r e m m u S
A GROWN UP TASTE OF CAMP
FEATURE STORY
Gypsy: A Musical Fable at Cygnet Theatre
JUNE/JULY 2016
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June/July 2016 • www.lchaimmagazine.com
L’Chaim 10 A Thousand Words Gypsy: The Mother of All Musicals at Cygnet Theatre
COVER 14 Adult Tested and Approved A Grown-up Taste of Jewish Summer Camp STORY Food 22 Eggscellent
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New York Steak With Béarnaise Sauce | Roast Asparagus | Brown And White Beech Mushrooms
Features 18 Deborah Szekely and Vivian Blackstone: Two Remarkable Women
24 A Visionary Leader
Rabbi Philip Graubart’s Legacy
26 Telling Israel’s Story
Filmmaker Eyal Resh Embraces the Challenge
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30 France vs. Egypt
A Matchup of Israeli-Palestinian Peace Summitst
36 Book Review: Kafka’s Son
Columns
6 My Comic Relief 8 Of the Book 37 Mazel & Mishagoss
PUBLISHERS Diane Benaroya & Laurie Miller EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alanna Maya CREATIVE DIRECTOR Laurie Miller
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CONTRIBUTORS
Daniel Bortz, Stephanie Lewis, Mimi Pollack, Copyright ©2016 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, Salomon Maya, Sharon Rapoport, Nikki including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior Salvo, Eva Trieger, Deborah Vietor
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RANDOM RANTS l BY SALOMON MAYA “The 6th Annual San Diego Oysterfest brings amazing live music performances to San Diego, and cause this writer to examine what it means to be kosher or not..”
my
comic relief Oy(vey)ster Fest
F
ull transparency time: I am not kosher. Actually I am the furthest away from being kosher as you can possibly be. If kosher were the sun … I’d be Pluto. Even though I grew up in a traditional Jewish home and attended an orthodox Sephardic synagogue, I knew I could not abide by Jewish kashrut laws … I had tasted the devil’s flesh … and it was called bacon (feel free to again email all complaints to my editor at editor@lchaimmagazine.com). According to sealk.org; kosher is defined as an “observance of historical, communal, and a personal commitment, and a connection to the will of the Creator. To those who observe kosher, its concepts also offer reminders of lessons in kindness and sensitivity to animals, attention to detail in everyday matters, self-control, and thinking before acting.” Eeesh, after reading that, I feel very, very small. I’ve asked myself many times, why do we as Jews have so many rules? Especially gastronomically speaking. Don’t eat this and don’t eat that. I’m sorry Rabbi but back in the day of Moses and Abraham, pork belly dishes did not exist and if it did I’m pretty sure some of our founding fathers might have snuck away to some cave to munch on some pork rinds. Look, religion is beautiful, follow it as
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you see fit. Just leave me and my shellfish alone. Lobster is not just wonderful, but when cooked right harnesses all the wondrous tastes of the ocean. Jews live lives dictated by books thousands of years old, and I applaud that. It’s amazing we’ve stuck around, with all our persecution, and still find a way to stay the path to our core beliefs. Yet, could some of the reasons behind kashrut possibly be out of date? How far up or down you are on the religious scale I guess is where that answers lies. I personally am down with the muck dwellers, feasting on shrimp and pancetta. On June 17 and 18, San Diego will celebrate the pearl of the ocean: the Oyster. The 6th Annual San Diego Oysterfest brings amazing live music performances to the beautiful bayside setting of Marina Embarcadero North. This year’s headliner is Thievery Corporation and will also showcase performances by Little Hurricane, The Young Wild, Birdy Bardot, Through the Roots, Rebecca Jade and the Cold Fact. DJ appearances by Mikey Beats, Artistic, Who and Paulo da Rosa, Fishfonics and Eddie Cutless will round out the event. At Oysterfest, people will be able to choose from a great selection of food from prominent San Diego restaurants as well as fresh succulent oysters from all along the
western seaboard. Beverages will range from crafted beers and cocktails to wines and champagne. San Diego is turning into a land of festivals, from huge ones like Kaboo to small unique ones like a yearly paella festival, all with great food and drink to be had. Look, I honor my religion. I love bringing my child up in a cultural Jewish home. We will light the candles at Chanukah and fast on Yom Kippur. We will sometimes go to Shabbat and always have dinner as a family on Friday nights. That is the foundation I grew up with, and am proud to now share it with my wife and son. With all that said, I know some out there will look down as I order a cheeseburger or shuck an Oyster in the Embarcadero. But this is my choice. And I’m fine with it. And if you’re not, that’s okay too. In the end, we all are just animals in this world, looking for something else to wrap in bacon … I think Confucius said something similar. SALOMON MAYA IS A LOCAL ACTOR AND PLAYWRIGHT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @SALOMAYA OR EMAIL HIM AT SALOMONM@ LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM.
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TORAH l BY RABBI DANIEL BORTZ
of the
“… this summer, may we appreciate all of the nature we see, every creature we come in contact with, and elevate our surroundings through conscious appreciation of the Divine …”
book Summer
{Translated from Likkutei Dibburim in Yiddish, a diary of thoughts from Yosef Yitzchak, 6th Rebbe of Lubavitch}
I
t was the summer of 1896, and father and myself were strolling in the fields of Balivka. The grain was near to ripening, and the wheat and grass swayed gently in the breeze. Said father to me: “See Godliness! Every movement of each stalk and grass was included in God’s Primordial Thought of Creation, in His all-embracing vision of history, and is guided by Divine providence toward a Divine purpose.” Walking, we entered the forest. Engrossed in what I had heard, excited by the gentleness and seriousness of father’s words, I absentmindedly tore a leaf off a passing tree. Holding it a while in my hands, I continued my thoughtful pacing, occasionally tearing small pieces of the leaf and casting them to the winds. “The Holy Arizal,” said father to me, “says that not only is every leaf on a tree a creation invested with Divine life, created for a specific purpose with an intent, but also that within each and every leaf there is a spark of a soul that has descended to earth
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to find its correction and fulfillment. “The Talmud,” father continued, “rules that ‘one is always responsible for his actions, whether awake or asleep.’ The difference between wakefulness and sleep is in the inner faculties, one’s intellect and emotions. The external faculties function equally well in sleep, only the inner faculties are confused. So dreams present us with contradictory truths. A waking person sees the real world, a sleeping one does not. This is the deeper significance of wakefulness and sleep: when one is awake one sees Divinity; when asleep, one does not. “Nevertheless, our sages maintain that one is always responsible for his actions, whether awake or asleep. Only this moment we have spoken of Divine providence, and, unthinkingly, you tore off a leaf, played with it in your hands, twisting, squashing and tearing it to pieces, throwing it in all directions. “How can one be so callous towards a creation of God? This leaf was created by the Almighty towards a specific purpose and is imbued with a Divine life-force. It has a body and it has its life. In what way is the ‘I’ of this leaf inferior to yours?”
Everything in this universe has a special purpose, and is therefore very valuable. If this is true of a leaf, how much more so the person standing next to us! ‘[Ben Azzai] would say: Do not scorn any man, and do not discount any thing. For there is no man who has not his hour, and no thing that has not its place.’ {Ethics of our Fathers, 4:3} Even if we can’t see the real meaning and value behind things, we must try and attune our awareness to find this Divine purpose in all things. This is the function of the daily prayers - including blessings on food and other activities - to remind us to be conscious and aware of everything’s inner value, not taking anything for granted. Wherever we find ourselves this summer, may we appreciate all of the nature we see, every creature we come in contact with, and elevate our surroundings through conscious appreciation of the Divine in that thing, benefiting everything and everyone we encounter. RABBI DANIEL BORTZ IS THE DIRECTOR OF JTEEN SAN DIEGO, JTEENSD.COM. FOR INFORMATION ON CLASSES, CONTACT HIM AT DANIELBORTZ@GMAIL.COM.
