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MAY 2018
25 YEARS
Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Fest
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L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
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contents
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May 2018 • www.lchaimmagazine.com
COVER STORY
Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Fest celebrates 25 years.....................................
1000 WORDS JVIF: A Jewish values-based mutual fund........................................................................................
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CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
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FOOD KOSHEROLOGY: Beer Battered Cheddar Bites with Chardonnay mustard dipping sauce....................................................................................................
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FEATURES PHOTOS: Israel on Display @ Mingei Museum............................................................................... Petri dish for a diverse high-tech Israeli future: Jerusalem’s Hadassah Academic College........................................................................................ Philippine city takes cue from Israeli education model............................................................
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SENIORS United Hatzalah advances headquarters, life-saving fleet................................................... Profile on Carol Joy Goldstein................................................................................................................. Cantor Sheldon Merel................................................................................................................................... My Mother's Photos....................................................................................................................................... COLUMNS My Comic Relief................................................................................................................................................ Torah: Of the Book.......................................................................................................................................... Mazel and Mishagoss...................................................................................................................................
Jewishmom.com................................................................................................................................................
ADVERTISING dianeb@lchaimmagazine.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Laurie Miller
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L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
ART DEPARTMENT lauriem@lchaimmagazine.com LISTINGS & CALENDAR: calendar@lchaimmagazine.com CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS info@lchaimmagazine.com
ON THE COVER: The Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Fest celebrates its 25th season. Photo Courtesy San Diego Repertory Theatre SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: www.lchaimmagazine.com/shop
CONTRIBUTORS
Diane Benaroya (dianeb@lchaimmagazine.com), Sharon Buchsbaum (sharonbux@gmail.com)
UNITED HATZALAH UPGRADES
EDITORIAL editor@lchaimmagazine.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alanna Maya
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L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO, LLC (858) 776-0550 San Diego, CA 92127
PUBLISHERS Diane Benaroya & Laurie Miller
Daniel Bortz, Donald H. Harrison, Stephanie Lewis, Salomon Maya, Mimi Pollack, Sharon Rapoport, Eva Trieger, Deborah Vietor, Chana Jenny Weisberg
BEER BATTERED CHEDDAR BITES
Copyright ©2018 L’Chaim San Diego LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator” to: publisher@lchaimmagazine.com Published in San Diego, CA • www.lchaimmagazine.com
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BY SALOMON MAYA l RANDOM RANTS
my
comic relief My (Brief) Time in Beachtown
F
or the months of March and April, my life was dedicated to Beachtown — the closing show for San Diego REP’s 42nd season and the theatre’s first attempt at immersive work. A quick plot rundown. Beachtown “existed” in conjunction with its sister city of San Diego in Santa Arenas County. Every year, Beachtown residents would gather to celebrate their town by opening a time capsule which held ten artifacts. Of those ten, three were deemed eternal and seven ephemeral. It was the job of the town (cast and audience) to vote out one ephemeral artifact and replace it with one of three proposed artifacts that better represented the town’s values and identity. I played Benny Ramos-Leibowitz, a conservative, Mexican-Jewish Councilman, who left the birth of his own child to attend this celebration. Full transparency: I am not a conservative. However, I dug deep into research, looked up talking points and even watched countless hours of Marco Rubio speeches on YouTube (will someone get that man a glass of water!). As rehearsals started, I stepped completely into the shoes of Benny. We wanted Beachtown to be a safe space where people of all backgrounds would feel comfortable debating their beliefs, and when we got on stage at the REP, Beachtown truly 6
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
took flight. This experiment wasn’t going to be easy. We (the people behind Beachtown) felt that we were asking a lot of the audience by playing with us. It goes against everything that feels natural when going to a play. Patrons, from the moment they bought tickets, received an email from the Mayor of Beavhtown, welcoming them and asking them to bring dessert for the potluck. What play have you gone to where you were asked to being brownies? Patrons also sang with the cast, raised their hands, and voted, but where the true magic of Beachtown came into play, was the debates. Almost the entire second act was dedicated to the audience. The cast spoke very minimal, scripted lines. Our ninth cast member in Beachtown, the audience, basically controlled the second part of the show. And control it… it did. In our four-week run, we never had a “dull” audience. Yes, sometimes we would have one that took a little longer to get the debating revved up but in the end they always started conversations I never thought were going to occur on stage. Conversations ran the gamut from transgender, minority, and LGBTQ+ rights to modern-day feminism. Conversations with my fellow actors spilled over into post
show discussions. I have been acting since I was ten years old. If you’ve read my articles, you’ll remember that my first “gig” was playing Wilbur in Junior Theatre’s Charlotte’s Web (1990). But I have only been acting professionally since 2008, and I have counted myself lucky to be part of some pretty groundbreaking work. But nothing has compared to Beachtown. The number of conversations that began because of this experiment will live with me forever. I see people who think differently than me in a whole new light. A brighter light. A much more positive light. I consider myself a little more open to things that confused me in the past. Benny and Beachtown changed the very fabric that was and is Salomon for the better. What more can you ask from theatre? For I now live my life by two beautiful phrases uttered by two beautiful souls (of course said during the run of Beachtown): I now play the play (or life) I’m in, not the play (or life) I rehearsed. I hope to one day be…the man my dog thinks I am.
SALOMON MAYA IS A LOCAL ACTOR AND PLAYWRIGHT. FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @SALOMAYA OR EMAIL HIM AT SALOMONM@LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM.
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TORAH l BY RABBI DANIEL BORTZ
of
the book Spies and Self Esteem
S
ince I work with teenagers, this time of year always brings with it the enthusiasm of summer break in the air. Some will work at internships or summer jobs, others will take summer school or extra ACT/SAT study sessions, and many will relax and laze around on the beach or at the mall with friends. But whether it’s close by or far away, most will travel somewhere. Soon we’ll be reading the Torah portion of Shelach, which discusses the infamous incident of the twelve spies Moses sends to scout out the land of Israel before the nation is to enter. Unfortunately, ten of the spies return with a bad report on the land. The nation weeps at the news and ignores the positive report that Joshua and Caleb give, and end up being forced to stay in the desert. Why did the spies see such negativity? If you’ve ever been to Israel before, you’ve likely experienced the wide array of beauty and qualities this land of milk and honey has to offer. But instead of focusing on the positive aspects of the land, the ten spies said: “We are unable to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we...There we saw the giants...We were like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and so we were in their eyes” (Numbers, 13:31-33). Joshua and Caleb,
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L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
however, reported: “We shall surely ascend and conquer it, we can surely do it!” Were these twelve men looking at the same land, at the same enemy? Let’s look closely at their words: “We were like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and so we were in their eyes.” There is a well-known aphorism: “If you think you can, or you can’t, you’re right.” Because the spies perceived themselves as weak - lacking self-confidence and trust in Divine protection – they saw their enemies as stronger than they really were. Joshua and Caleb, however, had a powerful self-belief and trust in G-d, and therefore didn’t feel that same fear and doubt. Often, when we think others are looking down on us, it’s really just a lack of self worth in our own eyes. Noted psychologist and author of over fifty books, Rabbi Abraham Twerski, has remarked that he could summarize all of his works into one idea: Self esteem. Most failures are less about whether one is capable enough, and much more in their lack of selfbelief. The inability to accept rebuke or love, to grow and have healthy relationships, stems from a low self worth. Having a heightened ego or a low selfesteem both miss the mark of truth. We are
worthwhile and greatly capable because of the gifts we’ve been given: A precious soul connected at all times to an Infinite Divine Being capable of anything. Nothing can tarnish that reality. Humility isn’t denying our abilities at all – we must recognize them all - but realizing how massive our potential is and whether we’re doing it justice. The incident with the spies teaches us, that when confronting life’s obstacles, approach them with trust in G-d and in our G-d given abilities. If it seems too much to handle, realize that you have the requisite strength to push through: “Gd doesn’t ask of us more than what lies in our power to do” (Midrash Tanchuma, Naso 11). Years later, after that generation in the desert and the ten spies had passed away, it was Joshua and Caleb who led in the conquering of the land. It was a selffulfilling prophecy. When working to accomplish a worthwhile, meaningful goal, let nothing get in your way. RABBI DANIEL BORTZ IS THE DIRECTOR OF JTEEN SAN DIEGO, JTEENSD.COM. TO WATCH HIS UNIQUE VIDEOS, VISIT RABBIBORTZ.COM.
