, Rav Netzach and Rebbetzin Chana Sapir.

This momentous, significant occasion of Adat’s double chai, will be properly and meaningfully celebrated on February 10-11. Beginning with a catered dinner on Friday night following services at 5:15 p.m., members and friends of Adat will join together with the Wohlgelernters, Reichs and Sapirs. On Shabbat there will be a pre-Shacharit parsha class at 8:30 a.m. with Rabbi Wohlgelernter, who will also be addressing the congregation a number of times over the weekend with a Shabbat morning drasha during services, a postdeluxe kiddush lecture, a women’s class, and a Shalosh Seudah shiur following Mincha at 5:05 p.m. to complete this festive celebration.

Brian Marcus, president of Adat noted, “Let’s support this extraordinary event together and reflect on what our exceptional Adat mishapacha has become over the past 36 years - a united and diverse family which we will continue to celebrate in the many years ahead.”

JEWISH GENETIC SCREENING AWARENESS

JScreen, a national non-profit public health initiative dedicated to preventing genetic diseases, announces the fourth annual Jewish Genetic Screening Awareness Week (JGSAW), which takes place from February 5 through 11. Initiated in 2020 with organizational partners across the nation, JGSAW serves to educate the community about the importance of screening for genetic diseases and to raise awareness about testing resources. Jewish Genetic Screening Awareness Week was officially recognized in the morning orders by the Georgia State Legislature according to the Proclamation Declaring Jewish Genetic Screening Awareness Week. The goal for JGSAW is to continue to drive awareness about the importance of genetic testing to encourage more people to get screened and to gain the support of donors who make JScreen possible.

Now in its tenth year, JScreen makes genetic testing simple, accessible, and affordable with its easy-to-use at-home saliva kits. JScreen’s reproductive test gives prospective parents a deep understanding of their genetic makeup and the risk of having a child with a genetic disease. If a couple’s risk is elevated, genetic counselors privately address their results by phone or video teleconference and provide options to help them plan for the health of their future children. JScreen’s cancer genetic test alerts a person to their risk for hereditary cancer. Anyone with positive results can take action for the prevention or early detection of many common cancers. By providing convenient at-home access to cutting-edge genetic testing technology, patient education and genetic counseling services, JScreen strives to prevent devastating genetic diseases and ensure a healthy future for all.

“Our #1 goal is to ensure generations of healthy children and adults by preventing genetic diseases and hereditary cancer. The more people we educate and test, the closer we are to achieving our goal,” says Karen Arnovitz Grinzaid, Executive Director of JScreen.

WHY GENETIC TESTING MATTERS:

Eighty percent of babies with genetic diseases are born to parents with no known history of that disease. Through early genetic screening, potential parents can determine the risk of having a child with a genetic disease before pregnancy, giving them options for family planning and helping to ensure the health of their future children. Approximately 10 percent of cancers are hereditary, meaning they are related to genetic changes that are passed down in a family. Cancer genetic testing identifies people who are at risk so they can take action to prevent cancer or detect it at an early, treatable stage.

“While JScreen’s roots are in the Jewish community, everyone can benefit from comprehensive genetic testing and counseling,” said El-Mahdi Holly, State Representative of Georgia HD116. “For the fourth annual Jewish Genetic Screening Awareness Week, the goal is to ensure that everyone, no matter your race, religion, or background, has access to genetic testing and that all community members have the knowledge to take action, take control, and get screened.”

DURING JGSAW, JSCREEN IS OFFERING A $72 OFF COUPON CODE. PEOPLE CAN REGISTER FOR TESTING AT WWW.JSCREEN.ORG AND USE CODE JGSAW23 AT CHECKOUT TO RECEIVE THE DISCOUNT. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT JSCREEN TESTING AND TO BECOME A DONOR, VISIT WWW.JSCREEN.ORG.

JSCREEN 4TH ANNUAL SCREENING WEEK

Sunday in the Park with George

BY EVA TRIEGER

previously performed in Grease, Book of Mormon, School of Rock, and Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song Trilogy. After doing so much comedy, Blum welcomes the opportunity to play painter George Seurat in Sunday, and to share his musical and vocal talents in such a deep way with a text that becomes “divine” through interpretation. “I am humbled when I am given the chance to interact with such words, and pour myself into them.”