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L’CHAIM l BY NIKKI SALVO
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L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • JUNE/JULY 2016
L’CHAIM
A THOUSAND
WORDS GYPSY: THE MOTHER OF ALL MUSICALS
O
ld Town’s Cygnet Theatre brings a classic to life this season with its version of Gypsy. Hailed as one of the most remarkable American musicals since its inception, the play is inspired by the memoirs of burlesque sensation Gypsy Rose Lee, and it is as dazzling today as it was when it made its Broadway debut in 1959. Artistic Director and founder of Cygnet, Sean Murray, directs the production, and calls it “one of the greatest musicals ever written.” Running from July 14 through September 4, Gypsy tells the story of Lee’s rise to fame and “how she became Gypsy Rose Lee,” says Murray. Central character Mama Rose, played here by Cygnet Resident Artist Linda Libby, is the ultimate stage mother in this compelling tale about show business and complex family dynamics. With music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the story follows Rose as she pushes her two daughters, Louise and June, toward fame on the Vaudeville stage. When “Baby June” drops out of the act, Mama Rose focuses on the more timid Louise, expediting her transformation into Gypsy Rose Lee and her ascent to stardom. Murray chose the piece to be a part of Cygnet’s 2016-17 season for its exciting score, ”amazing script…[and] rich, multidimensional characters,” saying it has long been on his list of plays he wished to bring to audiences.
Gypsy features “one show-stopping song after another,” says Cygnet in its website’s description of the production, like “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and “Let Me Entertain You.” Conductor Terry O’Donnell leads what Murray calls a “miniorchestra” that performs live on a platform behind the stage. “Every song is perfect,” says Murray, “and propels the story forward.” He says he is pleased to be able to produce large musicals like this one in an intimate setting, allowing audiences to “experience it in a new way,” giving them a chance to “be in closer proximity to the acting.” Strong actors are paramount to the success of such a show, Murray notes, and recalls directing Libby in Cygnet’s 2015 production of My Fair Lady. During a rehearsal, instead of concentrating on the scene at hand, he says, all he could think about was, “I would love to direct her in Gypsy.” “I feel [that] Gypsy is the kind of play where you don’t pick it just hoping that Mama Rose will walk in the door,” Murray explains, and points to his long professional history with Libby being instrumental to the casting and delivering of this particular play to San Diego theatregoers. The role of Louise is played by Allison Spratt Pearce, who recently played Eliza Doolittle in Cygnet’s My Fair Lady, and Katie Whalley Banville portrays Baby June. Cygnet’s own Manny Fernandes takes on
the role of Herbie, and two teams of young actors fill out the rest of the cast. Cygnet’s take on the quintessential American musical involves accomplishing simplicity in terms of scenery, whereas a larger theatre would construct elaborate set pieces. “The shape of the show will be a little more theatrical,” says Murray, and explains how a replica of a 1930s Vaudeville house will be built to represent the dazzling world of live theatre, where most of the story’s action takes place. While the set will evoke a mood reminiscent of the ‘30s jazz era, audience members may find uncanny similarities between Gypsy Rose Lee and today’s selfmade celebrity figures. Murray calls Lee “one of the first big media stars,” likening her to a modern-day Kardashian (and likely her indomitable ‘momager’ Mama Rose as well), saying, “You’re not quite sure what Gypsy’s talent is, except for being Gypsy.” He notes that Lee enjoyed an enduring career long after she was a burlesque dancer, and remarks, “She was really great at branding herself through just sheer personality” and self-promotion within the media. While the play entertains with what Murray describes as the “ ...humble beginnings of a fascinating star...the world of theatre and Vaudeville and backstage struggles,” it also touches on timeless themes like relationships between WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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Check it out cygnettheatre.com
parents and their children. “The need to be recognized and appreciated,” Murray says, is a subject people can relate to, and he feels the family dynamic aspect of the story is what helps audiences respond to it. “There’s a little bit of us in almost all of those characters,” he says. Murray would like audiences to walk away “exhilarated,” he says, by having had the opportunity to see such a “brilliant musical,” and calls the play “a little bit shocking.” What may come as a surprise to patrons are the rich themes. He says, “I wouldn’t mind people coming home talking about their parents, or their children ... did I push my child too hard, or did I not push them enough? I think these are great questions people can walk out of the theatre asking themselves, or discussing.” Murray mentions one scene that exemplifies this topic. During the song, “Rose’s Turn,” toward the end of the show, Mama Rose “essentially has a nervous breakdown on the empty stage,” he says. At a point in her life where Louise (“Gypsy”) no longer needs her, after she confronts the questions, “Who was it all for? Was it for you or for me?” “She faces this real crisis,” he says, where she must ask herself, after dedicating an enormous amount of time and energy to her daughters’ success, now that success has been achieved, who is Mama Rose? 12
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Murray describes the lengthy number as “an amazing piece of music, and an acting challenge.” Often referred to as the King Lear of musical theatre, the character of Rose is “a dynamic, titanic role,” Murray says, a woman whose journey “culminates in this huge mental breakdown at the end of the play.” Another poignant moment Murray is always excited to reach is a montage set to the well-known song, “Let Me Entertain You.” It involves the character of Louise slowly evolving into the character of Gypsy Rose Lee through a series of strip teases, and as layer after layer of clothing comes off, so does Louise’s shyness and inhibition. The number celebrates Lee’s newfound confidence as a “glamorous superstar,” says Murray, and witnessing the character’s transformation is a scene the director finds most enthralling. Murray, who enjoyed acting from a young age, was involved with the San Diego Repertory Theatre in the 1980s, and went to school in North Carolina to study acting. He eventually made his way to New York to pursue a career in performing, “...where I did not become a star,” he laughs, then made his segue into directing, something he had always been interested in. He describes himself as someone who is ”obsessed with a lot of different topics,”
and says that directing has allowed him to “always be discovering something new. Every play brings up new topics and issues,” he continues, from historical periods to different genres, and says, “I love being able to research all of the world that each play brings, and help the audience [discover] that world.” When Cygnet does a musical people are familiar with, says Murray, it always tries to bring a “fresh perspective” to the production. “When you come see a musical that you think you know, like a My Fair Lady or a Gypsy or a Man of La Mancha ... in our small theatre, you will experience it in a completely new way. And sometimes it’s as if you’ve never seen it before, because your relationship to the show is...different than [seeing it] in a large, traditional house.” “So,” he says, “you can’t lose.” NIKKI SALVO IS FREELANCE WRITER WHO HAS HAD HER WORK PUBLISHED IN NUMEROUS LOCAL MAGAZINES. SHE HOLDS A B.A. IN JOURNALISM FROM SDSU. SHE ALSO WORKS FULL-TIME AT THE CLINIQUE COUNTER AT BLOOMINGDALE’S FASHION VALLEY AND DOES FREELANCE MAKEUP ARTISTRY. SHE LIVES IN THE EAST VILLAGE WITH HER BOYFRIEND AND THEIR 8 MONTH-OLD SON, JUDE. SHE CAN BE REACHED AT NICHOLE.SALVO@ GMAIL.COM.
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COVER STORY l BY DEBORAH FINEBLUM | jns.org
ADULT
TESTED & APPROVED A GROWN-UP TASTE OF JEWISH SUMMER CAMP
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COVER STORY
S
cott Michaud is a hard-working lawyer 51 weeks out of the year. But for that final week, the 58-year-old is more at home on the trail than in a courtroom. “It was my daughter’s idea,” says Michaud, who splits his time between homes in Colorado and Florida. “She told me, ‘Dad, you need to go to overnight camp.’” Since his children had been Ramah campers, the adult camp at Ramah of the Rockies outside Denver seemed like a good choice. “There’s nothing like camping out in nature, to being physically a part of the environ-ment, going to bed when the sun does and waking up when it wakes up,” he says, adding with a laugh, “I’m a lawyer, but these are billable hours for my life.” With some 10 million kids packed off to overnight camp each summer, lugging duffels crammed with bug repellant, sunscreen, granola bars, baseball caps, and t-shirts, some anony-mous genius must have taken one look at today’s tightly wound adults and prescribed a cure: that same brand of getaway filled with walks and whittling, singing, and s’mores. Like his parents before him, Mike Sokol runs Camp Shalom of central Florida. Only these days, the camp is branching out. Like many other Jewish camps, in addition to the kids and the teens who are their bread and butter, Camp Shalom is also welcoming grown-ups around the campfire, albeit offseason when the kids aren’t there. Offering two adult camps a year, one for Florida’s Jewish men’s clubs and the other a woman’s group through Campowerment, Camp Shalom is a destination where adult campers tend to return year after year. “At the men’s camp, they go into digital detox, unplugging, and sitting by the campfire like when they were kids,” says Sokol. “And the women who’ve been taking care of other people for years, when they come here they can be a kid themselves and just enjoy.” In fact, giving women a break from what were often crushing responsibilities was the inspiration that Isabella Freedman brought to the founding of her Jewish retreat center at the turn of the 20th century. “She wanted to give factory workers a break from very difficult lives,” says Miki Raver, who runs the two-week senior camp at Hazon’s Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, Conn., each summer. (Hazon is a non-
UP CLOSE: CAMP GILBOA
Camp Gilboa’s year-round and summer camp programming inspires children to develop their Jewish identity and infuse it with a commitment to Jewish values, to Israel and to the Jewish community. It empowers them with a can-do attitude through a unique mix of activities that develop critical thinking, group decision making abilities and leadership skills. Learning is woven into the fabric of the camp experience. At Gilboa, creative activities and informal discussions about Jewish history and culture, social justice, Israel and Zionism foster a positive view and deeper understanding of our heritage. Everyone shares in preparing Shabbat. Campers write blessings, songs and special Shabbat skits, and a traditional Shabbat dinner is followed by singing and spirited Israeli dancing. On Saturday, campers choose from a range of special clubs, participate in discussion groups and activities such as storytelling and hiking. Shabbat concludes with a Havdalah service followed by a campfire and talent show. Gilboa campers enjoy a range of recreation from archery to Zumba, including swimming, kayaking, hiking, scouting, basketball, soccer, gaga,
volleyball and more. Clubs geared toward campers’ interests offer many opportunities for campers to shine: arts and crafts, dance, drama, music, poetry, politics, Mad Science, magic and circus juggling. Avodah (work) is a vital component of Gilboa’s community-building experience. Each morning, campers and staff engage in a short project of their choice. Projects include gardening, woodworking, cooking, mural painting, path clearing and sanitation - still the most coveted work crew! With campers own ideas, new projects surface each summer. Hebrew comes alive effortlessly through games, skits and songs reinforcing a daily Hebrew camp vocabulary. Kupa (Communal Fund) empowers campers to share resources and make group decisions. Gilboa’s alternative to the traditional camp canteen, kupa funds items such as toiletries, ice cream parties and a charitable donation (Tzedaka) at summer’s end. FOR MORE INFORMATION, WWW.CAMPGILBOA.ORG.