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L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
L’CHAIM
A THOUSAND
WORDS JEWISH VALUES INVESTMENT FUNDS
N
ow, more than ever, people are interested in aligning their investments with what matters most to them. Noticing a clear void in the investment options available to Jewish community, Justin Ross and Evan Shorten, the founders of Jewish Values investment Funds, knew something had to change. Along with their advisory board, consisting of Rabbis and other Jewish executives, Jewish Values Investment Funds has created an innovative approach of aligning investments with Jewish values. L’CHAIM Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with Justin and Evan to learn more about the company. Here’s what they had to say.
community and noticing a clear void in the options available to the Jewish community, something had to be done. Now, more than ever, people are interested in investing alongside their values and providing this option to the Jewish community is a great honor.
L’CHAIM MAGAZINE: WHAT IS JEWISH VALUES INVESTMENT FUNDS? JEWISH VALUES INVESTMENT FUNDS:
L’CHAIM: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY JEWISH VALUES? JVIF: The foundation of JVIF’s investment
Jewish Values Investment Funds JVIF, LLC is a SEC Registered Investment Advisor, that is bringing to market the first mutual fund based on Jewish Values to ever file with the SEC. With that being said, we are proud to introduce the Six Thirteen Core Equity Fund (TZDKX). L’CHAIM: WHAT MADE YOU START JEWISH VALUES INVESTMENT FUNDS? JVIF: Recognizing the abundance of other
faith based mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETF’s) available to the investment
L’CHAIM: WHAT IS JEWISH VALUES INVESTMENT FUNDS PURPOSE? JVIF: JVIF’s purpose is clear and simple:
To provide investors the opportunity to invest alongside Jewish Values, promoting the development and growth of the Israeli economy, while recognizing the importance of tzedakah.
strategy centers around the values of Tikkun Olam, Israel and tzedakah. Therefore, JVIF invests in companies that generate a substantial positive, social and environmental impact, promote the growth and development of Israel and recognize the importance of tzedakah. Investing in companies that generate measurable social and environmental impact in conjunction with a financial return is known as impact investing.
The foundation of JVIF’s investment strategy centers around the values of Tikkun Olam, Israel and tzedakah.
L’CHAIM: ONE COMMON CRITICISM OF WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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L'CHAIM
IMPACT INVESTING IS THAT SUPPORTING COMPANIES THAT DO WELL FOR THE COMMUNITY LIMITS FINANCIAL RETURN – DID YOU TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION? JVIF: We believe that criticism to be a
misconception. Historically, sustainable investments have met, and often exceeded the performance of traditional investments. At JVIF, we believe that investing in companies that lead their industries in social and environmental impact, combined with strong financial analysis will help the advancement of our purpose and our investor’s success. L’CHAIM: WHAT IS JVIF’S CONNECTION TO ISRAEL? JVIF: For many, Israel holds a special place
in the Jewish community and a connection to Israel is seen as a core value. Thus, JVIF will be investing in U.S. companies that contribute to the development and growth of the Israeli economy and investing in U.S. traded Israeli companies themselves. L’CHAIM: WHY IS TZEDAKAH SUCH AN 12
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
IMPORTANT PART OF JVIF’S PURPOSE? JVIF: Tzedakah is a way of life that we believe
has countless positive effects that make the world a better place. Understanding the importance of tzedakah, JVIF will donate 10% of the profits (after costs and before compensation) from managing the Six Thirteen Core Equity Fund (TZDKX) to select 501(c)(3) organizations. L’CHAIM: ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OR SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? JVIF: The JVIF team is honored to be able
to give the Jewish community an option to invest alongside Jewish Values. For more information on the Six Thirteen Core Equity Fund (TZDKX), visit jvifunds.com or email us at info@jvifunds.com. You should carefully consider the investment objectives, potential risks, management fees, and charges and expenses of the Fund before investing. The Fund’s prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund, and should be read carefully before investing.
You may obtain a current copy of the Fund’s prospectus by calling (800) 824-5041. The Fund is distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. There is no guarantee that this, or any, investing strategy will succeed. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Due to its socially responsible investing strategy, the Fund may choose not to purchase, or may sell, otherwise profitable investments in companies which have been identified as being in conflict with its established socially responsible investing principles. This means that the Fund may underperform other similar mutual funds that do not consider socially responsible investing principles in their investing.
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COVER STORY l BY EVA TRIEGER
OUTSTANDING
ARTS
LIPINSKY FAMILY SAN DIEGO JEWISH ARTS FESTIVAL'S 25TH YEAR
I
n 2012, an actress portrayed one of San Diego’s Women of Valor, Julia Ramirez-Stone, though Ramirez-Stone humbly told me she isn’t sure why she received such accolades. The performance was just one of the outstanding Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival’s offerings (which is produced by San Diego Repertory Theatre). This year, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this incredible collection of music, theater, dance, opera and fine arts, Ramirez-Stone is acting as the gala chair. A 10-year history with the festival and now completing her second year on the Board of Trustees of San Diego Repertory Theatre, the arts patron told me that she is thrilled to be where she is today and is immensely proud of the growth of this festival and its evolution in the past quarter century. The festival will run from May 29-June 15. “Each year,” Ramirez-Stone said, “the productions get better. We’ve added Hershey Felder as our REP guest artist.” New venues have enhanced the reach of the programs and the variety in the types of events offered has also expanded to include virtually every type of art imaginable. This year will feature theater, music, photography, dance, lectures and concerts. The goal of the festival has not been altered. It was created and has endured to bring all of the Jewish community together. Attendees will include the entire gamut of religious observance, age, nationality and socioeconomic strata. What really sets the Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival apart from other festivals is the originality and creativity of the works. Each year the festival has produced more original pieces. Over 50 world premieres were born thanks to this festival and its home base in the San Diego Repertory Theatre (or San Diego REP), and, once launched, these works go all over the world, traveling to other festivals where they are enjoyed by thousands, globally. Ramirez-Stone is originally from Mexico, but has been in San Diego more than 30 years. An alumni of UCSD and USD, she has used her talents and training to reach everyone on the continuum. She told me that in an effort to reach “school kids to seniors” the festival is intentionally
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L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
COVER STORY
TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT WWW.SDREP.ORG OR BY PHONE AT (619) 544-1000.
