L'Chaim Magazine May 2023

bootleggers Ball

BENEFITTING THE HOME OF GUIDING HANDS

P lus: ISRAEL @ 75

Capt. Rabbi Joshua Gerstein, chaplain of the IDF Artillery Corps’ 282

PUBLISHERS

Diane

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

Diane Benaroya: dianeb@lchaimmagazine.com

LISTINGS

prayers & passages Teach Them Diligently

You shall love Adonai your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart. And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall speak of them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise up.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7

In these Torah verses, which immediately follow the words of the Sh’ma prayer, we are exhorted to teach “these words” (the commandment to love God with our entire being) to future generations. But what does it mean to love God, and how can we teach our children to love God? One way is by living lives devoted to Torah (Jewish learning), Avodah (Jewish worship), and G’milut hasadim (acts of lovingkindness).

In synagogues and religious schools, we teach Torah, prayers, and acts of lovingkindness to our students. As our children mature, we hope that they will strengthen their connections to these foundations of Judaism. We pray they will continue to prioritize Jewish learning, rituals, and good deeds in their lives.

While some Jewish youth may unfortunately abandon any connection to Judaism, many find their way back to our

tradition and pass along Jewish teachings to future generations. Some may never stop observing the mitzvot and rituals we hold sacred, seeing them as a foundation that anchors them to the past, present, and future as they navigate life’s challenges.

I have known many teachers who do a truly remarkable job of planting the seeds of Jewish learning in the hearts and souls of their students. They have a deep commitment to teaching and are invested in helping them find their own personal Jewish path. Adults act as guides, but ultimately, our students will choose their own life trajectories. Encouraging them to think for themselves and ask questions about our faith and traditions will hopefully set them up for success in their own Jewish journey. It is our responsibility to prepare them for this journey then watch them fly.

Jewish clergy and teachers bear only part of this Jewish educational responsibility. It is family (parents, grandparents, etc.) who can fulfill the rest of this partnership. How? By living Jewish values such as performing acts of lovingkindness. By celebrating Shabbat and Jewish holidays joyfully with purpose. By discussing the weekly parsha (Torah portion) in terms children can understand and encouraging them to ask questions. By showing children that if we ourselves do not

understand aspects of Jewish tradition, we take the time to learn about them.

Teaching children to live Jewish lives must go beyond dropping them off at Hebrew school. If Jewish learning stops after a child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah, we cannot expect them to figure out on their own how to live Jewishly. This important milestone in a Jewish child’s life should be a starting point for deeper questions, with an awareness that Judaism has a lot more to offer than reciting a few lines of Torah and Haftorah and having a celebratory party.

How our children see their family members and other role models living Jewishly may be a good indicator of how they will choose to live Jewish lives, even as the responsibilities of life pull them in a multitude of directions. Jewish educators, clergy and parents have a wonderful opportunity to collaborate in providing children with positive Jewish experiences while they are in our care. Hopefully, our efforts will provide them cherished memories that will last a lifetime and encourage them to sustain our Jewish heritage.

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

mazel & mishagoss

Gee Mom, You're Not What I Ordered!

Some people believe that before conception, the souls of babies pick out exactly which mother they would like to be born to. There must be some online catalog that God tags them on so they can choose who fits them best. In honor of Mother’s Day, I’d like to share a few highlights of what I envision this website to say:

MAGNIFICENT MOMMY MENU

(New selections added every Sunday!)

Mom #2,035,034 A highly frugal female, but a good cook so you won’t go hungry. After weaning you from the breast at age 4, she’ll whip up culinary masterpieces with just a bottle of hot sauce, cupcake sprinkles, and beef jerky, which she purchases with expired coupons. Quick tempered, this mama won’t put up with unmade beds, smart mouths, or pierced ears. But you’ll never hear, “Because I said so!” when you ask “Why?” Must buy own car and pay for college with this model of mother.

Mom #27,686,235 You’ll have five older siblings and always be considered “the oops” baby. She’s endearingly scatterbrained and short on time so you better have an affinity for cold chicken nuggets, Halloween costumes from recycled sports uniforms, and be able to do your own laundry at age 8. Uh, make that 6! She’ll beg you to arrange a carpool to and from Hebrew school. (Uses the

term “carpool” loosely since she’ll always forget her day to drive.) Bonus: Your eldest brother is totally cool and makes the high school swim team which means you’ll have a pool in your backyard!