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TO
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COVER STORY
SPIRITUAL CAMPING
profit working within the Jewish community for a healthier and more sustainable world.) Attracting as many as 100 men and women between ages 55 and 99, the camp features hikes, workshops, excursions, arts and crafts, tai chi, and this year even “Torah yoga” and memoir-writing coaching. “Between the power of being in nature and the bond that forms between the women, the camp is a transforming and life-renewing experience,” says Raver. On the other end of the age spectrum are the 72 young adults who turn out each summer for the Marilyn and Sigi Ziering Brandeis Collegiate Institute (BCI) in California. “After 26 days, they leave feeling like they have a home in the Jewish community and hopefully the tools to make Jewish choices and feel like they matter as tomorrow’s Jewish leaders,” says Navah Kelman Becker, who directs the program. For 75 years, BCI has been welcoming 1826 year-olds from around the world each summer to the Brandeis-Bardin Campus’s 2,700 acres, the largest plot of Jewish-owned land outside of Israel. “We balance Jewish studies with the arts, the pool, hiking and overnight camping, all the things that make a camp a camp,” Becker says. Although participants hail from around the globe, Facebook, Skype, and texting keep them connected long after camp is over, adds Becker. Claire Perelman, a 24-year-old from San Diego who attended the camp last summer, has already visited BCI friends in New York and has BCI friends coming out to see her soon. “You get really close to what’s become your family for the month, the experience is so real,” she says. “With the balance of work 16
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • JUNE/JULY 2016
and play and the hour of beit midrash (Jewish study hall) daily with rabbinic students who made it very accessible, it was altogether a life-changing experience.” ‘WIN-WIN-WIN’
As transformative as they are for the individual camper, adult camps are equally positive influences on the communities they serve. “We have seen that by hosting family camps or adult camps, Jewish camps can serve as an important and positive experience, and as a connection point to other Jewish engagement opportunities in the community,” says Jeremy Fingerman, CEO of the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Indeed, whatever the age group targeted, adult Jewish camps work as outreach to the un-affiliated. Of the roughly 100,000 Jews in Texas, at least 40 percent are unconnected to the Jewish community, says Frank Silberlicht, director of Camp Young Judaea of Texas, located an hour outside Austin. He says his two adult camps each year represent “an easy way to get involved” in Jewish life. Men’s Camp (“sports and beer and brotherhood”) in September and Women’s Re-JEWvenation (“spirituality, massages, and yoga”) in May “bring not only the adults, but eventually their kids and grandkids into our camp community,” adds Silberlicht. His newest idea: Bubbe and Zadie and Me Camp, debuting around Hanukkah time. “We know people love the adult camps by the way they keep coming back every year and their donations to the camp,” Silberlicht says. “It’s win-win-win for the campers and their families, the Jewish community, and the camp.”
“We are so far off the beaten trail that it takes a while to reach us,” quips Rabbi Eliav Bock, executive director of Ramah in the Rockies. But that hasn’t stopped campers like Scott Michaud from trekking out there repeatedly—and, like Michaud, planning to return again. Indeed, the mostly 55-and-older campers who come out for the weeklong experience at what is considered a rustic “outdoor adventure camp” spend much of their time sampling the joys of the natural world, without the buffer of many civilized conveniences. This physical encounter with nature affects the campers spiritually as well, the rabbi says. “Though they come with a wide range of Jewish backgrounds and though we’re so disassociated from the cycles of nature today, everyone is inspired by the fact that so many of our Jewish values emerge from our origins as an ancient people living in concert with the land,” says Bock. The camp is also deeply personal, he adds. “Camp can be an intense and transformative Jewish experience. With everything they’ve lived through, these adults are open to Torah learning to help them look at their own life and rise up to a higher level of spirituality,” Bock says. Tammi Leader Fuller, who runs Campowerment for women at Florida’s Camp Shalom as well as camps near Los Angeles and in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, says that adult campers can “discover their purpose amid the joys, the fun and the games… life is so fast and busy today that we are glad there are almost no cell signals in our camps.” “We know we need to disconnect to reconnect,” says Fuller, a longtime producer for “The Today Show” on NBC. Although not all of her campers are Jewish, Fuller insists that every camp that hosts her Campowerment programs needs to be Jewish. “To me, camp is Jewish,” she says. “It’s Jewish in that sense of community we need more and more of as we age, it’s Jewish in the mezuzahs on the cabin doors and singing ‘Hinei Matov’u Manayim’ around the fire, and it’s Jewish because a Jewish camp makes you feel cared for and safe and included in a community. It’s something grown-ups need as much or more than kids do.”
