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programming, as well as its Cozy Café coffee and tea cart, are free to all adults 60 years or older. Lunch is a suggested donation of $4 for those over 60 and $8 for all others. To reserve lunch, please call 858-637-3230. Complimentary transportation to and from the center is available, with donations welcome. College Avenue Center programming is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with lunch served at 12 p.m.

East County College Avenue Center For Seniors Receives Grant For Class Instructors

The San Diego Seniors Community Foundation (SDSCF) has awarded the Jewish Family Service (JFS) College Avenue Center $10,000 as part of SDSCF’s Empower San Diego Senior Center grant program. College Avenue Center, along with 10 other local senior centers and nonprofits, received the grants to help implement SDSCF’s “San Diego Master Plan for Senior Centers,” a countywide plan aimed to enhance modern senior centers across local communities.

The 2023 Empower Grant allows JFS to expand program offerings at College Avenue Center by compensating instructors, in addition to volunteer-led classes. Current offerings for the East County community include tai chi and yoga. The College Avenue Center furthers the goals of the San Diego Master Plan for Senior Centers, by providing inclusive spaces where all seniors can gain valuable knowledge and have trusted community resources they can rely on.

“Our mission is to provide a strong and healthy community in which older San Diegans can thrive,” said Kristine Stensberg, senior director of Nutrition and Aging Care Services at JFS. “With the help of this grant, we will continue to make connections and provide the help and assistance seniors in our community need.”

For more information on the College Avenue Center or to register, visit jfssd.org/cac or call 858-637-3270. College Avenue Center’s

Jewish Family Service Of San Diego Announces New Board Chair

At Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS)’s 2023 Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon, held June 27 at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego Jacobs Hall, the nonprofit announced its next board chair, Deborah Bucksbaum, along with new board members, while honoring key staff for their contributions in the past year.

Bucksbaum has served as a JFS board member for nearly a decade. She fills the position of outgoing board chair Emily Jennewein whose guidance over the past two years has been essential to the organization’s success. Bucksbaum’s background includes 28 years of business litigation. During her tenure as a JFS board member, she has advocated for affordable housing in the community and formed a

JFS housing committee, which will be further developed during her term as chair.

New board members sworn in include: Nadia Farjood, litigation associate, O’Melveny & Myers; Seth Krosner, trauma and critical care surgeon, Scripps Mercy Hospital; Adam Rosenthal, partner and employment attorney, Sheppard Mullin.

To get help, volunteer or support JFS, visit jfssd.org or call 858637-3000.

Holocaust Exhibit On Display At San Diego Library

From Oceanside to San Ysidro, from the young to our golden aged numerous schools, retirement facilities, and temples have had the pleasure of strolling among lifesize likenesses of Holocaust survivors featured in the Rancho San Diego Library.

Sandra Scheller, creator of RUTH Remember Us The Holocaust is at the library every Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. giving personal tours to schools, organizations, and individuals who wish to learn about the Holocaust and those that made a difference in San Diego. To meet with Sandra for a personal tour or to donate Holocaust memorabilia, contact Sandra directly at 619-422-3429 or email rememberustheholocaust@gmail.com.

Ronit Ronyerushalmi Earns Awards For Kavod Charter School

Ronit Ron-Yerushalmi was born to make a difference. At a young age, Ronit dreamed of changing the world for the better through her love for language and culture. As Director of Language & Global Studies at Kavod Charter School, Ronit is fulfilling her mission by creating a community where children from all cultures can learn modern Hebrew in a non-religious public school. Leading with a joyful, passionate and authentic approach, she encourages innovative teaching techniques at Kavod, an International Baccalaureate Tk-8 school that brings together children from diverse backgrounds to appreciate Israel and the Hebrew language. Her impact on biliteracy education is immeasurable. Ronit earned Kavod the honor of being named a State of California Pathway to the Seal of Biliteracy school. She was recently awarded a Charter Stars Award as an Outstanding Innovator and recognized by San Diego County Office of Education for her contribution in biliteracy education. Kol HaKavod!

BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY AND BNC CELEBRATE 75 YEARS!

Both the University and the Brandeis National Committee, which has supported Brandeis since its inception, turn 75 years old this year. Join the celebrations, and learn with San Dieguito Chapter’s informal study groups, enjoy their social groups and special events, participate in community service, and make friends; all while supporting Brandeis University.

This year’s Opening Meeting Luncheon and Study & Social Group Presentations will be held at the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club in Solana Beach on Wednesday, August 30, at 10:30 a.m. For further information, to RSVP (by August 14 please), or to receive a brochure describing the Study & Social Groups, email or call: rebeccathien2@ gmail.com or 760-580-6034.

programs to Hebrew studies, and lots of music enrichment with some of the best musicians and cantors in the business.

Between cohort lunches, panel presentations, certificate tracks, dynamic evening programs and late night kumzits, there was something for everyone including a special program (LEEP) supporting educators emerging into their first or second careers in Jewish education.

Rabbi Cherie Koller-Fox has been leading the conference for close to five decades and continues with the help of dedicated volunteers to encourage us despite budget cuts and conflicting priorities. The conference will be hosted in San Diego next summer. Learn more at www.newcaje.org.

NEWCAJE IS BACK IN PERSON AND IT FEELS SO GOOD!

Jewish educators across the country returned from the 14th NewCAJE (Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education) conference last month rejuvenated, inspired, fulfilled, and excited. Adjectives such as these were shared at the joyful closing circle. Finally back together in person after three years online, participants presented and enjoyed hundreds of sessions on everything from storytelling to history, classroom management to Torah comics and prayer enrichment