“
THIS IS A CELEBRATION... DEVELOPED TO CELEBRATE ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
“
accessible. “If Moses can’t come to the mountain, we will bring the mountain to Moses.” For residents at Seacrest Village, the festival either goes to Encinitas, or arranges for transportation so that everyone can benefit. No one should be exempt from connecting with his/her Jewish identity from South Bay to the upper reaches of North County, according to the gala chair. I wanted to know why Julia Ramirez-Stone is so committed and passionate about the Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival. Her reply was individual, yet so universal. “I have a personal goal. I have four kids and two grandkids, and I want them to grow up in a positive environment. It is important to support the Jewish arts so that it’s here for my children and grandchildren and all future generations. Exposure to the Jewish arts will keep it alive.” I then asked what Ramirez-Stone felt were some of the highlights of the Festival. She had to think, but only for a moment. “The sing-along with Hershey Felder was an experience you cannot forget. The Pianist of Willesden Lane, another. Yale’s concerts...the lectures.” As you can see, it was not easy to select one memorable moment over another. But perhaps more than the actual events or programs, RamirezStone honors and reveres the people that make it possible. The gala will honor Jeff and Sheila Lipinsky, who have continued to support the festival and honor the tradition set forth by Bernard, Dorris and Elaine Lipinsky z”l, philanthropists and original sponsors of The Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival; and Todd Salovey, artistic director of the festival and associate artistic director of the REP. The gala will be held May 27, in the private home of Barbara Fischbein in Rancho Santa Fe, and promises to be a night of import. In this intimate and elegant setting, guests will enjoy a concert with Hershey Felder at the piano, a performance by the Malashock dancers, klezmer music by Yale Strom and Hot Pstromi, as well as performances from nine years of Women of Valor. Ramirez-Stone was quick to point out that this is a celebration, not a fundraiser. It was developed to celebrate all of the people that make up the Jewish community: Holocaust survivors, young people, public servants, a congresswoman, the Persian, Russian, Mexican, Israeli, South African and American Jewish communities who are woven into the tapestry of a beautiful history and ancestry. The chair told me that she was so thrilled that the Lipinskys have continued the tradition and because of them we can “honor the past, celebrate the present and look forward to the future.” After our conversation, I’m fairly certain I know why Julia Ramirez-Stone was one of the Women of Valor in 2012. She has given; and continues to devote her time and energies toward bringing Jewish culture not only to San Diego, but through the Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival, to the world. Thank you!
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OUT AND ABOUT
M I N G EI I N TE RNATIO NAL M USE U M
Smadar Samson, Curator
Irwin and Joan Jacobs 16
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
Museum Director and CEO Rob Sidner, Gregorio Goldstein, Honorary Consul of Israel in Baja California
OUT AND ABOUT
Guests view the exhibition
Curator Smadar Samson discusses the exhibition with Joan and Irwin Jacobs and Toni Robin
P H OTOS BY M E L I SSA JACO B S
R
ecently, the Mingei International Museum celebrated the opening of the major exhibition, ISRAEL – 70 Years of Craft & Design. In its first major collaboration with the House of Israel, Mingei’s VIP membership group, The Director’s Circle and the Jewish community celebrated the momentous opening of an exhibition recognizing the 70-year anniversary of the founding of Israel. Set against a background of impressive light sculptures and hanging pendants, the springtime celebration was filled with colorful Mediterraneaninspired vegetables, spreads and flatbreads by Home Kitchen Culture, refreshing cocktails from Snake Oil Cocktail Company and classy jazz piano. Museum Executive Director and CEO, Rob Sidner welcomed guests along with House of Israel and exhibition Curator, Smadar Samson, and thanked those involved in the year-long project, which involved borrowing and shipping over 100 objects from Israel. In addition, Sidner, along with Board Chair Courtenay McGowen, noted that the ISRAEL exhibition will be the last Mingei-curated show on view before the Museum closes for a major transformation of its entire space this fall. Other special guests included Baja California’s Honorary Consul of Israel, Gregorio Goldstein, Joan and Irwin Jacobs, Lori and Steven Sefton, Robert and Stephanie Horsman, Mingei architect Jennifer Luce, Mingei Capital Campaign co-chairs Maureen King and John Seiber, and other Mingei Trustees.
Jeanette Stevens, Toni Robin WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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FOOD
KOSHEROLOGY BEER BATTERED CHEDDAR BITES WITH CHARDONNAY MUSTARD SAUCE STORY & PHOTOS BY ALEX THE KOSHEROLOGIST KOSHEROLOGY.COM
Enveloped in a rich beer-batter and deep fried, these chunks of cheddar are transformed into an awesome finger-food perfect for any time of year.
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FOOD
Serves 8-10. Dairy These little fried cheddar bites are wickedly awesome. Enveloped in a rich beer- batter and deep fried, these chunks of cheddar are transformed into an awesome finger-food perfect for any time of year. The custom to eat cheese and other dairy delicacies during Shavuot is considered to be a symbol of the Torah, which nourishes the Jewish people the way milk nourishes a baby. Even though these fried cheddar bites are infused with the rich culinary traditions of Shavuot, cheese fried in oil and served with a wine-infused dipping sauce are perfect for any occasion, any time of year. Who knew tradition could taste so good?! INGREDIENTS 3, 8oz. sticks/blocks cheddar cheese 2 cups all-purpose flour, divided 2 teaspoons paprtika 1 teaspoon garlic powder 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) lager, or beer of your choice Vegetable oil, for frying DIRECTIONS 1. Cut the cheddar into medium sized cubes and set aside in the refrigerator.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups of flour with the paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Whisk in the beer until the mixture is well combined. Let the batter rest at room temperature for 10 minutes. 3. In a large pot, heat approximately 2-3 cups of oil. 4. Remove the cheddar cubes from the refrigerator and toss them with the remaining 1/2 cup of flour. Dip the cubes into the beer batter and carefully drop the battered cubes into the oil one at a time, being careful not to touch the cheese (as the beer batter coating will bust open). Allow the cheese to fry for about 10-15 seconds before flipping it over and before adding another cube (you should be able to get about 4-6 cubes into the pot at one time-depending on the size of your pot). I do not recommend placing a few cubes into the pot at one time, as they will most likely all stick together. Fry each cube for approximately 30-45 seconds. Remove from the pot and drain on a paper-towel lined plate. Serve and enjoy. CHARDONNAY-MUSTARD DIPPING SAUCE Makes approx. 3/4 cup 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/2 Tbs. chardonnay
1/4 tsp. balsamic vinegar 1/4 tsp. salt 1 tsp. chopped cilantro 2 Tbs. sugar 2 Tbs. Hot and Spicy Mango mustard (or similar spicy/sweet mustard variety) Mix together all of the ingredients and enjoy with your cheddar bites. BORN AND BRED IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH, ALEX ‘THE KOSHEROLOGIST’ IDOV, WAS RAISED ON COLLARD GREENS STEWED WITH SMOKED TURKEY LEG (IN PLACE OF HAM HOCKS), BLACKEYED-PEAS, AND BRUNSWICK STEW. HE BOASTS BEING A 4TH GENERATION JEWISH SOUTHERNER, WITH ONE OF HIS GREAT-GRANDMOTHER’S BORN IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA IN 1888. HIS OTHER GREAT-GRANDPARENTS HAILED FROM RUSSIA, POLAND, AND FRANCEINSPIRING MUCH OF HIS COOKING WITH THE CUISINES OF HIS HERITAGE. ALEX’S CULINARY REPERTOIRE GOES BEYOND TRADITIONAL JEWISH AND SOUTHERN FARE, AS HE REVISITS AND REINVENTS THE CUISINES OF HIS ANCESTORS. ALEX HOLDS A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN CULINARY SUSTAINABILITY AND HOSPITALITY FROM THE KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY MICHAEL A. LEVEN SCHOOL OF CULINARY SUSTAINABILITY AND HOSPITALITY AND WORKS AS A FREELANCE FOOD WRITER. FIND MORE RECIPES AT KOSHEROLOGY.COM.
