L'Chaim Magazine September 2023

ARt & WINE FEST

LA JOLLA'S ART AND WINE FESTIVAL IS BACK

Plus: HIGH HOLIDAYS

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Diane Benaroya:

prayers & passages

Lovingkindness

On August 8, devastating wildfires swept across the island of Maui in Hawai‘i, which destroyed most of the historic town of Lahaina as well as other parts of the island and resulting in at least 115 deaths (as of this writing). The loss of life and property is tragic beyond measure, made worse by the fact that many people have still not been accounted for.

As reports of this tragic disaster reached the mainland, I was inundated with calls, texts, DMs, and emails from friends as well as people I have not spoken to in years. They all wanted to know how they could help those who were suffering on Maui. (For the record, I live on the island of O‘ahu, some distance from Maui.) Individuals as well as Jewish community leaders wanted to do something, anything, to help the people of Maui, even from thousands of miles away. Their outpourings of compassion and kindness filled my heart.

So often we are worn down by what seems like constant sensationalist news reports of people committing various heinous crimes. Yet this overflow of chesed (lovingkindness) — a fundamental principle of Judaism –reminded me that kindness resides within most of us who inhabit this blessed planet.

The time is upon us when we will once again celebrate the holiest of days on our Jewish calendar: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This is traditionally a time of personal reflection, an opportunity to confront ourselves with honesty in identifying the aspects of our behavior that need improvement. We know there is always room to be better, do better. We can always be kinder, more compassionate, more generous (not only with charitable contributions but with our time). The day we give up and stop trying to be better people would be a day of true sadness.

The days between these holidays are known as A seret Y’mei T’shuva, generally translated into the “Ten Days of Repentance.” The word “repentance” in this context is misleading. The Hebrew root of the word t’shuva comes from the word for “return.” What we are, in fact, doing is returning to God by tapping into the holy parts of ourselves that dwell within each of our souls. Instead of viewing these days as fraught with self-flagellation, we can ask ourselves: What can I do to be the type of person God wants me to be? And perhaps even more importantly: What can I do to be the type of person that I want to be? We do not need to wait for a tragedy to

reach out to others. There are people in our midst who are suffering and need help. Their stories are just not in the news headlines. There may be people you already know putting on a brave face who are in great pain on the inside. They may be lonely or coping with illness or facing financial hardship. Look around you and reach out with chesed to people who may be struggling or in need among your family, friends, coworkers or in your community.

Our High Holy Days t’shuvah challenge is to find ways we can be kinder, more helpful people, not just for the few days or weeks that follow the holidays, but on a regular and consistent basis. We do not need to wait for a local or distant tragedy to be our best possible selves. Performing acts of chesed (lovingkindness)—a Jewish obligation and true mitzvah—makes us not only better Jews but better people. This is a blessing for all of humanity.

L’shana Tovah U’m’tukah. Wishing you a sweet and happy New Year.

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

D. LEWIS

mazel & mishagoss

A Tale of Turning Twenty

Ibreathe a huge sigh of relief when my animal-lover daughter turns twenty and switches her life focus from increasing our family pet menagerie to pursuing a romantic relationship instead. (Thank you, Hashem! Jewish grandkiddies can’t be far behind, right?!) However, it instantly opens a new can of worms when she asks what kind of traits to look for in a potential spouse? I mention ‘being Jewish,’ and she gives a quizzical look. “The more in common, the more likely your marriage will be successful,” I explain. Now fasten your seatbelts, cuz here we go!

Daughter: But you and dad are both Jewish and you guys still got divorced. So how does marrying someone Jewish actually help?

Me: (flustered) Um…uh, well we would’ve divorced much sooner if one of us wasn’t Jewish. Also you should both have the same level of observancy. That was our problem. If someone serves a dinner of cheeseburgers and milkshakes and the other one keeps Kosher, it won’t go well. If someone wants the household to abstain from motor vehicles on Shabbat, but the other one works for Toyota – and Saturday is the biggest day for test-driving cars then it’s—

Daughter: Okay already! I get it! So I should avoid someone who’s too Jewish and also who’s not enough Jewish? I’m looking for the just the right amount of Jewishness? Who am I? Goldilocks?