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FEATURE STORY l BY MIMI POLLACK
Meeting with Two Remarkable Women
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FEATURE STORY
W
hen I was in my 20s, one of my favorite books was, “Meetings with Remarkable Men” by George Gurdjieff. Today, I am meeting with two remarkable women, Deborah Szekely and Vivian Blackstone. Szkeley just celebrated her 94th birthday and Blackstone will be 88 this summer. When I remarked that I thought they were both fearless women, the feisty Szekely protested firmly, saying, “I am not fearless! I consider myself to be a cautious woman instead.” She said that she was not afraid to take risks and not afraid of failure, but she planned everything carefully. Perhaps Szekely may be a cautious woman, but in my book, it takes a certain amount of imagination and strength to accomplish all that she has, starting with opening the spa, Rancho La Puerta (AKA The Ranch) at the age of 18 in 1940 in Tecate, Mexico. Today, Rancho La Puerta is a world famous spa, celebrated as being one of the best in the world. She later opened another well known spa, the Golden Door in Escondido, Calif., in 1958. She sold the Golden Door many years later. For Blackstone, who has always had a different, creative life, not being afraid is second nature. For her 60th birthday, she hung out of a helicopter to take pictures. About eight years ago, when she was 80, we got lost together in the countryside outside of Tecate. We had gone to look for a shaman/healer who lived in a remote area. I was driving as we bumped along a lonely dirt road. Vivian kept on saying, “We’ll find him,” and eventually we did. We spent an unforgettable afternoon with Tata Kachora, as he was known. This is only one of the many adventures Blackstone has experienced in her unusual life, and one of the many adventures that I shared with her. She always remained cool as a cucumber, no matter what situation or country we were in. Both women are not afraid to go out of their comfort zone, actively seeking new horizons. I think these two women embody a special strength which keeps them going. As retired psychologist Michael Mantell says, “The power of positive, fearless thoughts, predicting positivity, along with trust and faith in our abilities, heals, energizes and helps us enjoy life to the
fullest as we age.” Blackstone and Szekely have been friends for over 50 years. When asked about the longevity of their friendship, they mentioned loyalty being key. Giving back to the communities on both sides of the border has also been an important part of Szekely’s life. As Szkeley confided, “When I see a need, I like to take on the challenge to do what I can to remedy it.” When asked about some projects she was proud of, Szekely remembered how in the early years of the ranch, she began a program to get bicycles for the region’s school children and employees at the ranch, so they would have an easier time getting around. She also spoke of the school she started for deaf/mute children in Tecate. She had a woman who worked for her who had a deaf baby and that inspired Szekely to help others as there were no schools at that time to fill the need. She brought in Dr. Frederick Frye, who was working at Mercy Hospital at the time, to evaluate the children. There was a bowl in the lobby at the ranch to collect money for batteries to go along with the hearing aids that Dr. Frye helped her obtain for the children. The original school was housed in an old trailer on the ranch and as word spread, children came from all over Tecate. When the school outgrew the trailer, the Mexican government stepped up and took over the school. In her later years, she related that she felt it was important for the people of San Diego to recognize what so many immigrants brought to San Diego. This motivated her to spearhead the New Americans Museum at Liberty Station. This museum celebrates newly arrived immigrants, the many rich cultures, and all they have to contribute to San Diego, which has become such a melting pot. These two longtime friends also shared an important person in both of their lives. Edmond Szekely, Deborah’s husband, and the co-founder of Rancho La Puerta, was an unusual and brilliant man with many followers. Known as The Professor, Blackstone was a disciple of his and spent many years studying with him. In 2010, Blackstone felt the need to honor the legacy of the professor. A long time artist, photographer, and filmmaker, it
took her six sometimes challenging years, but in 2016, she finally completed her film, and her way of keeping the memory of The Professor and his teachings alive. The film is now for sale on Blackstone’s website, www.etsy.com/listing/275515616/journeyof-a-thousand-meditations. In the film, Szekely’s daughter, Sarah Livia, makes a memorable appearance, speaking lovingly of her father. Livia now runs Rancho La Puerta, carrying on and adding to what her parents began. Finally, when asked what they have done to thrive as long as they have, living active and independent lives, Szekely mentioned that she came from good stock with good genes. They both spoke about the importance of eating well. Szekely was a personal friend of one of the original health gurus, Gaylord Hauser and Blackstone was friends with another stalwart in the health food movement, Adele Davis. They also remain active. Blackstone wakes up early and walks her two enthusiastic Boston terriers; and Szekely walks her older King Charles spaniel. Szekely spoke enthusiastically of her pilates and yoga classes. They are both animal lovers and have always had dogs and cats. These two loyal friends are truly an inspiration to others. Szekely is already planning her 95th birthday with a special trip to Japan, and Blackstone wants to go to Hungary and perhaps Transylvania, where The Professor was born. They are remarkable women indeed! MIMI POLLACK IS A LONG-TIME COMMUNITY COLLEGE ESL TEACHER, AND HAS WORKED WITH STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. SHE IS FLUENT IN THREE LANGUAGES. SHE IS THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF RUSSIAN AND ISRAELI IMMIGRANTS WHO WAS BORN IN CHICAGO, BUT GREW UP IN MEXICO CITY. SIX YEARS AGO, SHE BEGAN A SECOND CAREER AS A LOCAL WRITER. SHE HAS DONE EXTENSIVE TRAVELING, BUT HAS CALLED SAN DIEGO HOME FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. SHE IS AN AVID ANIMAL LOVER.
This article first appeared online in the San Diego Jewish World, www.sdjewishworld.com.
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HOME
IMPROVEMENT BAKER ELECTRIC HELPS BUILDINGS GO GREEN
B
aker Electric is a fourth-generation electrical contractor founded in 1938. In that year, Leroy Baker created what is today one of the most respected and successful companies in San Diego. In 2007, Ted Baker and his father Kent saw an opportunity in renewable energy – specifically solar. Although, in its infancy, the Bakers believed solar had a great future in the San Diego area – not only to help homeowners, businesses and organizations take control of their energy usage and costs, but to make an important impact on the environment. The Baker Way of doing business is simple: doing things right, so customers feel good about their decision to go solar. And the Baker Way is about making a positive impact in the communities they serve. That’s why they care so much about solar. They truly believe that this renewable energy solution is one of the best ways to protect the earth for future generations and a very smart way for families and commercial organizations to save money now and for decades to come. Baker has installed over 5,000 residential solar systems and hundreds of commercial installations throughout Southern California. Some of the organizations Baker has taken solar are the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, the Jacobs and Cushman 20
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San Diego Food Bank and Jewish Family Service of San Diego. They love doing business with organizations who firmly believe in leaving a green legacy and saving money on electricity so they can expand on the great work they’re doing in their communities. Just How Much Good Can Solar Do? It might be hard to believe all of the good things you hear about solar energy. Perhaps you’re wondering if switching to solar really make that big of an impact on the environment? Can it really save you that much money? The answer to both of those questions is quite simply, yes! In fact, the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank’s solar system will save CO2 emissions equivalent to 594,747 pounds of coal and approximately $120,000 in energy costs annually. This impressive savings enables this wonderful organization to serve an additional 600,000 meals each year. Solar Helps the Jewish Federation of San Diego County Cut Costs and Emissions The Torah charges the Jewish people with the tenet of bal tashchit. This principle makes clear the obligation to preserve and care for our planet. For the Jewish Federation, the wisdom from the Torah is foundational to their switch to green energy. The Federation worked closely with Baker to install their over 500-panel solar
system, in addition to an LED lighting upgrade and the installation of two electric vehicle chargers. The Federations solar system was specifically designed to save them more than $2 million over its expected 30-year life, and will cut their greenhouse emissions by 166 tons per year. Their solar offsets 86% of their electric bill, with the remaining 14% offset by their LED lighting upgrades, which according to Susan Halliday, CFO of the Federation, results in a savings of $5,000-$6,000 a month in energy costs. Solar Is a win/win for Businesses and Homeowners Alike Going solar doesn’t just make good business sense – it saves homeowners thousands of dollars a year on their electric bills too. For some families, the biggest benefit is the ability to use electricity in the ways that bring the most value to their loved ones. Such as: running the air conditioner as long as required for comfort, optimizing the energy savings resulting from the purchase of an electric car or putting in that 5th load of laundry. Whatever the need, with solar, monthly energy bill shock is a thing of the past! LEARN MORE ABOUT SOLAR WWW.BAKERELECTRICSOLAR.COM.
AT
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BADASS KOSHER l BY MICHAEL GARDINER
Eggscellent
NEW YORK STEAK WITH BÉARNAISE SAUCE | ROAST ASPARAGUS | BROWN AND WHITE BEECH MUSHROOMS
I
t sounds like a kosher riddle: What comes from meat, many think it’s dairy but it’s really pareve? The answer, of course, is the egg. It may seem strange that eggs are treated as neutral even though they come from chickens. The reason, likely, is that once they’re out of the chicken they’re considered a separate entity. But why do people think, even for a moment, that eggs are dairy? There’s nothing milk about them. 22
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I first noticed the issue when I was developing recipes for my kosher cookbook. I would often ask friends to test drive those recipes, one of which was built around steak with a Béarnaise sauce. I e-mailed one of those test drivers the recipe and within five minutes received a sharp e-mail back: “How can steak with béarnaise sauce be kosher?” I called her up and said, “Hey, I used margarine instead of butter. It’s
kosher.” That got me nowhere: “Right, but eggs?” I thought she was joking. She wasn’t. Perhaps it goes back to childhood breakfasts that prominently featured eggs and milk. Maybe it’s because they are both are commonly found in supermarket dairy aisles, often with cheese and yogurt. Or it could be because both eggs and dairy are, essentially, animal byproducts. Regardless of the reason for the misconception, the fact
BADASS KOSHER
is it’s a misconception. Dairy products are made from milk. Eggs are not made from milk. Thus, eggs are not dairy. Which means that pairing steak with a Béarnaise Sauce could be perfectly kosher. My preferred method of cooking steak is sous vide. French for “under vacuum” (a bit of a misnomer), sous vide is a method of cooking in which food is sealed in airtight plastic bags and placed in a water bath at an accurately regulated temperature, lower than normally used (temperatures for beef would be between 131° and 140° Fahrenheit). The idea is to cook the item evenly, not overcook the outside and keep the inside at the same level of “doneness,” thus keeping the food juicier. For steaks, caramelization (the Maillard reaction) is achieved by a quick sear after the meat comes out of the water bath. Steak cooked sous vide and seared appears more rare inside than it actually is. It ends up all being the good stuff. But sous vide cooking requires equipment that many home cooks don’t own. No worries. The steaks for this dish can be cooked with a pan roast to excellent results. The recipe offers both options. Either way, eggs still aren’t dairy.