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Jewish and Arab female students in a science study lab at Hadassah Academic College.
PETRI DISH:
A DIVERSE HIGH-TECH ISRAELI FUTURE 22
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
PHOTO COURTESY HADASSAH ACADEMIC COLLEGE
FEATURE STORY l BY DEBORAH FINEBLUM | JNS.ORG
FEATURE STORY JERUSALEM’S HADASSAH ACADEMIC COLLEGE IS LEADING THE WAY IN HIGH-TECH TRAINING FOR ISRAEL’S UNDERSERVED MINORITY COMMUNITIES.
Twenty-year-old Balqis Amireh would never have had the chance to study biotechnology if it weren’t for Hadassah Academic College (HAC). And 21-year-old Audelia Sebag would likewise have missed out on her future in biotechnology if the school had not provided an environment where she could be comfortable. Amireh, one of six children of an East Jerusalem Israeli Arab family, and Sebag, the daughter of a rabbi from Morocco, are part of a concerted investment by the Israeli government to create a new generation of tomorrow’s hi-tech professionals. “The school is opening doors for us,” says Amireh. “And everyone here is comfortable with each other.” “My parents are really proud that I will be able to work in a good field that I love,” says Sebag. “And to be able to learn with other religious girls, it’s just a great opportunity.” The college — founded in 1970 by Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, to provide Israelis job training — received academic accreditation in 1996. It retains the name even though it has been independent for more than a decade now. In 2016, when Israel’s Education Ministry put out a call for a substantial increase in Israelis formally trained in computer science and other hi-tech fields (and sweetened the pot with generous funding earmarked to train students from the haredi, Israeli Arab and Ethiopian communities), the college was ready for the challenge. At the time, Israel’s Education Minister Naftali Bennett emphasized the investment the government was making on integrating “the ultra-Orthodox, Arabs, Ethiopian immigrants and the periphery.” And though the school is true to its mission of training Israelis to succeed in a variety of fields, the fields themselves reflect the seismic changes in the workplace in the last five decades. Today’s popular majors include increasingly in-demand computer sciences, as well as biotechnology, lab sciences, optometry and communications disorders. “Our entire program is designed to help [students] succeed in every way, preparing them well for these fields that are in such
increasing demand,” says HAC president Bertold Fridlender. “And here in Jerusalem, where these groups all live, it’s the perfect place to bring them together in a program designed to bring them into the workforce with rewarding employment.” Another major theme associated with the college is to help create a level playing field for all Israelis. Of the students, 20 percent are Christian or Muslim Arabs. Since many come from disadvantaged families, they often receive government-funded scholarships. There are also 900 haredi students at HAC, of which 70 percent are women. Additionally, more than 80 students are from Ethiopian Jewish families, while nearly 170 students are immigrants from elsewhere, mostly from France, Ukraine and Argentina. Meanwhile, the school has also been open to many students who may face barriers elsewhere. Half of the students are the first in their families to study towards a college degree, while some 450 have learning disabilities, and 111 have a physical disability. And for the first time, 10 students with Asperger’s syndrome are studying at the college. “We have students with every kind of challenge, from physical and mental to language barriers to holes in their education that have to be filled before they can learn here,” says Challenge Center Director Ofra Rotem. “We get to know them as individuals and then put together a program of what each one needs.” The formula appears to be working: In the last four years, the college has doubled its enrollment to 4,000. It boasts one of the highest rate of growth of any Israeli college or university. One additional attraction: The career center, which makes it their business to place every student who completes the program in his or her chosen field. On staff are counselors who are haredi, Ethiopian and Arab, with a deep understanding of the communities these students come from. Perhaps more impressive than the 93 percent of students who successfully complete their degree is the 85 percent who find work in their trained fields. “Hightech is changing so rapidly that the need for trained professionals is soaring,” says computer-science chair professor Yoram Biberman. “We also make sure they have the solid background and knowledge that,
no matter what new developments come along, they will be able to function well.” To make sure they succeed, haredi and Arab students require special services. These include Hebrew courses for Arab speakers (the curriculum is taught in Israel’s official language), and separate classrooms for haredi men and women. To maximize success in a curriculum that melds academics with hands-on training, haredim often also need coursework to catch them up on math and other secular subjects since they focused primarily on Jewish learning. “This is a place where they’re respected and accepted,” says Rivky Yeruslavsky who heads up Lomda, a program that’s jobtrained haredim for 26 years. “The goal is to bring them to a place where their families can have a solid financial future.” On her wall hangs the famous Maimonides quote: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Lomda now partners with HAC to provide the 900 haredi students a full academic degree program, identical to the one offered at the main campus but in a separate building. Since some 60 percent of the costs are covered by the government, the program is affordable for students who already have families to support. “Our aim here is social mobility,” says Shimon Arbel, HAC’s director of institutional advancement, who works to raise awareness and funds to support the school’s mission. “Here, they learn together and respect each other. It’s a win-win for their families and for the future of Israel itself.” It’s clear that psychology student Gartner is one of those winners. “In my religious community, people do understand that the world is changing, and to succeed you have to open your eyes and take in the bigger picture,” he says. “The truth is I’m learning to be a better person here — more understanding, better able to help others. And learning to communicate better with different kinds of people actually makes me more religious,” he adds. In fact, with his wedding just four months away, among those he hopes to communicate better with is his future wife. “At least I hope so,” he adds with laugh. “That would be a real added benefit.”
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SENIORS
BY ELIANA RUDEE | JNS.ORG
UNITED HATZALAH GETS A MAKEOVER
Advancing its headquarters and fleet for Israel's 70th New United Hatzalah headquarters.