Me: Don’t get smart, young lady. Just give

me Jewish grandkiddies, that’s all I ask.

Daughter: But the right kind of Jewish is so complicated. That’s why I’m choosing Christopher. He’ll look good in a yarmulke, and he’ll learn how to stomp on a wine glass…so simple!

Me: Christopher? That doesn’t sound like any kinda Jewish name I’ve ever heard of.

Daughter: Exactly! We learned in Sunday school that being Jewish runs down the maternal side. So your grandkiddies will automatically be Jewish, no matter who I marry, simply because I am.

At this point I remember the part of Fiddler on the Roof where Tevye remarks, “As the good book says, each shall seek his own kind.” But look at my daughter’s eyes… so hopeful. If I keep kvetching at her to marry within our faith, she’s liable to borrow a book from Fyedka, then run off to be married by a priest in some church in the little town of Anatefka. Instead, I ask how Christopher’s family feels about their relationship?

Daughter: He’s actually going to find out when his father returns from the National Cherry Pit Spitting Convention this Sunday. Luckily his mom already graciously gave us two thumbs up…right before she passed out on a chair at a casino slot machine. But his grandparents are kinda hard to reach at the homeless shelter ever since their cellphones were turned off.

Oy! Clearly there are far bigger problems than whether or not I’ll dance the hora at

my future grandkiddie’s Bar Mitzvahs. Still, I can’t help but lament my grandkiddies missing out on lighting the menorah, never sleeping in a sukkah, or getting to complain about fasting on Yom Kippur. But wait! A text comes thru that makes everything a moot point…

Daughter: Hi mom! Well, I did what I knew would make you happy – I broke up with Christopher. But do you still wanna meet your brand new Jewish grandkiddies? I’m excited to introduce them to you, so I’ll be right over!

What? How is this even possible?! Nevertheless, just reading the word ‘grandkiddies’ gets me ready to spoil them and kvell on Facebook! As I run around cleaning, readying my camera, and cooking up a pot of matzo ball soup, there’s a knock at the door. Flinging it open, I come face to face with my three new grandkiddies—a Persian, a Tabby, and a Siamese—each wearing a tiny yarmulke and a miniature tallit. Oy! If only I had taught my daughter to be a better speller…but there’s no denying that in my daughter’s arms ARE three Jewish grandkitties. Now I just need to change the title of this column to Tails of Turning Twenty.

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

PHOTO BY LORIN MAUGERY

1000 WORDS

ISRAELI-FRENCH LAWYER IS JEWISH STATE'S NEW TOURISM CONSUL TO US SOUTH

Lorin Maugery, 43, appointed to the role this month by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, grew up in Provence in southeastern France. He trained as a lawyer in France and at Fordham University, and earned a certificate in hotel real estate investments and asset management from Cornell University.

When he visited Israel for the first time at the age of 14, Maugery was overwhelmed when he first touched the Western Wall in Jerusalem, he said. At 29, he made aliyah with his wife, Anna. In 2014, he began as a marketing department desk manager in the tourism ministry, responsible for France, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands.

In recent years, Maugery established and headed the ministry’s foreign investor-relations department, assisting developers hoping to invest in Israeli hotels. One of his most proud accomplishments was organizing a conference in Dubai on investment in the Israeli hotel industry.

“Having Israelis seated next to Emirati delegates at our event was really moving,” he said. “The Abraham Accords opened many opportunities, and we were honored to enable people from both countries to explore business opportunities in the hotel industry.”

He is now headed to Atlanta, where the Israeli tourism office is responsible for 11 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

“I hope to expose as many people as possible within the southern region of the U.S. to Israel as a prime travel destination,” he said.

Maugery, who is excited to meet “interesting people” in the United States, including those in the travel industry and religious leaders, said that he anticipates his biggest challenge will be conveying “the true and genuine Israel to our friends from the South.”

He aims to do so by speaking at events and to the media, and through organizing and attending conferences.