From the tender and impressionable age of three or four, Blum knew he wanted to engage in the arts. Following a visit to the ballet, his first Nutcracker, Blum got up on the stage after the show! He told me that he’d always had an affinity for Rodgers and Hammerstein and memorized the music of Phantom of the Opera from his muchlistened to double cassette tape.

While Blum’s parents are not classically trained actors by profession, as ordained ministers, he watched them “perform” weekly, delivering sermons. Blum saw their unique styles as a type of art or theater. He was aware that through their words and story-telling, people were changed and this impressed him mightily.

Certainly, the pandemic has set many actors back, taking them off stages and away from audiences, however, not the courageous and enterprising Blum! In his New York City apartment, the innovative actor created a sand cave, made of boxes and tape, and produced a portion of a musical based on the fascinating real-life story of Floyd Collins, a caver who was trapped for seventeen days, and eventually, buried alive. The Obie-winning musical (1997) was written by Adam Guettel and Tina Landau. You can watch Blum’s inventive interpretation on YouTube.

Many art lovers are well-acquainted with Georges Seurat’s bucolic painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande. Less familiar may be the Stephen Sondheim musical this painting inspired. Sunday in the Park with George with book by James Lapine and music and lyrics by Sondheim, celebrates the fluidity of time and the full spectrum of human emotion as it is expressed through art. The California Center for the Arts will be showcasing this ten-time Tony award-winner opening on February 17, 2023.

In a phone interview last week, I finally caught up with the indefatigueable actor, Will Blum. Blum was performing on Broadway in Beetlejuice, when the lead suffered a concussion. Unfortunate as this was for Alex Brightman, it put Blum in the spotlight, literally. This show was the actor’s fifth time in a Broadway show, having

Blum is particularly thrilled to tackle his “dream role” in Sunday in the Park with George and knows it will be an optimal chance to show his true colors. In addition the actor, who teaches a song study course, is elated to pay homage to Stephen Sondheim, whom he says was “a master at writing the human soul.” This particular show speaks to him because following the trauma we’ve all lived through in the last two years, we are now seeking beauty in the ordinary. “On an ordinary Sunday” we are able to occupy a space that promotes feelings of peace and pulchritude.

Will Blum

In Defense of Israel Emily Austin Brings "A" Game

BY BRADLEY MARTIN | JNS.ORG

been named a judge for the 2023 Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans, Louisiana. Austin would grow her social media presence to nearly 500,000 followers on TikTok and over 1 million followers on Instagram.

“My dad always knew I would do this,” said Austin in reference to her career in sports journalism. “But because I am good at math and science, my mom thought I would be a surgeon.”

Austin attributes her strong Jewish identity to her parents, expressing her Judaism by keeping kosher and Shabbat. But her Zionism also stems from what she perceives as an existential threat that threatens both Israel and the Jewish people around the world.

“I’m very scared of a second Holocaust,” said Austin. “History has a habit of repeating itself with one crazy person [referring to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler] and nobody believing that he would actually murder six million Jews. People don’t understand that the Holocaust happened not so long ago. It is not just something you find in history books. We have survivors who live with us to this day.”

Austin recalled being so troubled by seeing the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camps first-hand during an NCSY trip to Poland that she could not even enjoy her later visit to Israel.

She explained that she became vocal as a Zionist after she got a large social media platform.

Social media influencer and popular sports journalist Emily Austin, 21, was outspoken in her love for Israel at the 8th National Summit of Israeli-American Council (IAC) in Austin, Texas.

“I live for my truth,” Austin said. “When I entered the entertainment industry, I realized that so many people had such a bad misconception about Israel. They think it’s a warzone, that it’s unsafe, or that it is an apartheid state despite having people from all colors and religions living there.”

Austin was featured on an IAC panel featuring other popular influencers, London Lazerson and Rudy Rochman, who spoke about using their online influence to promote Israel in a more positive way.