I
n honor of Israel’s 70th anniversary, the Israeli organization United Hatzalah dedicated its new “National Lifesaving Headquarters” in Jerusalem, which included first-floor renovations and plans for another three to four floors of overhauls. In addition, through the generous donations of dozens of benefactors, mostly from the United States, it 24
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also added 70 new ambucycles to their fleet. “Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization,” said Eli Beer, founder and president of United Hatzalah. “The new headquarters that we are building in Jerusalem has been thought out, detail by detail. Everything we can do to meet the needs of our volunteers we are doing, and all
of it is in an effort to assist them in saving lives every day.” Additions to the building will include an emergency simulation center, bomb-shelter control room, auditorium and conference rooms, medical-equipment supply center, a garden, pharmacy, ambucycle repair lab, medical lending library, training classrooms,
“All of our volunteers know that we are in a race – a race against death, against pain, against injury, and a race against the ambulances.” volunteer’s lounge and more. United Hatzalah is Israel’s volunteer team of first-responders. Focused on preambulatory care, it sends first responders out — from wherever they happen to be at the moment — to nearby emergencies. According to a recent article in Israeli media from last spring, the average ambulance response time in Israel is between approximately 11 and 12 minutes. But United Hatzalah boasts a 90-second average response time to emergencies within Israel’s large cities, and three minutes in smaller towns. “The speed and tenacity in which our organization and our volunteers display every single day when they go out and respond to calls is nothing short of superhuman,” said Raphael Poch, United Hatzalah’s
International Spokesperson. “All of our volunteers know that we are in a race — a race against death, against pain, against injury, and a race against the ambulances. It is a race of lifesaving, and that is a race that we are determined to win every single time we head out to respond to an emergency call.” AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE
United Hatzalah volunteers respond to approximately 1,000 emergency calls per day utilizing nearly 5,000 volunteers across the country. All services, including transport, are completely free of charge. “Over 2.5 million people have received help from volunteers in the decade since its existence, and not a single person has ever received a bill,” said Poch. “The organization does not receive funding from the government for its services, but does receive financial stipends for educational development and training in outlying areas.” In comparison, Magen David Adom — Israel’s national ambulance service — sends ambulances, salaried paramedics and often volunteers out from centralized dispatch locations to respond to emergencies. The organization is partially funded by donations and partially funded by the government via various alternate channels, such as local and regional councils and townships that pay a service fee for use of ambulances in their residential areas. Their treatment and care can cost anywhere from 180 NIS ($50) for helping to lift a person out of bed to more than 1,000 NIS (almost $300) for an ambulance transport to the hospital from various outlying cities. While both organizations are recognized nationally by Israel’s Health Ministry as being first-response organizations and recognized by the Internal Security Ministry as being emergency-response organizations, together with police and fire departments,
United Hatzalah’s quick response time has rendered ambulances inadequate for immediate care and treatment. According to Poch, United Hatzalah is also distinctive in that the organization is made up entirely of volunteers. “When a volunteer goes through extensive training and sets out on a path in life that will mean that they need to drop everything and run at a moment’s notice, there is a certain level of commitment there,” he said. “I have seen it time and again in the field that the effort put in to any given emergency call by volunteers goes above and beyond the call of duty because it isn’t out of duty that these volunteers do what they do. It is out of love. A love for fellow human beings.” Poch, who is also a first-responder for United Hatzalah, spoke of a recent call he went on in Efrat, a city that usually has a fast ambulance response time. “I found myself and another United Hatzalah volunteer to be the only responders at the incident for some 40 minutes. While we maintained the patient in a stable condition, it took 40 minutes for an ambulance to arrive,” he related. “No other volunteers from MDA came either, in spite of there being approximately 120 of them who live in the city. “When an ambulance finally did arrive,” he continued, adding that it had to come from a different city, “I helped the driver transport the patient to the ambulance. MDA charged for that service. UH didn’t, in spite of us both doing the same physical actions.” Even more, Poch said, the ambulance driver told him that the competition between the two has resulted in better treatment of MDA employees — and voiced his hope that United Hatzalah continues to grow and succeed.
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25
SENIORS
BY DEBORAH VIETOR
CREATE YOUR LIFE AS A BLESSING A
re you interested in changing your beliefs, opinions and assumptions about your life to create the freedom for happiness? How about accessing joy through a system to heal your mind, body and spirit, honoring your life’s journey? Meet Carol Joy Goldstein, a structural consultant and inspirational speaker for over 30 years For sixteen years she taught the principles of creating through the Technologies for Creating course, which assisted hundreds of people to create the life they desired, beyond what they thought possible. She is committed to coaching people in living a life of freedom, creating amazing relationships and organizing their lives around what truly matters. Goldstein trained with Robert Fritz, creator of Structural Consulting, a strategy preventing people from falling into the same [destructive] patterns and assisting them in redesigning their lives to create desired life experiences. Goldstein offers consulting sessions, proven to assist people in living happier lives. In addition, she was trained in Advanced Integrative Therapy, (AIT) in 2009. Asha Clinton, Ph.D. developed Advanced Integrative Therapy, and Goldstein is currently offering consulting sessions. AIT combines and integrates trauma treatment, (housed in the body, mind and spirit,) energy psychology, depth psychology and cognitive
"... it is about deepening yourself, your intuition and G-d." therapy, creating a comprehensive, coherent and elegantly woven system for honoring each individual’s unique life journey. Goldstein shared that although intellectually we know something isn’t true, our unconscious on an emotional level reacts until this can become unblocked. It is this principle that interested her in pursuing AIT as a modality to help others. Goldstein authored an inspirational, life-changing book called, Creating Your Life as a Blessing. The book includes 41 personal stories with self-guided lessons and questions. She shared that the book is actually about faith. “Initially I thought the book was more about control vs. freedom, but then I realized it was about deepening your faith in yourself, your intuition and G-d,” she said. The book includes a dream of going to France and how Carol made 26
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
that happen after 24 years. She speaks of how we make excuses and rationalizations for why we don’t do the things we want in life and how to make them happen. The questions are thought-provoking, supporting people in applying lessons learned in their life. Chapters include issues regarding trust, how dead ends stop us from achieving happiness, the healing power of music and other topics. “I’ve always learned better from stories. Stories in the book offer a new perspective of freedom of choice, developing and deepening faith in oneself and God.” Several have given exceptional testimonials regarding Carol’s performance: “Carol is one of those incredible, unique, gifted consultants who helps you see and shift your core, limited beliefs and assumptions so you can live a more fulfilled and balanced life. After two structural consulting sessions with Carol, a destructive pattern that kept repeating in my life shifted dramatically. I was able to create a win/win result in a very difficult situation.” — Sharon McDaniel, Workshop Facilitator “I have known Carol for over 15 years and she has counseled and supported me through many difficulties. I find her to be always very caring and understanding. She has a great deal of knowledge about people’s psychology, and more importantly, a deep intuition about their psyche. I highly recommend her counseling sessions for deep healing, even when using other techniques.” — Melody Umstead, Social Worker CAROL GOLDSTEIN IS OFFERING A FREE 20 MINUTE CONSULTATION FOR L’CHAIM READERS AT (858) 442-9085.