Mom #318,206 This one has a live-in nanny all interviewed so she can return to her high-powered legal career after six weeks. But be a real charmer and she’ll feel sufficiently guilty — then you’ll have snagged yourself a super smart, stay-at-home mommy who will insist you cite statutes and precedents when you ask for cookies and milk. Full Disclosure: She will regularly remind you what she gave up in order to raise you. Single, but actively looking for a hubby, so you’d better like adventure.

Mom #18,633 Control freaks unite! You’ll be a homebirth, your umbilical cord blood will be banked, she’ll grind her own baby food, use cloth diapers, and color code the Legos. Nobody touches you without wearing full scrubs, a mask, and proof of vaccinations. (And that’s at your Bar Mitzvah!) Your house will be spotless and she might even sterilize your private parts before you masturbate. However, when you’re 17, she’ll have a nervous breakdown and repetitively utter the mantra, “Always secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others!” She’ll also write a book titled, “Does This Straight Jacket Make Me Look Fat?” This model of moth-

er makes the ideal scapegoat when you’re in therapy for the rest of your life.

Mom #613 New & Improved Deluxe Jewish Mamala. She’s even written her own catalogue description! “Nu? Why doesn’t anybody pick me? I’m sitting here barren, no shayna punim to kvell about, no pulkas to nibble on, empty crib in the middle of the room that I just tripped over, spraining my ankle. But you shouldn’t feel guilty. Come! You’ll sit, you’ll fress, you’ll become a doctor or a dentist when you’re grown and build me a mother’s suite in your new home. What’s not to like??

Mommy #1 “The Perfect Mother.” Sorry, this style currently out of stock. Actually, Perfect Mothers sat gathering dust in the warehouse for thousands of years so they were returned to the factory. No baby ever requests a perfect mother. Children are the best teachers and just want a mommy with open arms, heart, mind, and soul. And a ton of LOVE to give, in return for all they’ll receive. Happy Mother’s Day!

STEPHANIE D. LEWIS WILL INJECT HUMOR INTO ANYTHING YOU HIRE HER TO WRITE. EMAIL HER AT THEQUOTEGAL@YAHOO.COM.

THE IMMENSITY OF MILITARY SERVICE FOR THE JEWISH STATE

Capt. Rabbi Joshua Gerstein, chaplain of the Israel Defense Forces Artillery Corps 282 Fire Brigade, is a man on a mission — both spiritual and national. It’s one to which he has dedicated his life.

Having immigrated to Israel from the United States to fulfill his Zionist dream, he went on to become the fourth generation in his family to serve in the military, as well as the second member of his family to serve in an artillery unit.

“It’s really coming full circle — my grandfather, Charlie Fletcher, served in artillery in World War II,” said Gerstein. “He was in the 102nd Infantry Division, in the Artillery Headquarters. He was in Europe for 173 days of combat. His unit went over in September of 1944 to the end of the war, they went over from France all the way to the Elz River in Germany. He wrote 600 letters home,” said Gerstein. Gerstein’s family recently published the letters in a book titled, Love and Kisses, Charlie: World War 2 Letters from a Jewish American serviceman.

One of the letters recounts a meeting with Polish Jewish survivors in a small German town on May 16, 1945, said Gerstein.

“He writes that he doesn’t know what will be with them, that the Poles hate them, the Germans hate them, that they all speak Yiddish just like we do back at home, and have cousins in New York. And he writes that he now understands why Palestine was such a grand place for the Jews.”

His grandfather’s letters formed a core aspect of his family’s worldview, said Gerstein. Conveying something of this worldview to IDF soldiers is something he views as one of his core responsibilities, he added. To encourage them to “look at their service as one of the most incredible things that we’ve been able to do in the last 2,000 years, and see the meaning in what they’re doing,” he said. “It transforms them not only as a person, but as a soldier.”

But being a chaplain brigade rabbi is also about the day-to-day, said Gerstein, who likened it to being a “community rabbi, on steroids.”

“I’m responsible for more than a thousand soldiers in their day-today. Whether it’s their personal spiritual needs, organizing lectures and classes, making sure kitchens are kosher according to army

regulations, accompanying converts — Israeli citizens who want to go through the army conversion process—or studying with the soldiers one on one,” he said.

The brigade incorporates both male and female soldiers, as well as Druze and Christians. It isn’t only the Jewish soldiers that look to Gerstein to gain spiritual and historical perspectives, he said, explaining that tailors his message to the variety of backgrounds that he encounters.