One of four siblings, Austin’s parents immigrated to the United States from Israel. Austin’s Instagram live show, “Daily Vibes with Emily Austin,” catapulted her to national stardom when an MTV producer saw her work and requested that she audition for a show called “Music Lives On.” Austin would go on to sign a sponsorship deal with the athletic apparel company Puma and work for Sports Illustrated as a host for boxing and NFL events.

As a former Miss New York pageant competitor, Austin has also

In September, Austin would begin to serve as a media consultant to Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations Gilad Erdan.

“My policy is that I try to look for commonalities,” said Austin. “It doesn’t have to be negative all the time. A lot of the anti-Israel stuff you see doesn’t come from a hateful place. It’s just that they don’t know any better and nobody else in the industry knows enough to tell them.”

To that point, Austin relayed how she reached out to star player for the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irving after he shared antisemitic content on social media and initially failed to repudiate antisemitism.

“I met Kyrie, he’s not antisemitic,” said Austin. “He’s just an idiot.”

Starting this week, Austin teased that will begin filming an upcoming NBA show called “Hoop Chat with Emily Austin.” Besides interviewing popular sports figures such as “The Jewish Jordan,” Austin hopes her program will serve as an opportunity to educate the broader public about Israel and Zionism.

“We will begin filming the first episode next week and we’re very excited about it,” Austin said in reference to her new show, “and we will be doing little things to bring Zionism to the public.”

JWV POST 385 - NORTH COUNTY

“Boldest Post in the West”

• Fight anti-semitism

• Support our military overseas

• Comradeship

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

CDR Marc Poland, USN Ret (858) 232-1645

Meet 2nd Sunday of the month 11am

Veterans Association North County (VANC) 1617 Missions Ave, Oceanside, CA 92058

JWV is the oldest congressionally commissioned veterans organization in America

NEWS TO KNOW NOW

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

regardless of sect or observance level,” said Tishby. “To take the Jewish Future Pledge is to take a public stance that the future of the Jewish people matters, and that a person takes pride in their Jewish identity and wants to leave a legacy of that identity behind to pave the way for future generations. For me this matter is of great importance, not just for the future of the Jewish people, but for the world at large”

“It is estimated that $68 trillion will transfer to the next generation in the next 25 years,” added Leven. “We estimate that approximately 20% of these charitable dollars will be given by Jewish donors. The pledge aims to ensure that half of the amount allocated to charity by these Jewish donors, more than $600 billion, is set aside for Jewish causes.”

The Jewish Future Pledge is a commitment that from the funds a person leaves to charity at their passing, at least half will be earmarked to support the Jewish people and/or the State of Israel. None of the funds committed go to the Jewish Future Pledge. To where these funds will be directed is left entirely to the discretion of the Pledger. The organization simply encourages individuals to take part in the Jewish tradition of Tzedakah and ensure that values and life lessons live on in future generations. Inspired by the Giving Pledge, which Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates introduced in 2010 for America’s wealthiest philanthropists, the Jewish Future Pledge reaches out to people of any income whether individuals plan to leave $10 or $10 million to charity.

EFFORT BRINGS NEW HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE EXHIBIT ONTO COUNTY PROPERTY

NOA TISHBY TAKES JEWISH FUTURE PLEDGE

Author, producer, actress, thought leader and Israel advocate Noa Tishby, has taken the Jewish Future Pledge and vowed that half of the money she intends to leave to charity at her passing will be earmarked for Jewish organizations and Israel. She is the 11,000th person to make this moral commitment, which demonstrates significant momentum by the Jewish Future Pledge founders to ensure the future of the Jewish people through donations to other nonprofit organizations and shared generational stories and values.

Born and raised in Tel Aviv, Noa Tishby was named Israel’s first Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and Delegitimization by Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on April 11, 2022. As a leading voice in issues involving the rise of anti-Zionist efforts to invalidate Israel as the Jewish homeland, Tishby is recognized as one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World by the Jerusalem Post.

“The importance of ensuring the future of the Jewish people cannot be understated,” said Mike Leven, Founder of the Jewish Future Pledge. “These 11,000 pledges represent concrete, tangible action which we hope will ignite a surge of Jewish pride, secure much needed funds for the future, and spark critical intergenerational conversations about Jewish values.”