NEW YORK STEAK WITH BÉARNAISE SAUCE ROAST ASPARAGUS | BROWN AND WHITE BEECH MUSHROOMS Serves 4
INGREDIENTS: FOR THE NEW YORK STEAK: 4 New York steaks Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper
FOR THE BÉARNAISE SAUCE:
½ cup white wine vinegar 2 small shallots, peeled and minced 1 tablespoon of finely chopped tarragon leaves 4 egg yolks 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice ¾ cup unsalted margarine, melted (1 ½ sticks) 2 tablespoons finely chopped tarragon Pinch salt Freshly squeezed lemon juice (optional)
FOR THE ROAST ASPARAGUS:
2 pounds thick asparagus, woody ends snapped off 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil Kosher Salt Freshly ground black pepper
FOR THE BEECH MUSHROOMS:
2 teaspoons grapeseed (or other neutral oil) ½ cup Brown Beech Mushrooms ½ cup White Beech Mushrooms 1) COOK THE STEAKS SOUS VIDE. Preheat your sous vide setup (if using) to 134° Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375° Fahrenheit for the asparagus. Pat the steaks down with a dry paper towel on both sides. Season each steak liberally with salt and pepper. Place the steaks in food grade plastic bags and vacuum seal each bag. Cook the steaks for one hour at that temperature. 2) MAKE THE BÉARNAISE SAUCE REDUCTION. Put the vinegar, shallots, and 1 tablespoon of tarragon leaves into a small saucepan, and set over a medium flame. Bring just to a boil, and then reduce heat to a simmer until there are only a few tablespoons of liquid left, approximately 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and set aside to cool. 3) ROAST THE ASPARAGUS. Oil a hotel pan, baking sheet or a baking dish large enough to hold the asparagus in one layer. Place the asparagus in a dish, and toss with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Place in the oven and roast for 10 to 15 minutes, until the stalks begin to shrivel and color lightly. 4) IF PAN-SEARING THE STEAKS. Place a heavy skillet – preferably cast-iron – on the stove over high heat until the pan is smoking hot. Carefully place two steaks in the pan. Sear for two to three minutes, then flip and sear for another two to three minutes. Transfer the steaks to a hotel pan in the pre-heated oven and finish in the oven. Wipe out the pan and repeat with the remaining two steaks.
to boil. Put the cooled sauce reduction into a metal mixing bowl along with a tablespoon of water and the egg yolks and whisk vigorously to combine. Turn the heat under the saucepan of water down to its lowest setting, and put the bowl on top of the pan, making sure that it does not touch the water directly. Continue to whisk the yolks until they thicken, approximately 5 to 7 minutes (alternatively, use an immersion blender or do it all in a food processor). You should just about double the volume of the yolks. 6) FINISH THE BÉARNAISE SAUCE. Slowly beat in the melted margarine, a tablespoon or two at a time, whisking slowly to combine and emulsify. Remove the bowl from the pan occasionally to avoid the eggs, and taste the sauce. Season with salt. If the flavor is not sharp enough, add a splash of lemon juice. If the sauce is too thick, stir in a splash of hot water. Add the remaining teaspoon of tarragon leaves, and serve. 7) SEAR THE STEAKS. Meanwhile remove the steaks from the sous-vide and from their bags. Heat a heavy pan (preferably cast iron) over high flame until very hot and sear the steaks on both sides until they have nicely caramelized, about 2 minutes on each side. Rest the steaks for five minutes. 8) PAN SEAR THE BEECH MUSHROOMS. Heat the oil in a sauté pan over high heat until nearly smoking. Sauté the mushrooms for two minutes until just colored. 9) PLATE THE DISH. Slice the steaks on the bias. Pour a pool of the sauce near the side of a plate. Using the back of a soup spoon, swipe from the center of the pool around the outer curve of the plate. Arrange five stalks of asparagus across the sauce on each plate, the spears pointing away from the sauce. Fan four slices of steak in an angle opposing the asparagus. Arrange the beech mushrooms attractively on the other side of the plate.
5) MAKE THE BÉARNAISE SAUCE. Meanwhile, bring a small saucepan with an inch or two of water over medium-high heat WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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FEATURE STORY l BY SHARON RAPOPORT
A VISIONARY LEADER Rabbi Philip Graubart’s legacy
S
ince its founding in 1957, Congregation Beth El, a Conservative synagogue in La Jolla, has been blessed with committed, caring members. In 2002, the Congregation was in a period of transition and in need of direction. The community was seeking a spiritual leader with fresh ideas and the energy to help Beth El grow. It was a pivotal time in Beth El’s history and through great effort (and some luck) Rabbi Philip Graubart was hired as Beth El’s Senior Rabbi. Now, 14 years later, Beth El is a vibrant congregation whose growing membership defies the national downward trend for religious organizations (Jewish and otherwise). Rabbi Graubart graciously 24
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acknowledges that this complete overhaul is the result of a group effort. However, Beth El owes its transformation, in large part, to Rabbi Graubart’s laser-like intelligence, action-oriented personality, and far-reaching vision which have enabled the synagogue to surpass challenges and become more relevant than ever. By offering a wide range of programming, the synagogue attracts congregants and volunteers from a wide variety of age groups and backgrounds. There is something for everyone. Beth El boasts an educational program for teenagers and its youth program has been awarded Far West USY’s Chapter of Excellence four years in a row. The
Tikkun Olam program attracts hundreds of volunteers throughout the year and the Israel Committee hosts outstanding guest speakers. The Viterbi Torah School has more than doubled since Rabbi Graubart first arrived. There is a vibrant Adult Education program, an active Women’s Connection and Men’s Club, and the synagogue holds a meaningful daily morning minyan. Rabbi Graubart is especially proud of Beth El’s Chai 20s/30s program, which bridges the gap between college and full adulthood, a time in life where many young adults struggle to find their place in the Jewish world. The program attracts young professionals working and living in the greater San Diego community.
FEATURE STORY
Moreover, by figuratively tearing down the walls of the synagogue and enabling programs that take Jewish life to the beach, the park, and the “hood”, Rabbi Graubart has been able to inject energy and create an enthusiastic participation. These programs have been instrumental in attracting new members, who sometimes feel more comfortable at a private home or public area than at the synagogue. In our talk with Rabbi Graubart, we discussed everything from what-theydon’t-teach-at-Rabbinic-School, to social action and spiritual connection. This is an excerpt from our talk: L’CHAIM MAGAZINE: WHAT WAS THE SCENARIO FOURTEEN YEARS AGO WHEN YOU ARRIVED AT BETH EL? RABBI PHILIP GRAUBART: Even as the
congregation was hurting, there was goodwill and potential. There were two tasks at hand: One was to rebuild, to create a stable, structured leadership with a Board of Directors in place. The second was coming up with a vision that was positive, Jewish and joyful; something that could unite the congregation and, hopefully, attract new members. These things needed to happen at once. L’CHAIM: HOW DID YOU TACKLE THOSE CHALLENGES? RPG: We had to make sure we had talented
staff in all areas, including education and administration, but we also had to pay attention to the Board structure, and the building itself. Each of these required attention to detail, and for each of them, I
had partners. I was not prioritizing any of these areas because all of them were important. I took the time to talk to people. I listened to their story and the story of the congregation. Together we developed the image of what we wanted our congregation to be. L’CHAIM: I AM VERY IMPRESSED BY YOUR SKILLS, NOT ONLY AS A SPIRITUAL LEADER BUT ALSO AS A LOGISTICAL THINKER. HOW DID YOU ACQUIRE YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL ABILITIES? RPG: I think it is important for Rabbis to be
passionate and inventive in the way we put a vision into practice, so all the logistical elements create an inspiring vision. I learned through readings, biographies from successful CEOs, my experiences, and some trial-and-error. I had mentors in my life who were very smart “organization people.” Also I came here not at the beginning of my career, but actually in the middle. I had previous professional experiences with congregations who experienced similar traumas and found solutions. L’CHAIM: DURING YOUR YEARS AT BETH EL, WHAT SPIRITUAL ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE GIVEN YOU THE MOST PRIDE? RPG: There have been many! I am very
proud of the fact that the synagogue gives people the opportunity to make spiritual connections. The synagogue is a religious institution, a place to find relationships. But these relationships are not the same as friendships because there is a spiritual element to them. The connections you find
here have a depth to them, that sense of meaning and connection to God. Ours is not just a list of programs or services, but rather, an opportunity to build these bonds. I am also very proud of our Tikkun (social action) program. We put it together and made a decision to raise money and hire staff to keep an eye on it. About five years ago, we established a winter homeless shelter, which not only benefits the community but attracts hundreds of volunteers. The last thing I will mention is that I am proud that, just as I leave, Beth El has decided to eliminate dues and launch a new membership model, Our Shared Commitment. We believe that money should not be an obstacle to synagogue affiliation. This is the right thing at the right time and I am so pleased that Beth El has taken this important step for the future. Rabbi Graubart will soon become West Coast Vice President of Adult Programming at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. And while the congregation is saddened by his departure, Rabbi Graubart’s vision, spiritual guidance, passionate teaching, and dedicated leadership have ensured that the synagogue will continue to thrive. Congregation Beth El is now excitedly seeking a new Senior Rabbi to join its loving and dynamic community, and contribute in traditional and innovative ways to Jewish life in San Diego. Beth El honored Rabbi Graubart and thanked him for 14 wonderful years of service with a congregation-wide Havdalah Sunday, June 18, 2016.