“When you’re connected and you know your past, you’re able to continue into the future,” said Gerstein. “Every person is able to connect in their own way. There’s no religious coercion in the IDF. The rabbinate is there for everybody. For people who are religious, I talk about religious concepts. For the non-religious, I talk to them about non-religious concepts. Wherever you fall in the religious spectrum, the Tanach, the bible — this is the history. This is where it happened. As the saying goes, we’re the next chapter in the Tanach.”

Gertein’s journey to Israel was a progression, he said.

“It was definitely a gradual progression. My religiously conservative family is highly Zionist,” he said, adding that his grandfather’s letters formed a core aspect of his family’s worldview. As Gerstein grew older, he found that the ultra-Orthodox American lifestyle, which his family had moved towards, certainly viewed Israel as of great importance, but did not place a major focus on moving to it.

He first arrived in Israel in 2007, from Lancashire, Pennsylvania, to study at a yeshiva. But his routine was rattled by the deadly terrorist attack on Jerusalem’s Merkaz Harav yeshiva in 2008.

“I felt like the yeshiva I was in didn’t really talk about that much at all, and I felt like I was living in an American bubble. I felt a dissonance. I’m living here for the year, I want to feel connected and like I belong to this place. From there I went over to an Israeli yeshiva, where there was more of a cultural Israeli-ness, while still being ultraOrthodox,” he recalled.

“In 2010 I got married, and I told my wife that I wanted to at least start our marriage living here in Israel. She’s also American — from Baltimore, Maryland — and she was also on board to start our life here,” he said.

He completed a BA in psychology in Touro College in Jerusalem, and in 2014, made the decision with his wife to live full-time in Israel.

“I told my wife that if we’re going to live here, and have a family here, and I believe in the State of Israel, and in the army and the importance of it, I need to put my money where my mouth is and also do it. To take that belief and fully immerse myself in all that I believe to be Israeli. I think service in the IDF is one of the baselines, so to speak, of being part of Israeli society. And to become part of protecting the land and the people of Israel,” he continued.

So in 2015, at the age of 26, he enlisted in the IDF. A month after his son was born, and with a BA under his belt, Gerstein found himself in basic training.

In Israel, soldiers typically begin their service at age 18, and this too, he said, gave him a unique vantage point.

“During my entire service in the army, from then to now, being older than almost everyone in my peer group, and all the officers in my unit, has given me a totally different perspective on service in the IDF,” he reflected.

It’s a perspective he does his best to share with the IDF’s soldiers.

“I always tell the soldiers I meet that if you went to a Jew, no matter where he lived in the world, 80 years ago, and told them ‘it’s such a pain, I have to get up in the morning, put on my helmet and vest, and go protect the Jewish people,’ he’d look at you like you’re crazy,” said Gerstein. “We take it for granted, and it’s a shame. My 18-year-old commander doesn’t understand the amazing things that he’s doing.”

After his discharge in 2017, Gerstein was left with a lingering feeling that his mandatory service wasn’t sufficient.

“I didn’t necessarily give all that I could give. In 2017, during reserve duty, I was offered an officer’s course, to become an IDF chaplain in

the reserves. So I thought I could at least in my reserve duty continue doing something that was more meaningful and impactful,” said Gerstein.

“In 2020, I had the opportunity to return to the military, to serve as the chaplain of the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, which is also an ultraOrthodox combat battalion. I jumped at the opportunity. Because of the religious nature of the battalion, I felt I would be able to help the soldiers there,” he said. “And also, it allowed me to come back to serve the country and army. After two and a half years there, I’m now in my current position as chaplain of the Fire Brigade 282.”

Now, he can’t help but notice the completion of a historical circle, with 80 years separating his grandfather’s service in an artillery unit from his own.

“My grandfather was at the Gardelegen massacre [in northern Germany] — they found 1,000 people who were burned in the barn. His commander ordered the soldiers to take them out and bury them. We have his original photos from the site, the aftermath,” said Gerstein.

The IDF Rabbinate, too, must remain prepared for wartime responsibilities such as burials and dealing with fallen soldiers.

“In his letters, he tried to keep an upbeat persona … but after the war he certainly talked about visiting the Jews,” said Gerstein. Indeed, uplifting the soldiers’ spirits, he said, is his “biggest job.”

“My own personal experience is that run-of-the-mill soldiers don’t realize the immensity of what they’re doing on a day-to-day basis,” said Gerstein. “If a soldier gets up in the morning and knows why he or she is doing what they’re doing, they become better soldiers,” he added.

U.S. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (left) lights a Hanukkah menorah, together with IDF chaplain Cpt. Rabbi Joshua Gerstein (center) and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi at IDF military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Dec. 17, 2020. PHOTO COURTESY: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S OFFICE.