“Israel has so much to offer travelers,” he said. “Everything from history and religion to diverse cultures and amazing food. We have beautiful beaches and friendly people, hiking and scuba-diving.”

Those in the South may think of Israel as far away and out-of-reach as a feasible travel destination. But, he said, “Israel is closer than you

think,” noting direct flights to Tel Aviv from Atlanta, Miami, and soon, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Since colonial times, Jews have been a part of the South and have made “significant contributions to the region’s history and culture,” according to Kenneth Hoffman, executive director of the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience in New Orleans.

“In turn, the South has had a significant influence on us. It’s a unique relationship that has given the world Jewish Mardi Gras parades, fried matzah balls and the phrase, ‘Shalom Y’all,’” he said.

Hoffman, who invited the new Israeli consul to visit the museum, recommended that Maugery explore Jewish historical sites in Charleston, S.C.; Savannah, Ga.; Galveston, Texas; Natchez, Miss.; Vicksburg, Miss.; and Memphis, Tenn. And, of course, in the Big Easy.

“Sharing our culture and history with the wider non-Jewish population gives us opportunities for education, conversation and fellowship, leading to more awareness and acceptance,” he said. “In this time of growing antisemitism, these kinds of interactions can help make our communities stronger, safer and more secure.”

“I hope to expose as many people as possible within the southern region of the U.S. to Israel as a prime travel destination,” Maugery said.

LA JOLLA ART & WINE FESTIVAL

CELEBRATE UNIQUE, MAGICAL ART, MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, AND EPICUREAN DELIGHTS

oin in the fun and festivities at the 15th annual La Jolla Art and Wine Festival (LJAWF), in a class by itself held October 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown La Jolla. The streets from Girard to Prospect will be magically transformed into a feast for the senses, including over 160 juried artists from the United States and Mexico, selected for their superb talent and unique artwork.

With over 45,000 visitors, admission is free and pets are welcome. Artists’ creations will be displayed in mediums including: Sculpture, painting, mixed media, fiber, fine glass, jewelry design, live art, woodwork, printmaking, ceramics, photography and wearable art.

Since its inception, the LJAWF, has donated over $1,000,000 to five local La Jolla public schools, for the educational benefit of more than 4,000 children each year. These essential funds benefit art, music, science, physical education, and technology programs at the five schools.

Check out fun experiences and unique items in their 2-day Silent Auction such as a once in a lifetime stay at Rancho La Puerta. Attendees can view items with their Smartphone, computer or tablet and bid online. All you have to do is register using the link provided and start bidding.

An award winning traditional artist, Paola Luther is the Featured Artist for the LJAWF. With over 15 years working on traditional art in all mediums: oil, watercolors, pastels, and gauche, Paola utilizes a delicate touch with a sense of light and color.

Asked about her process regarding art, Paola responded: “My latest endeavors are centered on the human figure in various landscapes, with a particular focus on the beach. To create my art, I strive to simplify and expand my perspective, seeking out the perfect blend of color, contrast and luminosity. While I take reference photos, I use multiple sources to encompass my designs, making color adjustments, adding or subtracting people, and including objects that enhance the narrative. Leveraging my knowledge of design, I strive to create a captivating atmosphere that tells a compelling story.”

“The array of colors that I witness when people bask in the full sun and cast strong shadows fascinates me. The aweinspiring landscape of California, particularly its picturesque beach scenery, is a constant source of inspiration for me. My artistic vision is centered on showcasing California’s distinctive and magnificent features. In my paintings, I strive to convey a narrative that captures the essence of the moment. My aim is to magnify the beauty of fleeting moments and encapsulate them in my artwork.”

Paola loves LJAWF’s all-inclusive nature, as it caters to adults, children, and even pets.

“It is truly delightful to witness the beautiful streets come to life with the jubilant revelry of the art lovers and admirers. The

event is thoughtfully organized and well-coordinated, infused with an infectious energy that invigorates all in attendance. Additionally, the event organizers’ promotional efforts begin months in advance, rendering it a must-visit destination for Angelinos and visitors from neighboring cities.”