A FEW OF BETH EL’S PROGRAMS: BETH EL WITHOUT WALLS
BETH EL IN THE HOOD
This program brings Congregation Beth El to the community with Shabbat at the beach, park, hikes and bike rides, and Shabbat dinners. The goal is to help people live meaningful Jewish lives by bringing Beth El into their homes and communities and creating connections. Part of this program, Shabbat B’Bayit brings members together in one another’s homes. Two dinners take place on the same night: one for adults and one for families with children.
Since Beth El’s congregation is not from just one neighborhood, this program is about picking one zip code and having services at a public library, a member’s home or any location that is special to that community. “We are bringing the synagogue to you, across demographic lines,” Rabbi Graubart explained. “We are removing those barriers; sometimes a barrier is just getting in the car and driving.”
YOUTH AND FAMILY
Every week there’s something special for families. Activities include Beth El Babies, Tot and Pajama Shabbat, VTS for Tots, Teen Events, Viterbi Torah School and social intergenerational events. MUSICAL SHABBAT
Held on the fourth Friday of every month, Shabbat Shirenu draws the community together as a family, with a potluck dairy/ pareve dinner usually served afterward. Fifth Fridays includes a band for a lively musical service. WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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FEATURE STORY l BY JEFFREY F. BARKEN l jns.org
TELLING ISRAEL’S STORY FILMMAKER EYAL RESH EMBRACES THE CHALLENGE
An image from the movie “Arrival”. 26
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FEATURE STORY
Filmmaker Eyal Resh
T
elling Israel’s story. It’s the specific title of a short film that Eyal Resh created last year. It’s also the theme behind the 27-year-old Israeli filmmaker’s broader body of work. The widely viewed “Telling Israel’s Story” film—directed by Resh for a gala event hosted by the Times of Israel online news outlet—seemingly begins as a promotional tourism video, but quickly evolves to offer a multilayered perspective. “I want to tell you a story about a special place for me,” a young woman whispers as soft meditative music stirs. Spinning shots ensue, depicting the natural beauty of Israel’s geography, landmarks, and intriguing walks through the country’s iconic cities. Intermixed are portraits of smiling or contemplative
Israelis of diverse backgrounds. Viewers glimpse the religious passions underlying the society; the creative business, high tech, and artistic ventures for which Israelis are known; and, yes, the political tensions and violence that all too often put Israel in the news. As the film proceeds and the music slows, a police car drives down a deserted Jerusalem street, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Barack Obama, and there is discord in the Knesset legislature. Sirens blare as a rocket streaks across the clear night sky, and the audience is held in a moment of suspense. But when the rocket is later revealed to be part of a festive fireworks show, the music and montage resume with renewed vigor, depicting the celebration of life that underlies Israeli existence.
“I see it as my responsibility to use my abilities to change Israel’s image in the U.S. and the world,” Resh said. Responding to critics who have called “Telling Israel’s Story” an outright pro-Israel propaganda film, Resh admits that he stirred a hornet’s nest. “I received death threats, and there were many nasty comments posted on YouTube,” he said. Nevertheless, the 1.5 million views the film has garnered worldwide affirm the general appreciation of the work. Resh points out that “the problem of offering a rounded perspective [of Israel], through film, is the entry point.” He describes Israel as a “country of dichotomies—a vibrant place where many forces are colliding.” In his view, each “flashpoint” actually leads to many WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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FEATURE STORY
beautiful exchanges between individuals, but viewers who are frightened or frustrated by the violence they’ve witnessed personally, or in the news, often will prejudge a film if they don’t immediately see their personal biases validated. Resh’s new animated film, “Searching For Them,” opens in stark contrast to “Telling Israel’s Story.” Through the sight on a sniper’s rifle, audiences glimpse the smoldering Gaza landscape in 2009, amid Israel’s Operation Cast Lead. This short feature about two brothers who were killed in that conflict premiered during prime time last week on Israeli television. Resh’s hope is that when critics of Israel see the military’s destruction in Gaza explicitly painted from the very first frame, they hold their fire and are more willing to watch the rest of the film with open minds. The perspective then pans outward, exploring the terror of the Hamas rocket attacks that precipitated military engagement, and the deep wounds from the clash that extend to both sides. Resh said there is a “beauty and complexity” to Israel and Israelis that is often overlooked or 28
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misunderstood. “How strange that Israel has its Memorial Day and then one day later celebrates Independence Day?” he muses. While there is elation that the Jewish people survived the Holocaust and established a state just a few years later, that joy is tempered by the harsh everyday realities and personal scars that affect many in Israel today. “We carry a lot on our backs,” Resh said. Hinting at this uniquely Israeli mindset is “Arrival,” directed by Resh when he was studying at the California Institute of the Arts. The short film, which was showcased at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, opens with an Israeli mother riding a train to Berlin with her young son. The fidgety and talkative boy attracts the attention of an elderly German woman who invites him to play with her. The mother, meanwhile, grows increasingly anxious about the encounter as well as her pending business in Berlin. “I perceived this character as a young mother, though at the same time an old soul,” Keren Shalev, the Israeli actress cast as the mother in “Arrival,” said. Her journey implies
facing an “attic of stored memories,” she said. Shalev reflects that the challenge her role in the film presented was to find a reason to smile at the German woman despite being ill-prepared for their loaded encounter. “Where there was anger and resentment, a new stillness came forward and introduced me with embarrassment,” said Shalev. “I believe art and everything in our world is about tension,” Resh said, explaining his artistic choices as a director. He notes that Shalev speaks about her ex-perience of acting in his film with the luxury of hindsight. At the time of filming, he actually dropped her into the scene with very few instructions as to how she should assume her character. He said that otherwise, “I would not have gotten the performance I wanted.” For this reason, Shalev’s emotional expressions appear authentic. Resh said that “Arrival,” which was inspired by the trip he took to Berlin with his mother when he was very young, is part of a longer film that he plans to di-rect one day—another chapter in his varied and nuanced telling of Israel’s story.
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FEATURE STORY l BY ALINA DAIN SHARON | jns.org
PHOTOS BY KOBI GIDEON/GPO
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) holds a joint press conference with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls in Jerusalem on May 23, 2016.
FRANCE VS. EGYPT A matchup of Israeli-Palestinian peace summits
A
s part of the latest European effort to spur a renewal of IsraeliPalestinian peace talks, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls visited Israel and the Palestinian territories this week. Valls tried to convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that France’s planned multilateral peace initiative—a June 3 meeting in Paris with foreign ministers from 20 countries, but excluding Israeli
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and Palestinian leaders, as a precursor to a larger summit on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the fall—is not an effort to circumvent Israel. Netanyahu has opposed the French initiative on the grounds that “direct negotiations with the Palestinians without preconditions” is the only conceivable way to resolve the longstanding conflict. Yet he voiced more positive sentiments on
a separate proposal from Egypt, an Arab country with whom Israel has maintained a fragile peace treaty since 1979. Led by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Egypt is reportedly planning to hold its own trilateral summit to forge an IsraeliPalestinian peace deal—with the direct involvement of Israeli and Palestinian officials. The initiative follows recent comments by the Egyptian president
FEATURE STORY
SO CLOSE
Israel and Turkey ‘very close’ to reconciliation deal, ministers say BY ISRAEL HAYOM | jns.org
The 2010 Gaza flotilla incident’s Mavi Marmara vessel.