HOME OF GUIDING HANDS

SUPPORTING SAN DIEGANS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Home of Guiding Hands is a local organization that provides direct services and support to more than 4,000 individuals diagnosed with an intellectual disability such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or autism within San Diego and Imperial Counties. The inception of Home of Guiding Hands traces back to the early 1960s when family members banded together to strategize on how to fill an unmet need for their loved ones with developmental disabilities. This group of dedicated parents lobbied the legislature to ensure that core services would be provided for their family members, and they succeeded.

The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, known as the “Lanterman Act,” was passed in 1969. This California law states that people with developmental disabilities and their families have a right to get the services and support they need to live like people without disabilities. This right is known as an entitlement. In preparing for the passage of the Lanterman Act, families across the state began designing community-based programs for their loved ones.

On August 4, 1967, an impressive 14-acre, state-of-the-art campus in Lakeside opened its doors. From that single campus, Home of Guiding Hands has evolved into a provider of a full spectrum of services. Home of Guiding Hands is one of the largest employers in east county, with over 800 employees and an annual payroll exceeding 18 million dollars — an impressive record for a homegrown non-profit. In addition, Home of Guiding Hands now owns and operates 30 community-based specialized group homes. In the group homes, clients receive 24hour care from trained, licensed, direct support professionals.

Of the 30 group homes Home of Guiding Hands owns and operates, three are designated children’s homes. Because all children learn at different rates, it may be hard to determine if a child has a developmental delay. Developmental delays are possible when a child continually shows skills behind the skills expected for that child’s age range. Some of these delays are short-term; however, any delay can be a sign of intellectual disability. Home of Guiding Hands specializes in home visitation services through its early intervention programming. Training and licensed therapists provide early intervention services such as speech and language therapy, behavioral therapy, and cognitive support services in the home setting. When a child’s intellectual disability advances to the stage of needing 24-hour care, the

child can access placement at one of Home of Guiding Hands’ specialized group homes.

Home of Guiding Hands also provides respite care, door-todoor transportation services, and tailored day services that the client and their families designed to help meet their specific individual needs. Home of Guiding Hands fully embraces the philosophy of the whole person and the unique characteristics and individual skills they embody. They believe that all individuals should have access to programs that will enable them to achieve optimal success.

STAUNCH SUPPORTERS

Yvonne and Jeffrey Bloom are both San Diego natives, born and raised in San Diego. They met in 1973, when they were teenagers, at a mutual friend’s house. Yvonne was 17- years old, and Jeffrey was 19 years old. They began dating and have been together ever since. Today, Jeffrey and Yvonne are the proud parents of four children and nine grandchildren. Yvonne and Jeffrey Bloom have owned and operated Fischer Auction for over 30 years. Jeffrey was once an employee of the famous auction house (now located in Santee) until he had the opportunity to buy the now 70-year-old business, which is considered an east county icon. Mr. Bloom has been a licensed auctioneer since 1975 and has conducted auctions in San Diego for over 45 years. His industry

Home of Guiding Hands believes that all individuals should have access to programs that will enable them to achieve optimal success.

experience is unparalleled, and his reputation for work ethic and professional integrity is second to none. Both Yvonne and Jeffrey were raised to help others.

“It’s been an honor to be able to support Home of Guiding Hands and the residents through the years and to be able to watch Home of Guiding Hands expand their services to all in need,” Yvonne said.

Their business successes have allowed the Bloom family to continue a legacy of philanthropy, where their giving spirit has become intergenerational. Their children and grandchildren support many causes in our beloved community. One of their favorites is Home of Guiding Hands.

Ralleen Ratzlaff, also a San Diego native, has known Yvonne since the two were in seventh grade together at Lewis Junior High.

Both women now serve on the Gala committee for Home of Guiding Hands. They began their service to the special needs populations, and the organization over twenty years ago. When they were teenagers, they went to school with a sibling of a special needs student whose name was Terri Carne. (Terri’s parents, Bob and Dottie Carne were also featured in L’Chaim Magazine in 2021 for their substantial contributions to the special needs community.) Terri was born with cerebral palsy. Because the world is a small place, Ratzlaff and Yvonne are still in touch with the Carne family, and the children and grandchildren of the three families recently attended a Padres baseball game together,

facilitated by Home of Guiding Hands. The Blooms, the Ratzlaffs, and the Carnes have been supporters of Home of Guiding Hands over the years.

This year, Home of Guiding Hands will host its 49th annual Gala at the US Grant. Dubbed the “Bootleggers Ball,” the event will feature lie entertainment, food and cocktails, and a costume contest; with prizes awarded to the best individual and couples costumes.