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SENIORS
BY MINDY GREENSPAN
CANTOR
SHELDON MEREL Bringing Jewish Music to Life
M
any readers may know Cantor Sheldon Merel, who served as Cantor at Congregation Beth Israel starting in 1979 and has had a continuing presence in the congregation for close to 38 years. Cantor Merel is presently a comfortable, contented resident of Seacrest Village in Encinitas and we spoke about Jewish music and his career. After attending his recent life 28
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
retrospective presentation at Congregation Beth Israel, my interest was two-fold: I wanted to know more about this dynamic singer. I wanted to talk about his take on Jewish music in Synagogue services, both past and present. First of all, I would be remiss if I did not review some of his accomplishments. During his illustrious career, Sheldon Merel presented Jewish music concerts at
Notre Dame University, San Francisco Opera House, Purdue University, Stratford Shakespearean Music Festival (Canada), SDSU, UCSB, Copley Symphony Hall and Sherwood Auditorium. He studied opera with Impresario Boris Goldofsky of the Boston Opera Company and was also the soloist for symphony orchestras in London and Toronto, in addition to various orchestras in the US. He
was often compared to the virtuoso chazzans of yesteryear. In his own words, “The greatest compliment I could receive during my career was to be compared to an “old time” chazzan...listening to the human voice in song is a powerful part of worship.” In his own words, Cantor Merel feels that he was fortunate to serve with rabbis and congregations who appreciated his varied repertoire: the music of Eastern European virtuosoi cantors, contemporary music by respected composers and great orchestral works such as Erneest Bloch’s Sacred Service. I asked Cantor Merel if he believes that he would not have had the same career today if he were starting out now. Being a musician myself, I was sadly sure that his answer would be negative. Today, most American Reform synagogues seem to prefer worship music that focuses on repetitive melodies and a lot of “la, la, la’s” (although The tradition of the Old World cantorial music, however is
still practiced in Canada and Europe). I asked Cantor Merel why he thought current American synagogue life reflected the “dumbing down” of worship music. According to Cantor Merel, he believes it may be a carry-over of the music from the Jewish camp movement, which was perhaps the first exposure that many younger rabbis had to Jewish music. Add to that the influence of rock and pop music of recent decades as well as the resurgence of Chasidic melodies, which are simpler, albeit lovely, melodies. In addition to utilizing the traditional chants and melodies of the Jewish prayer service with which many people in the U.S. may have already been familiar, Cantor Merel also introduced music from around the world in order to demonstrate the broad scope of our Jewish musical heritage. That was his ultimate goal: to broaden, expand and enhance the experience of music in prayer for his congregants and other listeners and to
enlighten them with new musical sounds. As a beloved member of Beth Israel, even after his official retirement in 1991, he sang a few prayers on High Holy Day services almost every year until last year, first at the Civic Center, and later in the synagogue’s current new building. This was, as he notes, ,“Thanks to the graciousness of Rabbi-Cantor Arlene Bernstein.” After his official retirement, Cantor Merel has also spent considerable time preparing and marketing his two CDs . All of the songs were recorded live in concert over a period of 25 years, and they have been proudly packaged. Cantor Merel also paints and sculpts. He looks and feels terrific and attributes much of his good fortune to spending time being with younger people who keep him feeling youthful.
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SENIORS
BY VARDA LEVY
MY MOTHER'S PHOTOS T
he collection was begun in the late ‘50s, when my brother moved from Israel to live across the globe in the United States. We celebrated every mail delivery of pictures he had sent, studying eagerly each magical image. Shortly thereafter, my mother would appropriate the photos to be stuffed in a large envelope she buried in her purse. She took advantage of every family meal, coffee time, or card game to afford others the pleasure of marveling at the way her son looked, the cars he drove, or whom he dated. In time and with the unfolding family fate, my sister followed suit, moving to the United States, and eventually even I, the youngest of three siblings, found myself making a life in California. My mother stayed in Israel, where a family joke emerged: Michla was coming-for-a-visit-with-her-pictures. It was a ritual she never missed when entering the living room of a friend or a family member — out came the envelope, followed by distribution of recent and not so recent photos of her beautiful, loving children in the States. Eventually the collection boasted grandchildren — a snuggly wrapped baby, a toddler balancing weight on two chubby feet, two little boys caught in a tight embrace, a young football player, a budding ballerina, smiling cousins seated around the Passover table.
“With each passing year, the envelope of pictures became fatter and fatter, gathering bulk, occupying a greater share of the volume in my mother’s purse.” With each passing year, the envelope of pictures became fatter and fatter, gathering bulk, occupying a greater share of the volume in my mother’s purse. We thought her habit quaint, a mildly comical compulsion of a Jewish mother, possibly overly-focused on her offsprings. Michla’s pictures always tagged along. At the time, we, her three adult children, could not fathom the depth of her need to connect. We were the epicenter of our young, growing families, too busy in the midst of still emerging lives. We were involved parents — working, shopping, car-pooling, scolding, consoling, hosting. Family life surrounded us; we created and managed it. It exhausted us. If we needed anything, it was a periodic 30
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escape to tend to our own needs. How could we possibly comprehend the void overflowing from within the bulging envelope? Nowadays, a grandmother myself, I mourn the fact that tucked within my mother’s substantial envelope were not only the faces she adored but also the hugs and kisses she would not experience, the chatter and laughter she did not hear, the sumptuous meals and delicious cakes she could not serve. Precious moments of deferred joy were there — a longing to be present, not realized. I note today my own ever-present need to take an even small part in the lives of my children and grandchildren, to occupy the same space and, at the very least, observe. Updates are welcomed, of course — phone conversations, emails, text messages, not to mention the periodic FaceTime that allows a semblance of a visual conversation with a child. Certainly, my world provides opportunities for family communication that my mother could not begin to imagine. Still, I am struck by the realization that the plethora of electronic tools afforded me today are not much different than the stuffed photo envelope in my mother’s purse. Even so, I caution myself to beware electronic exchanges as substitutes for being there. When my mother passed in her mid-80s, my brother, sister and I found among her belongings a treasure-trove of photos, too numerous to fit in any single envelope. The collection unveiled a haphazard but detailed retelling of our lives. Every chapter was represented. There we were, hugging spouses and children, living active, diverse lives. My mother was rarely present. We saw her image in the occasional trip, when we visited her, or in the Bar-Mitzvah celebrations, when she travelled to us. However, for the most part, my mother was outside the pictorial world she had painstakingly constructed, fashioned by the static photos she gathered for decades. We were all the poorer for that.