PHOTO COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
that he desires to mediate peace talks between rival Palestinian factions in order to subsequently bring about the resumption of Palestinian negotiations with Israel. According to the Palestinian news agency Ma’an, an Israeli government delegation secretly visited Cairo on May 22 for a meeting with El-Sisi and other Egyptian officials. Netanyahu said he welcomes El-Sisi’s “willingness to invest every effort to advance a future of peace and security between us and the Palestinians,“ though it is unclear how Israel’s participation in any peace initiative will be affected by the prime minister’s nomination of nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman as Israel’s next defense minister—marking a political shift to the right. The deal to add Yisrael Beiteinu to Israel’s Likud party-led governing coalition was signed May 25. “The French initiative does not appear to be wellintended, because the French initially said that if Israel wouldn’t agree to accept the French conditions, France would support a Palestinian state. So if they already know their bottom-line result, what are the French negotiating for?“ Likud Knesset member and counterterrorism expert Dr. Anat Berko, who recently became the first woman to be appointed to lead the Israeli legislature’s Subcommittee of Intelligence and Secret Services, said. “Perhaps the French should focus on their own security inside France; it’s a very sensitive and shaky situation and I don’t think they are in a strong position to be negotiating or conducting such a summit,“ she said. “For the Palestinians, I think it’s about time they take responsibility and negotiate directly with Israel. The Egyptians helped us before with the Hamas organization and even to release [Hamas captive] Gilad Shalit [in 2011]. We appreciate the good intention of President El-Sisi, and I am sure that [the Egyptians] will be helpful. In the end, we need to negotiate directly with the Palestinians, even though they are trying to bring upon international pressure toward Israel through the U.N.“ Elliott Abrams, a former national security official in the George W. Bush administration, said that one of Egypt’s major interests in resolving the IsraeliPalestinian conflict is to allow the Arab state to be more open about its security relations with Israel. “Egypt’s other interest today is fighting jihadis in the Sinai and stopping the development of a Hamas-jihadi relationship. They may believe that a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas would make Hamas less likely to have close relations with groups like Islamic State and al-Qaeda,” Abrams said. Though he doesn’t believe that El-Sisi ultimately has enough political clout to successfully mediate between
A deal seems closer than ever in Israel’s negotiations to normalize diplomatic relations with Turkey, but some key issues remain unresolved, two Israeli ministers said. While Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz and Construction Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday expressed optimism about the negotiations with Turkey, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said that “no concrete progress has been made.” Turkish-Israeli relations broke down after the 2010 Gaza flotilla incident, in which nine Turkish militants were killed in clashes after attacking Israeli commandos boarding a ship that was trying to breach the blockade on Gaza. Turkey has conditioned normalizing ties with Israel on an official apology over the flotilla incident, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered in 2012; compensation for the victims’ families, which is currently being finalized; and a removal of the maritime blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza, a step that Israel opposes. Speaking at a conference in the southern Israeli city of Eilat, Gallant said, “Israel and Turkey are very close to reaching a deal. This agreement is essential to Israel’s national security and it will have significant implications on the tourism and energy industries, and maybe even the construction industry.” In an interview with Radio 103FM, Steinitz said, “About 95 percent of the deal with Turkey is done. I won’t go into the details, but I believe we’ve dealt with 95 percent of the issues successfully. I was under the impression we could have finalized things by Passover [in April], but Turkey was just putting together a new government, and that might have set things back a little.” Ahmet Davutoğlu, Turkey’s former prime minister, resigned May 22. WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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FEATURE STORY l BY ALINA DAIN SHARON | jns.org
Hamas (which governs Gaza) and Fatah (the ruling party in the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority), Abrams argues that Egypt could be helpful by endorsing political concessions from Palestinian leaders and by pushing for reconciliation gestures toward Israel from other Arab states. He echoed Berko’s view that the French peace initiative is unlikely to succeed because many Israelis distrust Europe and believe that a number of the continent’s leaders are biased against Israel. Aaron David Miller, an analyst at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a former advisor to both Republican and Democratic U.S. secretaries of state on Arab-Israeli negotiations, said 32
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that peace summits are typically good for either beginning a credible peace process or concluding one. He cited the Madrid Peace Conference of 1991, which similarly attempted to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, as an example of a conference that achieved some non-transformational starting goals. In terms of concluding negotiations, he said the best example is the 1978 Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt. “The question that anyone has to ask themselves is…[whether] the French initiative ticks into either box. I would argue the answer right now is probably not. I don’t see how this particular process launches a serious and credible process of negotiations
between Israelis and Palestinians under the current circumstances,“ Miller said, pointing to how the Palestinian movement is unlikely to depart in any way from its typical negotiating positions, a situation that Israel’s newly revamped government is unlikely to accept. Further, Miller cautioned that Egypt’s proposal also wouldn’t necessarily fit into either “box,“ particularly because he doesn’t see Hamas and Fatah as willing or able to unify as a national Palestinian movement with a cohesive strategy. “I don’t think El-Sisi can get through the first phase—negotiating the [Palestinian] unity. We’ve had at least three efforts of this since 2007, and they’ve all failed,“ he said.
FEATURE STORY
“… every breakthrough in the conflict during the last 40 years has involved the U.S. at some phase.”
PHOTO COURTESY CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (center) addresses a visiting delegation of AmericanJewish leaders in February 2016. Second from the left is Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman and CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah on May 24 denied reports of Egypt’s planned trilateral summit. But even if the summit does take place, said Miller, “the Arabs will demand a price for direct negotiation with Israel, and the price will be Israeli moves—either a comprehensive settlement freeze or agreement to borders—which I don’t see this [Israeli] government being able or even wanting to agree to.“ Malcolm Hoenlein—executive vice chairman and CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, a 50-member umbrella body whose leaders met with El-Sisi in Cairo in February 2016—also discounted the possibility of Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, but expressed more faith in El-Sisi’s “leverage“ in the region. “The process could certainly begin and El-Sisi could serve as a helpful facilitator,” Hoenlein said. El-Sisi “doesn’t see himself as a substitute for direct negotiations… the only thing that will lead to results,» while by contrast France’s summit grants Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud
Abbas a “diversion“ and an «incentive not to negotiate“ directly with Israel, he said. Yet Zvi Mazel, Israel’s ambassador to Egypt from 1996-2001 and a fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs think tank, said Israel should take the Egyptian proposal with a grain of salt. Ultimately, Egypt’s plan doesn’t change the fact that the Palestinians “have had so many opportunities to create a state [beginning] from the [1947 U.N.] partition plan, [and] they refused to create their own country alongside a Jewish state—that’s the problem,“ Mazel said. Mazel and Miller agreed that for Israel, the U.S. is a better broker for IsraeliPalestinian conflict negotiations than either France or Egypt. Miller pointed out that every breakthrough in the conflict during the last 40 years has involved the U.S. at some phase, while Mazel noted that Europe and European policies are becoming increasingly pro-Palestinian. But while presumptive U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has claimed she would veto any U.N. Security Council resolution against Israel if she were elected president in November, there
has been speculation that President Barack Obama—who has had a stormy relationship with Netanyahu over the years—could back such a resolution during the remainder of his term until January 2017. A senior State Department official said recently that the Obama administration is skeptical about Netanyahu’s call for direct negotiations with the Palestinians, telling the Jerusalem Post that while the U.S. supports “meaningful negotiations,” it doesn’t “believe in negotiations just for the sake of negotiations.“ Miller said that for Israel, “Saying ‘no’ [to peace talks] repeatedly is probably not smart….Getting yourself involved in saying ‘yes, but’ in a process that has no future may not be smart either.“ “Netanyahu has to figure out a way to say ‘yes, but’ if he wants in some degree avert or preempt international pressure…. He’s definitely made the calculation to look beyond Barack Obama, and he’s hoping to find a friendlier face in Washington in January in 2017,“ Miller said.