Ratzlaff is the 2023 Gala Chair, and the Bloom family will be honored at the event.

“No one is more deserving of being named Honoree for 2023,” says Edward Hershey, the President of Home of Guiding Hands. “The Blooms have been such stalwart supporters of Home of Guiding Hands that we have named one of our residential group homes after the family.”

IF YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE WHO IS IN NEED OF CARE, PLEASE CALL HOME OF GUIDING HANDS AT 619-938-2850 OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.GUIDINGHANDS.ORG. TO PURCHASE TICKETS TO THE BOOTLEGGERS BALL ON JUNE 10, VISIT WWW.HGHGALA.ORG

Ralleen Ratzlaff and Yvonne Bloom. PHOTO BY ESTEBAN VILLANUEVA

THE KINDNESS INITIATIVE IS KINDNESS DONE RIGHT

BY SHARON RAPOPORT

All Jews are wealthy, right? So goes the stereotype even we — San Diego Jews, love to believe. In 2019, a study commissioned by a local group of philanthropists and Jewish organizations disproved the notion. The findings were surprising: over 20 percent of Jewish households in San Diego County live in poverty or on the edge of poverty. This translates as 9,000 individuals that live in poverty as technically defined, and thousands more who are this close. An unexpected medical issue, a broken car, or a shortened shift is all it takes to tip the scales for many.

These statistics were the seed for what is now the Kindness Initiative (KI), a non-profit dedicated to aiding Jewish individuals in San Diego in need, filling the gaps in services offered by other local organizations, and often creating a bridge between them. Based on the Talmudic principle of Jews’ responsibility toward each other, KI created a unique program. Its priority is to help beneficiaries access critical basic needs. If the case allows, they can work on a personalized plan toward self-sustainability. Though services are free, beneficiaries are called “members” by the organization’s staff and volunteers, proving how far the organization will go to preserve a beneficiary’s dignity.

CONCIERGE CASE MANAGEMENT

Shira (not her real name), a single mother of two facing eviction in 2022, reached out to Kindness in desperation.

“Kindness helped me cover immediate needs, providing an emergency stipend and connecting me with other resources,” she said. “Later, I sat down with a volunteer ‘angel.’ We set an action plan, which she’s helping me follow. It may sound corny, but she is an angel,

indeed. My life is now moving in the right direction.”

Shira describes Kindness’ Concierge Case Management service, a key element in KI’s program. A group of experts assesses the situation of members. They identify the areas which are rendering the member vulnerable. They direct them toward food security, shelter, health, and safety resources. Other challenges are met with different solutions. Crippling debt may be addressed by an interest-free loan from Hebrew Free Loan, joblessness with the help of a volunteer career coach, and so on.

WAYS TO HELP … AND RECEIVE AID

Kindness Initiative runs on a very lean model with minimal operational costs. The bulk of its resources goes directly to local Jews in need. There are many giving opportunities, from cash donations to legacy gifts and endowments. In-kind contributions are channeled through San Diego Jewish Closet -Gemach, which KI now operates. Volunteers are vital to the non-profit’s success. The organization provides its members with various free services and seeks to expand its offer with the community’s help. Contact Kindness if you have a particular skill or service to donate. You can volunteer as many hours or services as you wish. Currently, KI offers medical, pharmaceutical, dental, transportation, substance abuse, and domestic violence counseling resources.

FOR HELP, DONATIONS, AND VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES, VISIT WWW.KINDNESSSD.ORG OR EMAIL INFO@KINDNESSSD. ORG. KINDNESS INITIATIVE’S SERVICES ARE FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL.

COLD CUCUMBER SOUP WITH YOGURT AND DILL

BY TAMAR ROTHERNBERG, MS,

Shavuot is usually commemorated with dairy meals. Try this wonderful rendition of a refreshing cold soup that is also good for your gut health.