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FEATURE STORY
philippines to use
israeli curriculum
PHILIPPINES’ SECOND LARGEST CITY WILL USE ISRAELI CURRICULUM TO IMPROVE MATH, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
Davao, the Philippines largest city, has signed an agreement with Israel Sci-Tech Schools to implement its highly effective I-STEAM education model in one of its public high schools. The pilot program is a collaboration between the City of Davao and Israel Sci-Tech Schools with the support of the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines. Israel Sci-Tech Schools’ success in transforming underperforming schools across Israel, but particularly in poorer parts of the county, has received international acclaim. Its specialized STEM curriculum is also being used throughout Europe and schools in the United States. The Philippines is the latest country to import its educational model. Recent conversations also include partnerships with additional states in the USA as well as other countries including China. The program, called “Excellence in 32
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
Education: A Lighthouse Project,” will implement Israel Sci-Tech school’s innovative education model in a high school in Davao City which will serve as a model for the rest of the city’s high schools. The changes to the school’s curriculum will include aspects of the network’s programs in innovation, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics as well as full upgrades to its science and technology labs. Israel Sci-Tech Schools’ internationally renowned I-STEAM program is the network’s new curriculum that adds innovation and arts (creativity and humanities) to traditional STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education to prepare students for the jobs of the future. It includes an arts element to enhance the students’ creativity and appreciation of the importance of design. In addition, the network has added components to the model that give students an understanding of business organization, marketing and entrepreneurship. “I-STEAM has transformed every school where it has been implemented. Our unique
curriculum helps students become the leaders of tomorrow and our hope is that our partnership with Davao City will allow their students to establish themselves as future leaders in technology and innovation,” said Zvi Peleg, director-general of Israel SciTech Schools. The collaboration is also being coordinated through the national Department of Education - Davao City Schools Division and the Pass It Forward Foundation. Friends of Israel Sci-Tech Schools is a U.S.based 501-C3 dedicated to supporting the 206 institutions and 100,000 students that represent the largest independent network of science and technology educational institutions in Israel. Today, there are more than 550,000 alumni, many of whom have gone onto become senior leaders in the military, high tech entrepreneurs, as well as some of the top engineers and scientists in Israel. For more information about the organization, visit israel-scitech-schools.org.
FEATURE STORY
reflections
march of the living
The following are reflections by two of the San Diego participants at this year’s recent March of the Living, a 2 week journey to Poland and Israel. While in Poland, participants commemorate Yom HaShaoh, and while in Israel, they celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut. The dates for the 2019 March are April 28May 22. I hear birds chirp from the sky above and see butterflies flutter around the trees. I hope these are our people, watching and protecting us, and telling us their story, for us to never forget how their lives ended in such tragedy. It is unfathomable to think such tragedy occurred in a place of peace, serenity, and quiet. I light a candle in memory of those who suffered here in Lupochowa, their lives will forever be in my heart and memory. I notice that the flame of my candle had diminished. I wish that the flame, in
memory of those lost, have rekindled the spark in the souls of those that perished. Lastly, I realize that we get to walk out of Lupochowa Forrest with the weight of responsibility of sharing the stories of what occurred here. -Nathan M Today was our last full day in Israel. Our last full day in our people’s country. Our country. The past few days we have been celebrating this country because of Yom Hatzmaoot, but today we focused on our ancestors who perished like we did in Poland. We started at Yad VaShem, the museum for the holocaust. Yad VaShem translates to hand of god, which is very symbolic to the Jewish people regarding the holocaust. We started at the remembrance hall for all the concentration camps. It only named a few of the 40+ concentration/death camps.
Then we went to another room where we had a chance to get our numerous questions answered on the Holocaust. One that stood out to me was the inquire on how so many men were able to turn “evil” and murder hundreds of people in cold blood. A rabbi answered saying that people have two choices in life. they can choose to either be good or evil and in the case of the holocaust, many men chose to blame their sufferings on the Jews and turn to destruction of others than reconstruction of themselves. Taking away from today, and the whole experience so far, the Holocaust has taught us a lot not only about human nature and what certain circumstances can push people to do, but also to always push each other up, help a brother out, and always ALWAYS be sure to stand up for any injustices because you will never know what it could lead to. -Hannah E. WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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HUMOR l BY STEPHANIE LEWIS
mazel
& mishagoss Dear Jewish Overprotective Moms - Happy Druther's Day!
O
kay, I know it’s supposed to be Mother’s Day but I wanted to be clever and the word “Smother” is already taken by the currently popular airing show called The Goldbergs -- a half-hour sitcom about a concerned Jewish mother (Based on yours truly. No seriously, I am their real life example!) who lives in the 80’s (have you seen my big hair and the Swatch Watch I wear? I rest my case!) and who is overbearing, controlling, and paranoid about the health and safety of her children. (Fox television execs spent eight weeks following me on numerous pediatrician appointments just to produce their first half hour pilot.) But back to the title of this article. If I had my druthers….all six of my children would be micro-chipped (like pets) or have Lojack installed (like cars) so I could track their every move, making my occupation much easier. Cellphones are a poor substitute. Listen: Me: Hello?? Why didn’t you call to let me know you’d arrived at the movie? Son: Because I’m not there yet and you forbid me to talk while driving. Me: Yes, it’s dangerous! Disconnect this call immediately. Oy, why did you even answer the phone to begin with? Concentrate! Son: Because I knew you’d worry if I let it go to voicemail. Me: Never mind. How could you do this to me? And don’t keep talking to respond to that question. Focus on your driving! Now hang up and call me when you’re there. I thought all I had to do was raise my 34
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
little darlings to age eighteen and then I’d promptly retire from this stressful profession with a handsome pension and a 401K. Instead I’m constantly scrutinizing interactive maps of the U.S., where I have color-coded pushpins scattered in every state next to tiny clock icons. Are these memorable places I’ve traveled? A wish-list of exotic sites I dream of visiting in the future? I think not! These are the various locations (that I’ve managed to pry out of them!) of where my six adult kids will be headed in the next week, plus exact times I should expect a S.H.R.E.K. (Stop Hyperventilating! Relax Everything’s Kool!) phone call from them. When you smother, always have a fun acronym. In fact right now, (according to a red pushpin that’s sticking out of a town known as Pflugerville in Texas) my daughter is tardy with her own SHREK call to me. She was supposedly going to a Grateful Dead revival concert (the musical taste she gets from her father.) in this strange city and now for all I know, she’s lying hurt on the side of the road. There….it’s finally ringing! Me: (Panicked!) What’s wrong? You were supposed to call me at 9:00 pm! Daughter: It’s 9:03. Surely you don’t have me lying in the middle of the road in only three minutes? Me: I’m a very efficient worker. And you were dragged to the side, not left in the middle. I’m just grateful you’re alive after the Grateful Dead. Daughter: (Sighing) I’m fine, Mom. I’m leaving Pflugerville now.
Me: Thank goodness. The ambulance driver would never know the “P” is silent in that meshuggenah spelling and he wouldn’t be able to Google your address in time to resuscitate you. Daughter: Well don’t worry. We’re going to eat BBQ ribs in a nice phonetic city called El Paso. Me: (choking) Ribs! With sharp splintering bones? Hello?? Now let’s see here, which one am I scheduled to hear from next? Ahh yes. According to this map, my second-born should be calling any minute after checking out an ad for cheap furniture in NYC on Craig’s List. Did you hear me?? Craig’s List! Terrifying visions of thugs popping out of secondhand sleeper-sofas are enough to keep me up half the night. But instead of any wanderlust offspring phoning home, the next call comes from The Goldbergs’ television show director. He informs me their next episode will be preempted by a news report. Apparently I can take the night off and quit worrying earlier than usual because they already have enough material from all my daytime shtick. Happy Druther’s Day, Moms! I hope you have your druthers with your own kids, even if I can’t have mine. STEPHANIE D. LEWIS IS A WRITER FOR THE COMEDY SECTION IN THE HUFFINGTON POST AND PENS A HUMOR BLOG AT ONCEUPONYOURPRIME.COM.