Learn more about Paola at www.paolaluther.com

Visitors 21 and over can participate in the iconic beer and wine garden, where wine aficionados and those with an appreciation of craft beer and spirits unite. Local craft breweries along with 35 wineries and distilleries are available. Sample exceptional wines from Valle De Guadalupe, California, Italy, and France. Located in the center of the festival, hours are noon to 6 p.m., with the final pouring at 5:30 p.m. The area offers ample seating, shade and room to dance, offering diversified musical entertainment.

Ambrogio15 Enoteca, in La Jolla, is a festival sponsor this year. Awarded “Best Pizza in San Diego” by San Diego Magazine, the Union Tribune and Ranch and Coast magazine, owner Giacomo Pizzigoni and his business partner, Andrea Burrone opened the first Ambrogio15 seven years ago in Pacific Beach, with the ambitious goal of redefining the perception of pizza in San Diego, shifting from fast food to a unique dining experience. The name derives from the patron saint of Milan, in their hometown, San Ambrogio. With a symbolic value, the name represents their city, a metropolis always looking to the future without forgetting the traditions. International and fast paced, where design, architecture, fashion, history and gastronomy merge into something special.

Asked what makes their cuisine unique, Giacomo answered: “Our pizza is very unique, very different from a Neapolitan pizza. The dough consists of a mix of different flours, all imported from Italy that have nutritional values; are highly digestible, and create a paper-thin crust that enhances the flavors of the ingredients that top the pizzas. Even with the recipes we like to be creative. For example one of our most loved pizzas has potatoes, speck and truffle oil, another one recreates the flavors of a traditional lasagna with truffles.”

“The wines play a huge part in our story, as we were the very first restaurant to bring natural wines from Italy. Working with our partners at DOCG imports, we curated a selection of boutique winemakers who love their land and really showcase the incredible biodiversity of Italy, giving our clients a product that’s authentic to their terroir and that is very unique. Last year we received the “Best Wine List in San Diego Award” from the prestigious Italian guide Gambero Rosso.

“We couldn’t be happier to sponsor the LJAWF and give back to a place that means a lot to us.”

The Geppetto’s Toys “Family Art Center,” a fan favorite each year, will return with plenty of free family fun for creators of all ages. With activities designed to engage a variety of interests, the Family Art Center promises laughter, joy, and magical memories for all visitors. Examples include art activities and games hosted by Geppetto’s, ballet and dance with the Rosin Box Project, and

mixed media art activities with the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. There will also be prize drawings and giveaways sponsored by Geppetto’s Toys, OOLY, and the Op. Continued entertainment includes My Gym La Jolla, La Jolla Youth Robotics, La Jolla Riford Library, face painting, Tito’s Soft Play, balloon twisting, Momentum Acrobatics, Seaside Arts Center, and others. Finally, enjoy the synergy of an interactive mural created and directed by local artist and parent Mieko Anekawa, who has a connection with one of the LJAWF’s beneficiary schools. Attendees can visit the mural during the festival and leave their mark on this public art project. The completed

mural will be on display for the entire community to treasure until the close of the festival. Enjoy roving art performers at the festival as well.

THE MISSION OF THE LA JOLLA ART & WINE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION IS TO BRING NEEDED FUNDS TO LA JOLLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ART TO THE COMMUNITY OF LA JOLLA. ALL DONATIONS TO THE LJAWF ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT LJAWF.COM. FOR INFORMATION ON SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, EMAIL INFO@LAJOLLAARTANDWINEFESTIVAL.COM.

Featured artist, Paola Luther

La Jolla & Encinitas locations Open from 7:30am - 3pm everyday

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TEST YOUR JEWISH IQTM

1. Which Jew is directly responsible for a vaccine that saved countless millions of lives around the world?

____ a. Jonas Salk

____ b. Albert Bourla

____ c. Mordechai Wolff (Waldemar) Haffkine

____ d. All of the above

2. Moses was denied his fervent wish to enter the land of Israel because of his actions concerning which incident?

____ a. Striking a rock

____ b. Twelve scouts sent to the land of Canaan

____ c. Golden calf

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____ d. Earth opening and swallowing Korach

3. The Talmud, Aristotle, and St. Thomas Aquinas agree that the male gender is endowed on a human fetus after how much time in the womb?