“We need all Jews to come together, united in our mission to preserve our culture, our history, our values and our way of life —t

Supervisor Nathan Fletcher has gained support from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for his policy to open a Holocaust Remembrance Exhibit on a County property starting in April around Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day). The exhibit will be educational, highlight the stories of San Diego survivors and be open for one year. Details about the location, opening date and hours will be announced at a later date. Board passage of this effort comes the same week as the United Nations General Assembly-designated International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27.

“From Charlottesville to Poway, and everywhere you look online these days, the need for more Holocaust education is selfevident,” said Supervisor Fletcher. “As we’ve done in response to other forms of racism and bigotry, we have a moral obligation to counter rising anti-semitism with education and the pursuit of justice. With the passage of time, we have fewer Holocaust survivors to bear witness to the events that transpired during the Holocaust. One of the most significant things we can do for survivors, as well as future generations, is to tell survivors’ stories, remind ourselves of the lessons of the Holocaust, and commit to speaking out against antisemitism and hate, in all its forms.”

In 2021, the Jewish community in San Diego experienced 38 recorded incidents of antisemitism, including 14 cases of vandalism, 23 incidents of harassment, and one assault. These anti-semitic incidents represented an all-time high.

Noa Tishby

“Education is the cure for anti-semitism, racism, and hate. We believe this Holocaust exhibit will help create a stronger San Diego County through the lessons embedded in the stories of survivors in our community,” said Scheller. “I want to thank Supervisor Fletcher for spearheading this important, once-in-a-lifetime effort.”

The Jewish Federation of San Diego has partnered with Scheller and Supervisor Fletcher to serve as the fiduciary of the $25,000 County grant that is being awarded as part of the policy, to help Scheller erect the exhibition, and keep it free-of-charge to the public.

“The Holocaust is one of the greatest atrocities perpetrated by the absence of humanity. With the creation of a public Holocaust exhibit in San Diego, we will provide an important educational space to learn from our past in an effort to prevent these dangerous ideologies and actions in the future,” said Darren Schwartz, Chief Strategy & Planning Officer, Jewish Federation of San Diego.

“We thank Supervisor Fletcher and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for approving the creation of a Holocaust Remembrance exhibit,”said Jewish Family Service of San Diego CEO Michael Hopkins. “JFS compassionately cares for Holocaust survivors daily in San Diego and Orange Counties to ensure they age with dignity. This exhibit is a great testament to their resilience and the poignant lesson of what happens when hatred is met by silence. This history is important for San Diegans of all ages to join together to better understand what must be done to stop anti-Semitism, hate, racism and injustice.”

ANSWERS TO TEST YOUR JEWISH IQSM

1. b. On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion read aloud Israel’s declaration of independence. The next day, five Arab armies, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, invaded Israel.

2. d. David and Jonathan were the best of friends. Jonathan helped save David from being killed by King Saul, who was Jonathan’s father.

3. d. Uganda. The most successful and elaborate hostage rescue operation in modern world history was planned and executed in just a few days.

4. c. Onkelos’s translation of the Torah into Aramaic, known as Targum Onkelos, is printed in almost every Chumash.

5. b. Menachem Begin. See The Prime Ministers, by Yehuda Avner.

6. a. Raanana is a city in modern Israel. Yavneh is the site of the first yeshiva, founded by Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, who ensured the continued existence of the Jewish people after the destruction of Jerusalem by Vespasian. Pumbedisa and Sura are the sites of great Talmudic academies in Babylonia, founded eight centuries before the first university in Europe.

7. b. France in 1182. Then England in 1290; Spain in 1492; and Portugal in 1536.

8. a. Sister-in-law. Sarah was Lot’s sister.

9. c. Ezra Pound was an anti-semitic poet.

10. d. 25%, which is about 100 times the representation of Jews in the population.

0 – 2 Talmid/Talmida (Student)

3 – 5 Melamed/Melamedet (Teacher)

6 – 8 Talmid Chacham/Talmida Chachama (Scholar)

9 – 10 Gaon/Gaona (Genius)

Ben Midler and Sandra Scheller.