COLD CUCUMBER SOUP WITH YOGURT AND DILL

Total Time: 15 mins

Serves 2-4

Ingredients

2 seedless cucumbers, chopped

3 Tbs lemon, juiced

1 small shallot

1 clove garlic, chopped

1/3 cups fresh dill

1/4 cups fresh parsley

2 Tbs olive oil

1/4 cups radish, chopped finely

1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt

Directions

1. In a blender, combine chopped cucumber with yogurt, lemon juice, shallot, garlic, dill, parsley, and olive oil. Blend until smooth

2. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

3. Refrigerate until cool.

Just before serving, season the soup again. Pour soup into bowls and garnish with finely diced cucumber, red onion, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Tamar Rothenberg, MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian who specializes in recovery after breast cancer in her private practice in Los Angeles. She has a Certificate of Training in Vegetarian Nutrition; and co-led the clinical study, Coping with Cancer in the Kitchen, published in Nutrients. Tamar lends her expertise to Sharsheret Thrivers through nutrition coaching. Check out Tamar’s other recipes in her book, Cancer Diet for the Newly Diagnosed: An Integrative Guide and Cookbook for Treatment and Recovery.  Visit Tamar’s website at www.tamarrothenbergrd.com for more information.

This recipe was submitted by the non-profit organization, Sharsheret, 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 information, visit sharsheret.org or call (866) 474-2774.

RDN

This refreshing cold soup is also good for your gut health .

THE HIDDEN JEWS OF ETHIOPIA

BY JANA MAZURKIEWICZ

Perhaps you remember the story of the Falasha, now known to be a pejorative term from the 1970s. They were the Ethiopian Jews rescued from life-threatening danger, and after trekking from Ethiopia through Sudan, were airlifted to Israel. We have just learned about another group of Jews in Ethiopia who, up to now, have been forgotten. They are called the Beta Israel and are in hiding. They are in grave danger of being killed because they are Jewish. The Beta Israel community desperately wants to be rescued.

A local to San Diego non-profit organization, the Yiddish Arts and Academics Association of North America, and its cultural center based in La Jolla called Yiddishland California, hosted a program titled “The Hidden Jews of Ethiopia” with Israeli anthropologist Malka Shabtay and the president of the Beta Israel community, Belayneh Tazebku. The dynamic Dr. Shabtay is also a talented filmmaker. Together with softly spoken Belayneh, they presented the movie “Nafkot, Yearning” and shared the book, “The Hidden Jews of Ethiopia.” The evening entailed not only a screening of an extremely informative documentary movie and discussion, but also an authentic Ethiopian dinner during the intermediate days of Passover. SAJAC cosponsored the program.

“After 5 years of intensive work in Ethiopia and Israel with and for the Beta Israel community in Kechene and North Shewa, we decided

to come to the USA to share the story and call for support for the great challenges of this special community,” said Dr. Shabtay.

In the Beta Israel community, there are 15 secret synagogues where they continue to practice their ancient Jewish traditions such as the red cow ceremony, menstruation huts, and strict Shabbat observance. Core community practices also include the laws of ritual purification, seclusion of a mother and her baby immediately after birth, holiday observances, the traditional rituals for the dead and mourning, and the laws of kashrut. Forgiveness and repentance are a part of their daily life. This community never ceases to show love, respect, and longing for Zion. Their unique practices and traditions are preserved in oral poems, prayers, and in the names of ritual objects and of rituals. In sharing their story, we learn that they are accused of eating humans. When an Ethiopian non-Jewish child is sick or dies, it is claimed that it is because of the evil eye the Jews impose ¾ another reason for discrimination. From a young man, “one day they came to my aunt’s home, knocked on her door, and shot her. We are helpless for we have no one to complain to; our only choice is to hide.” A bride and groom were killed on their wedding day to prevent Jewish reproduction. The civil war in Ethiopia adds to the danger to both the community and its cultural and religious heritage as the Beta Israel are caught in the crossfire.

The younger generation is no longer hiding and silent. They urge the community to remember what was promised to them by their forefathers for generation after generation: that the day will come when they will return to the place from which they were exiled ¾ to Jerusalem.

This is an extraordinary story of a hidden Jewish community who still survives in the 21st century, a community who still lives in constant danger but is now ready to share its story with the rest of the world. It is our duty to listen and rescue them.

They hosted 11 events across the United States, including Miami, Washington DC, New York, LA, Portland, San Diego, Boston, and New Hampshire. Most of the events are in collaboration with Jewish communities, while three events took place at universities.

In addition to screening the film and presenting the book, Dr. Shabtay and Belayneh are striving to strengthen Jewish connections between the Jews in Ethiopia and American Jews. “We ask for the support of Jewish individuals, organizations, and synagogues for the recognition we are struggling for in Israel and with the Jewish world,” Dr. Shabtay said. They also ask for donations so they can continue

to develop the cemetery, build a synagogue and JCC, and support the elderly and orphans in the secret synagogues. "We wish to sell the film to TV channels or institutes so we can use the money to address the community’s significant challenges," Dr. Shatbay said. The donations are tax deductible thanks to the fiscal sponsorship program they established in the US.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT DR. MALKA SHABTAY, AN APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGIST AND FILMMAKER, AT NAFKOT2021@ GMAIL.COM OR +972528450377.