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5TH ANNUAL
LOVE OF ISRAEL BRUNCH
BRINGS SAN DIEGO JEWISH COMMUNITY TOGETHER
O
ver 450 eager and excited individuals filled the room at the Del Mar Marriott to show their support for Israel during Jewish National Fund’s 5th Annual Love of Israel Brunch. The attendees showed overwhelming praise for the work that JNF is doing, which is resonating across the world, activating people to get involved in such a meaningful cause. The event featured guest speaker Ambassador Ido Aharoni, who currently serves as Consul General of Israel in New York. Ambassador Aharoni had previously served as head of Israel’s Brand Management Team, focusing on bringing about a paradigm shift in the perception of Israel’s public image. “In today’s world it is still very important to be right—but it is more important to be attractive,” said Aharoni. “Israel is an extremely powerful place, and, if given a chance, it could sell itself much better to the public. Our job, then, is to provide our beloved country with that very chance.” Attendees of the breakfast, who ranged from babies to grandparents, got a glimpse of JNF’s bold vision and how it provides a unique voice in building a prosperous and secure future for the land and people of Israel. JNF strives to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of Israel’s residents and translate these advancements to the world beyond. JNF is “greening” the desert with millions of trees, building thousands of parks across Israel, creating new communities and cities for generations
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of Israelis to call home, bolstering Israel’s water supply, helping develop innovative arid agriculture techniques and educating both young and old about the founding and importance of Israel and Zionism. Blue Box Bob was on hand to take photos with the guests. Everyone in attendance received tomato plants which were generously donated by Dr. Sol and Lauren Lizerbram so that they could remember JNF and Israel in their homes. A highlight of the event was the story of the Sderot Tulip. The Sderot Tulip is a flower sculpted from the steel of a Hamas Kassam rocket that landed in Sderot. The poignant symbolism of a beautiful flower created from deadly munitions is a powerful
statement for peace. Each sculpted tulip, created by hand from rocket shrapnel, is a unique work of art, and created by an Israeli sculptor. The flowers make a unique gift for art collectors, synagogues, or as a meaningful present for any occasion.
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BOOK REVIEW l BY SIDNEY KESSLER
A NOVEL
You Want To Believe
B
efore you begin reading Curt Leviant’s latest novel, Kafka’s Son, you are confronted with a curious bit of information. There are a dozen quotes from French reviews included in the first few pages before the title page. Why? Because the book first appeared in French translation a few years ago before its publication early in 2016 in the original English, and garnered incredible reviews. One reviewer on French national TV called Kafka’s Son “a work of genius.” Kafka’s Son is a roller-coaster ride of a novel that is a mystery, travelogue, love story, literary analysis (Metamorphosis as comedy), and most important, a challenge to our sense of historical timelines. As our narrator meets one memorable character after another, the action rushes forward until the last page, which will astonish and surprise the narrator and delight the reader. The big question is: Did Kafka have a son? Leviant opens the novel with no less than seven beginnings, and concludes with an equal number of endings. Beginning #1 is a nod to Melville and t: “Call me Amschl. All right, so don’t call me Amschl. Nobody does anyway. Except when I’m called up to the Torah by my Hebrew name: Amschl ben Moshe.” He is
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our narrator. Beginning #2 tells readers they are entering a world where imagination and suspension of disbelief will launch them on a great adventure: “This is a true story. True story!? Humbug…. Either a narrative is true or it’s a story. It cannot be both. Period. End of story.” Let me unfold the plot just enough to get you started. Giving you too many details will spoil the fun. You will want to be puzzled, startled and enlightened as you travel along with our questing narrator. Amschl, a documentary filmmaker, is prompted by an elderly Czech Jew he meets in the Eldridge Street synagogue in New York, to go to Prague and make a film about the true history of his idol, Franz Kafka. Everything seems possible in Prague, a mystical city. With camera in hand he visits the oldest synagogue, the Altneushul, where the legendary Golem is said to be asleep in the attic. Another character says he survived the German invasion in that same attic. His other encounters include a man with a “golem’s” face; the old beadle of the synagogue who insists there never was an attic; Katya, the beautiful girl in the blue beret who knows more than she tells our narrator, agrees to go to a concert with him
and then disappears; a man who swears he is Kafka’s son and then he too disappears; and the enigmatic Mr. Klein who does not disappear. Mr. Klein becomes a companion, but raises additional questions. His very high energy level and obvious old age is puzzling. Katya reappears and leads our narrator to a synagogue not listed in the Jewish sites brochure where he spots Mr. Klein praying quietly. The plaster lions guarding the Holy Ark leap off and come alive. Amschl is both frightened and frustrated because he does not have his camera to record this fantastic scene. Katya and Mr. Klein share knowing glances and a few words to add to the puzzle. “The whole thing didn’t make sense” to Amschl but he plods on hoping to clear up one implausible “fact” after another. At one point the absurdities pile up and he thinks, “It reminded me of what I learned in geometry, maybe algebra: multiply two negative numbers and you get a positive. … You add up two absurds and get one truth.” The puzzle is compounded by the fact that all of these characters are breathing, rational, real people. Along with our narrator you want to believe them. You will also note that most of them have a “K” beginning their first or last name. The narrator keeps moving forward, looking for the breakthrough, and takes the reader, who becomes a willing partner on this whirlwind journey, to the startling ending I promised in my second paragraph. Kafka’s Son is a superb novel that can be enjoyed on many levels. It keeps you guessing and turning pages to uncover the truth and I agree with the French reviewer from LIRE, a leading literary journal, who is unequivocal in his praise: “As to whether Kafka had an heir, the answer is obvious. His name is Curt Leviant.” End of story! KAFKA’S SON, BY CURT LEVIANT, DZANC BOOKS, 487 PP. $15.95 PAPERBACK.
BY STEPHANIE LEWIS l HUMOR
mazel &
mishagoss
10 Bizarre tips for going to the Middle East (You’ll only find here!)
I
Just returned from Israel (and neighboring countries) but because I don’t write a tourism column here at L’CHAIM Magazine, I was just going to take all this great information straight to my grave. However the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced there’s one reader out there who might benefit from my strangely comforting travel tips. Are YOU that reader?? When inside airports that have heightened security, don’t loiter on benches darting your eyes furtively around. YOU know you’re contemplating which Duty Free shop to go drop major $$ in (because you forgot to souvenir shop for your kids) but the armed Israeli soldiers won’t get it. Neither should you have this dialogue: SOLDIER: State your business for being in this terminal, Miss. ME: (fluttering eyelashes) Wow, thanks for calling me “Miss!” SOLDIER: I asked what you are doing here? ME: Oh, I’m just killing time. SOLDIER: Killing?! Passport and ID, please. Now! ME: Wait, what? That’s just an American expression. You know like, “Did you hear
about the huge bomb Ronit’s ex-husband just dropped on her?” SOLDIER: You’re coming with me, Ma’am. Try not to walk into open-air market places asking, “Excuse me but which aisle would feminine hygiene products be on?” Don’t finally make it to Jerusalem, extremely honored to slip a prewritten note of prayer into the Western Wall, get confused and instead slide your “To-Do” list for when you return home. As you enter the country of Jordan, never tell the stiff, rigid-looking Border Crossing Guards that you almost named your son “Jordan” but thought it might sound “too girly” so you went with “Benjamin” instead. At the Dead Sea, just agree that you WILL float. Don’t argue with everyone around you that you’re an exception because you weigh too much for this natural phenomenon to work. Relax and SURRENDER. Three hours later, when you’re finally satisfied that you can float with the best of ‘em and decide to try covering your body with the black sludge that sits on the shores (because it’s supposed to have healing and therapeutic properties for your skin) don’t go around exclaiming, “Guess I’m just a stick in the mud, eh?” and elbow people roughly trying to nudge laughter outa them. Saying, “Well, here’s mud in your eye!” will get even less of a chuckle.
You will encounter co-ed public bathrooms. People back home can just trust you. You do not need to document this fact with photographs. Many places will bargain for their wares, but you’re not Monty Hall. Don’t say, “Let’s Make a Deal! How about I give you some Mickey Mouse soap from an official Disney hotel, a Hershey bar, and I’ll throw in a lock of hair from my firstborn son for that beautiful Star of David necklace in the window?” Don’t go to Masada and inquire if your entire Mahjong gang can have a group wedding vow renewal ceremony at the top? Or remark, “Gosh, it looked far more dramatic in the Peter O’Toole movie.” And when hiking around Petra, refrain from asking every tour guide, “Exactly which Indiana Jones movie was filmed here again?” This will not ingratiate you. Don’t think you’re terribly clever figuring out that the Med, Red, and Dead Sea all rhyme (and you can use that to make money) because there’s already a tee-shirt for that. Coffee mugs too. Safe travels! STEPHANIE D. LEWIS IS A REGULAR WRITER FOR THE HUFFINGTON POST AND PENS A HUMOR BLOG AT ONCEUPONYOURPRIME.COM. FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER @MISSMENOPAUSE.
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