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RETURN TO THE HOMELAND
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND & USA CELEBRATES ISRAEL @70
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his year, Israel marks 70 years of statehood—seven decades of intensive growth and remarkable achievement. Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF) is proud of the formative role it has played in the country’s development, since before the founding of the modern State of Israel, and continuing as a key player in the strategic development of Israel’s natural resources and infrastructure. Over the years, Jewish National Fund-USA has worked hand in hand with the State of Israel in areas such as forest management, water conservation, infrastructure support, environmental education, economic growth, sustainable tourism, and community building. But if JNF’s recent and massive Israel@70 tour was any indication, this important work is by no means complete. Last month, over 220 JNF-USA representatives—professionals, lay leaders, and first-time supporters alike—traveled to Israel for an unforgettable celebration of the country’s 70th birthday. For tour participants, this was no ordinary leisure trip. Of course, there were fascinating sights and high-standard wining and dining. Yes, there were plenty of opportunities to mingle with the locals. Yet on this trip, nobody was treated as a guest or a tourist; rather, they came as “honorary Israelis,” home for a brief visit to help in the ongoing work of shaping Israeli society. The whirlwind tour, took participants from one end of the country to the other on five different tracks, including the first ever San Diego Community track. Each track explored Israel through the unique Jewish National Fund-USA lens, learning about innovative agricultural projects, touring iconic urban neighborhoods, encountering cuttingedge technology, meeting with community and business leaders, and enjoying off-the-beaten path restaurants and cultural sites. During the days leading up to Independence Day, the five groups came together for several commemorative events and ceremonies. The San Diego track was led by JNF President Dr. Sol and Lauren Lizerbram, Shari and Frederick Schenk, and Rabbi David and Debbie Kornberg. As Dr. Lizerbram shared, “It’s my absolute pleasure to share the work of JNF with my fellow San Diegans. We are all one nation, and the best reason that those who came before us gave their all, so that we could continue to carry on the work that must be done. To build a nation that will last the ages.” The trip was timed to coincide with Israel’s most significant national commemorative days: Holocaust Remembrance Day, Memorial Day
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L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror, and Independence Day. The continuum of these days was especially powerful for those visiting Israel for the first time. Rick Krosnick, Jewish National Fund-USA’s Chief Development Officer, spoke about the impact of standing side by side with Israeli soldiers on Israeli Memorial Day. “Having served in the U.S. Navy, I can say that military commemoration is very, very different here. When we all stood together for the memorial siren that lasted two minutes, we remember and honor those who have given so much so that we could have a Jewish state.” With Jewish National Fund-USA, this experience of remembrance carries forward into hands-on action, showcasing the many practical ways JNF-USA is still building the nation, including large-scale regional development in the Negev and Galilee, environmental education for Jewish and Druze youth, outfitting local firefighters with new trucks and gear, IDF programs for people with special needs, and so many more. Personal encounters with Israelis, standing in the places that form the Jewish narrative, and putting their hands in the soil are all critical elements of the JNF-USA Israel experience, serving to remind Americans that Israel is their homeland too. With this feeling of personal connection, it is only natural to want to stay invested. Civia Caroline, the co-chair of the Young Professionals trip, literally put her hands in the soil to help solidify this connection with farmers through HaShomer HaChadash, a Jewish National FundUSA partner helping farmers throughout the country. For Caroline, this experience was an opportunity to see firsthand the challenging work that remains to be done here. “It’s a unique connection to the land that turns into a long-term relationship, and people bring that home with them.” It is this uniqueness of a Jewish National Fund-USA mission that empowers people to take what they have learned back home. After a deeply meaningful trip, each participant returned to his or her home community as a dedicated stakeholder in Israel’s past, present, and future. Through Jewish National Fund-USA, they will have a range of opportunities to work toward a flourishing, peaceful, and equitable society in the Jewish homeland. May there be many more milestones to celebrate together!
BY CHANA JENNY WEISBERG l FAMILY
jewish
mom.com Did you hear the one about the Mezuzah?
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Jewish man buys a new home, and he brings in a local designer to decorate it. When the job is finished, the homeowner realizes he’s forgotten to put up mezuzahs. He goes out, buys mezuzas, and asks the decorator, who is not Jewish, to place them on the right-hand side of each door. The owner is worried that the decorator won’t put them up correctly, so when he comes home he’s so pleased to find the mezuzas perfectly affixed by the doors that he gives the decorator a bonus. As the decorator is walking out of the door he tells the owner, “I work in a lot of Jewish houses, I’ve actually become quite an expert at putting up mezuzas. I don’t even need to use the instructions inside the mezuzas at all, I just throw them away!” This joke reminded me of a class I recently attended. The teacher was explaining how each of us has a perfect soul, and any faults we have or things we lack are external. Not related to our perfect essence. Like a crack or a paint smudge on the cover of an impeccably kosher mezuzah.* Toward the end of the class, one of several older single women in attendance raised her hand. And this is what she said, her eyes red with tears: “I hear what you are saying, but it doesn’t apply to me.
“I don’t have a husband. “I don’t have children. “All my relatives and friends feel sorry for me. “My nephew just got married, I am older than his mother! “My niece, his younger sister, just became a mother. Thank G-d I got the flu so I didn’t have to endure the humiliation at the bris! “In what sense, please explain to me, am I whole? Perfect?! “If you would see the pitying looks I get you would understand that I’M NOT!” And with more emotion than I’ve ever seen her say anything, the teacher explained, as I passed around the box of tissues to all the crying older singles (and some of the marrieds) “You DO have a perfect soul. And G-d loves you and has a unique mission for you in life… “And that is true, if you have a husband “”Or don’t have a husband. “If you have children “Or don’t have children!” And, to those of us who are not older singles, I would like to add: You have a perfect soul. And G-d loves you and has a unique mission for you in life… If you have 15 children or 1. If your children are A students or F students.
If you have a good marriage or a majorly challenging one. If your house is pin-neat or hurricane-hit. If you are wealthy or living off food-stamps. If you are the next Julia Child or occasionally burn water. And, of course, it goes without saying: If you are thin, or not. If you are smart, or not. If you are pretty, or not. If you are “successful,” or not. Hashem’s not like that designer from the joke. He knows what’s inside every mezuzah case. And we should too. Within our cracked, paint-smudged cases, a core of perfect holiness. *I heard this concept comparing a person with a mezuzah (and the joke!) from Rabbi Fischel Shachter. CHANA JENNY WEISBERG, THE CREATOR OF JEWISHMOM.COM, IS A STAY-HOME MOTHER OF 8 CHILDREN LIVING IN JERUSALEM WITH HER HUSBAND, RABBI JOSHUA WEISBERG. ORIGINALLY FROM BALTIMORE, CHANA JENNY HAS DEVOTED HER NON-MOM TIME OVER THE PAST DECADE TO PROVIDING INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OTHER JEWISH MOMS THROUGH HER POPULAR BOOKS EXPECTING MIRACLES AND ONE BABY STEP AT A TIME. WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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