"We ask for the support of Jewish individuals, organizations, and synagogues for the recognition we are struggling for in Israel and with the Jewish world," Dr. Shabtay said.

Dr. Erela Katz, a Trailblazer in the Field of Dentistry

BY SHARON RAPOPORT

On a rainy afternoon in March, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Erela Katz Rappaport, head of Complete Health Dentistry SoCal in Poway. We discovered interesting facts about dentistry, Dr. Katz’s approach, and her need to honor her Holocaust survivor parents.

Professionally Dr. Erela Katz’s goal is to transform her patients’ approach to dental care. Every procedure, from a dental cleaning to restorations, allows Dr. Katz to renew her patients’ confidence and improve their general health.

“Many people think of oral health as separate from overall health,” says Dr. Katz. “We should understand the mouth is the entrance to our body; thus, many medical issues start at the mouth.”

Tooth decay and gum disease, when left untreated, can lead to severe problems, including brain or heart infections, she explains.

Dr. Katz has extensive training in Dental Sleep Medicine. This means she can diagnose sleep apnea and offers tailored treatments to resolve sleep-disordered breathing. The innovative technique also works for snoring, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and associated TMJ symptoms such as chronic migraines. The treatment is effective, minimally invasive, and affordable.

Dr. Katz’s strong work ethic can be traced back to her roots. A daughter of Holocaust survivors, Erela grew up in awe of her father’s heroism. “Not only did he survive the ghetto in Poland, the transportation to the camps) Auschwitz and the Death March,” she marvels. Michael Katz “joined the Palmach in Israel and participated in the War of Independence and the Sinai Campaign. He is considered a war hero.”

Dr. Katz shared a story his dad used to tell about a visit from Golda

Meir to his Palmach unit. According to Dr. Katz, the team was stationed near a bridge that connected to Jordan, where Meir was to meet King Hussein. Meir disguised herself as a man to avoid being detected while crossing. She was back after a couple of hours; the negotiations had failed. “Boys, you must blow up the bridge,” Meir ordered. At night, after a failed attempt to destroy the structure, the unit’s expert in explosives asked for help. Michael Katz volunteered, and both men crawled on their stomachs toward peril. Soon, enemy bullets started buzzing over them. Still, he accomplished his mission.

Later, the family moved to the US, where Michael owned a gas station. Here, Erela witnessed his strong work ethic and fair treatment of employees and customers. Dr. Katz has carried on these lessons to her dental practice. She makes a point of giving back to the community. She and her staff have “adopted” families during Christmas, ensuring they could have food on the table and gifts for the children. She has helped and empowered many women to get training and resume their dental practice.

DR. ERELA KATZ RAPPAPORT IS A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION, THE CALIFORNIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION, AND THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY DENTAL SOCIETY, TO NAME A FEW. SHE IS ALSO A DIPLOMATE OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF DENTAL SLEEP MEDICINE AND A QUALIFIED DENTIST WITH THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF DENTAL SLEEP MEDICINE. HER OFFICE IS LOCATED AT COMPLETE HEALTH DENTISTRY SOCAL, 15706 POMERADO ROAD SUITE 205 POWAY, CA, 92064. CONTACT HER AT (858) 674-5954.

La Jolla & Encinitas locations Open from 7:30am - 3pm everyday La Jolla (858) 454-8409 cottagelajolla.com

Encinitas (760) 854-4212 cottageencinitas.com

SUNSET Soiree

MAY 25, 2023 | 6:00 PM

An evening with Executive Chef Jeffrey Strauss

Tickets: www.waldenfamily.org 619-584-5777

"Many people think of oral health as separate from overall health," says Dr. Katz. "We should understand the mouth is the entrance to our body: thus, many medical issues start at the mouth.”

Israel @ 75

A Jerusalem exhibit sees the state's first 12 heads of government through the prism of pointillism

BY JUDY LASH BALINT | JNS.ORG

side of business. I designed furniture and jeans and I’m an adventurer,” Zaidel said.

Zaidel came across Rain’s work when his stepdaughter who worked for a Johannesburg art dealer took him to see his portrait of the Lubavitcher rebbe commissioned by Chabad of Johannesburg.