____ a. One week

____ b. One month

____ c. 40 days

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____ c. Samson in the collapse of the Philistine temple

____ d. All of the above

7. In the Freedom Summer Murders of 1964, how many Jews were abducted and murdered by the Ku Klux Klan and local law enforcement for attempting to register African Americans to vote, an event dramatized in the 1988 movie, Mississippi Burning?

a. 1

b. 2

c. 3

d. 4

8. According to the Torah, on the eve of their exodus from Egypt, Jews were commanded to consume all but which one of these?

____ a. Lamb or kid roasted whole ____ b. Four cups of wine ____ c. Bitter herbs ____ d. Matzos

____ d. 13 weeks

4. Which of these Jews led a ragtag band of 318 untrained household members to victory against the combined forces of four kings and their armies?

____ a. Abraham

____ b. Isaac

____ c. Jacob

____ d. Esau

5. In 2023, which Arab country became the first to begin introducing Holocaust education into its curriculum?

____ a. Saudi Arabia ____ b. UAE ____ c. Egypt

____ d. Jordan

6. Which of these Jews did not survive these deadly experiences?

____ a. Daniel in the lions’ pit ____ b. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace

9. The Yiddish word tsuris, defined as troubles or problems and now used as slang, comes from which word?

____ a. Tzaraas, the biblical skin disease resembling leprosy ____ b. Tsar, Russian ruler ____ c. Tsar, Hebrew for narrow

____ d. None of the above

10. Which Jew had his parents murdered, survived a Nazi slave labor camp and the Buchenwald concentration camp as a 7-yearold, emigrated to Israel as an 8-year-old, learned Hebrew, and became Chief Rabbi of Israel in 1993?

____ a. Eli Wiesel

____ b. Simon Wiesenthal

____ c. Meir Kahane

____ d. Yisrael Meir Lau

Answers on page 25.

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TAHINI SWEET POTATO FARRO SALAD WITH CHICKPEA DRESSING

BY AMY KRITZER BECKER @WHATJEWWANNAEAT

Tahini Sweet Potato Farro Salad with Chickpea Dressing is healthy, crunchy and great for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Tahini roasted sweet potatoes on a bed of nutty farro and peppery arugula tossed in a chickpea dressing. Avocado, almonds, tomatoes, a soft boiled egg, a little chile pepper flakes and magic. It makes a lot, so you can eat if for a few meals, and the textures and flavors will keep your mouth happy. Yay!

TAHINI SWEET POTATO FARRO SALAD WITH CHICKPEA DRESSING

SERVES

4 -6

INGREDIENTS

For Chickpea Dressing:

1 cup cooked chickpeas plus 1/2 cup for garnish

1 garlic clove

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 lemon juiced (2 tablespoons)

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Salt and pepper to taste

Cold water

For Sweet Potatoes:

2 cups sweet potatoes in 3/4-inch cubes

2 tablespoons tahini paste

2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon or more red chile pepper flakes

For Salad:

3 cups cooked farro

2 cups arugula

1 avocado sliced

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes halved

2 soft boiled eggs

1/4 cup sliced almonds

Chile pepper flakes optional

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make the chickpea dressing. In a food processor, blend 1 cup chickpeas and garlic until pureed. Then add olive oil, lemon juice, cumin and mix. Add salt and pepper to taste and enough water to make a dressing. Set aside.

2. To make the sweet potatoes, pre-heat oven to 410 degrees F. Toss sweet potatoes with tahini paste, olive oil, cumin, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Roast in a single layer on a cookie sheet for 15 minutes or until cooked through and nicely browned, tossing halfway through.

3. Time to assemble! Combine farro and arugula with dressing. Then top with sweet potatoes (warm or at room temperature), avocado, cherries, eggs, almonds and more chile pepper flakes if desired.

Amy Kritzer Becker is the founder of the modern Jewish cooking blog What Jew Wanna Eat (whatjewwannaeat. com) and author of the cookbook Sweet Noshings. She is also the owner of the cool Jewish gifts store ModernTribe (moderntribe.com).