THE FULL PICTURE

“My objective was to create something of value that was unique and transportable, in the international language of art,” explains Zaidel. “As a Zionist, I wanted to take a period of Israel’s history, to focus on Israel’s first 12 prime ministers up to the end of 2020. The art form itself was appealing to me—you can look at the picture many ways and if you look at it the right way, you see the full picture.”

“For me, this collection represents the past, present and future of this great nation,” he said.

Zaidel hopes to take the exhibit to other countries and eventually donate it to one of Israel’s national arts institutions.

The celebration of Israel Independence Day is not generally associated with art appreciation. Most Israelis mark the day with barbecues, watching fireworks and the traditional air force flyby, and enjoying concerts in the park.

On this 75th anniversary of Israel’s independence, however, an idealistic new immigrant from South Africa is presenting Israelis with a new way of celebrating, viewing the global premiere of an exhibit of his private collection of pointillism art that portrays Israel’s first 12 prime ministers in a unique and thought-provoking way.

The collection, titled “Prime Ministers in Perspective,” is an international collaboration by Myron Zaidel, a businessman and art collector from Johannesburg now living in Netanya; South African Gavin Rain, one of the world’s leading pointillism artists; and Ram Ozeri, founder of the Jerusalem Biennale contemporary art event.

The portraits of the prime ministers are composed of multi-layered and multi-colored concentric circles on white canvas, so they can only be appreciated when the viewer steps back. “Art is about creating a visual narrative,” notes Rain. “It is a metaphor for life—we should all step back to see the bigger picture.”

Zaidel said he got the idea to commission Rain to produce the portraits while he was still living in Johannesburg. He asked himself what he could do for the Jewish state. “I was always on the creative

The project took a year to complete, as Rain and Zaidel worked together to research the 12 prime ministers. In addition to the art on the walls, they produced a 50-page coffee-table book, with text in English, Hebrew and French, to accompany the exhibition and make the collection more accessible.

Pointillism art was invented by post-impressionist French artists Georges Seurat and Paul Signac in the late 1880s. They reinvented the use of painting with small dabs of paint to the point where they produced an entire painting out of tiny dots of pure color. It required a much more scientific approach that’s clear in Rain’s portraits of the prime ministers.

“Most of my art is in the preparation. The decisions I make before I even go near a paintbrush,” noted Rain.

Zaidel emphasizes that the exhibit is non-political: “I chose all 12 of the prime ministers, not just three or four.”

Facebook took a different view, notes Ozeri. “They blocked our sponsored post for the exhibit on the grounds that it’s political!”

In the current contentious climate, Ozeri said we need to “see leaders with different identities today more than ever.”

He tells visitors that his favorite part of the exhibit is that each of the prime ministers has a “sneaky smile” on his or her face. “It’s as if they’re hinting something to each other,” he said. “My take is that bottom line, no matter the tension, in the end, it’s going to be fine.”

How Heymish! Lost in Yonkers Now at Scripps Ranch Theater

BY JANA MAZURKIEWICZ

The Jewish community of San Diego is excited to see Lost in Yonkers, a Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play written by renown American playwright Neil Simon, at Scripps Ranch Theatre on the campus of Alliant International University. It previews on Friday, May 19, opens Saturday, May 20 and runs through June 11; Fridays and Saturday shows 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.. The cast includes some actors very familiar to San Diego theater fans, SRT Artistic Director Jill Drexler as Grandma Kurnitz, Katee Drysdale as Bella, Kenny Bordieri as Eddie, Eddy Lukovic as Louie, Melanie Mino as Gert, J.P. Wishchuk as Arty and Giovanny Diaz de Leon as Jay.

Neil Simon was raised in a Jewish family and drew on his own experiences growing up in New York City to create many of his plays. t is one of them. It is set in 1942 in Yonkers, New York, which was a predominantly Jewish community at the time. The play explores the experiences and struggles of Jewish immigrants and their children in

America during this period, as is a coming-of-age story. The plot follows the story of two teenage brothers, Jay and Arty, who, after the death of their mother, are left to live with strict and stern grandma Kurnitz and her developmentally disabled daughter Bella.

The boys’ father, Eddie, is a traveling salesman, who is forced to leave his sons for 10 months, trying to save the family’s failing finances. The audience is invited to explore the world of their complex family dynamics.

“Real, honest and bursting with humor, it’s easy to see why Neil Simon has been called ‘the Shakespeare of his time,’” Director Jacquelyn Ritz, a multi-talented San Diego actor, director and educator, shared.

Overall, with its well-crafted story and engaging characters, Lost in Yonkers promises to be a thought-provoking and entertaining experience that will stay with audiences long after the final curtain call.

PHOTO BY KEN JACQUES