Join the Sharsheret in the Kitchen for “Tahini Two Ways: Savory and Sweet Recipes with Your Favorite Sesame Condiment” on Wednesday, September 27 at 5pm PT when Amy demonstrates some unique and delicious tahini recipes with us. Register at https://link.sharsheret.org/AmyKritzer23 This program is part of the “Sharsheret in the Kitchen” series, which brings nutritious kosher meal options to help empower all of us at risk for breast and ovarian cancer to make healthier dietary choices thanks to generous support from Cedars-Sinai, and The Cooperative Agreement DP19-1906 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sharsheret, a non-profit organization, is the Jewish breast cancer and ovarian cancer community. If you or someone you love has been impacted by breast or ovarian cancer, or has elevated genetic risk, contact Sharsheret for free support and resources. For more information, visit sharsheret.org or call (866) 474-2774.

The Power of Prayer Yom Kippur and the Holocaust

BY DEBORAH FRIPP

“On Rosh Hashanah, it is written; on Yom Kippur, it is sealed: how many will pass from the earth and how many will be created; who will live and who will die; who will die after a long life and who before his time; who by water and who by fire, who by sword and who by beast, who by famine and who by thirst, who by upheaval…” (U’Netane Tokef, Yom Kippur Machzor [High Holy Day prayerbook]).

Seldom has this prayer felt more relevant than during the Holocaust. Hiding in Dulka, Poland, two years to the day after the decree forcing the Jews of Poland into ghettos, scholar Yosef Guzik considered the U’Netane Tokef:

“Yesterday on Shabbat, we had Yom Kippur. …We prayed with a torn and boiling heart. And how could it be otherwise with unfortunate and marginalized people like us? Our souls were fasting …. We prayed silently, and from the depths of our hearts, we poured out our hearts. Our eyes shed tears for our fate and the fate of our people.

“In front of us is the big and valuable question: the question of ‘who will live and who will die’, ‘who will fall and who will rise.’ The question pierces our minds on Yom Kippur more than any other day. It touches us, our souls, our existence, our very being. ... Will we get to stay alive? … Will it cost us what it did not cost thousands and thousands of our brothers, whose blood was shed like water? … Will our fervent prayers be heard?”

Through the years of persecution, murder, and torment, these questions haunted the hearts of Jews everywhere. Nonetheless, incredible accounts of observance of Yom Kippur come out of this time. They poured out their hearts in the camps and the ghettos, even waiting on the train platforms, sanctifying not just the Divine but also life itself.

Charlotte Hellman recounts the Kol Nidre prayers led by her husband Avraham on the eve of Yom Kippur 1944. He stood on the train station ramp waiting for the transport that was to take them to Auschwitz. She remembers,

“My husband said: ‘It’s time to pray.’ He placed two suitcases, one on top of the other, and covered them with a Tallit. He stood with Levin and his son from Komotau in Bohemia, and the three put their prayer shawls over their heads. When my husband began to pray out

loud, a bitter cry rose from the throats of all the men and women. …. My husband chanted the “U’Netane Tokef,” and an old man, apparently a Rabbi from Slovakia, removed his shoes and recited the Vidui [confession] in a fearful cry.”

How to observe Yom Kippur was a difficult question, however. How can one fast when hunger is part of everyday life? The Torah tells us, “The tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement. There shall be a holy convocation unto you, and you shall afflict your souls.” (Leviticus, 23:27) And yet the Torah also tells us, “Take you therefore good heed unto yourselves.” (Deuteronomy, 4:17) Rabbis in the Holocaust decided the latter commandment took precedence.

In the Kovno Ghetto, Rabbi Ephraim Oshry considered many questions such as these. He wrote the questions and his responses Rabbinic “responsas” on bits of paper torn from cement sacks he carried during forced labor. He hid the papers in tin cans and buried them outside the ghetto where he was able to find them after the war.

Addressing the issue of fasting on Yom Kippur, Rabbi Oshry states that while fasting on Yom Kippur is a religious obligation under normal circumstances, the preservation of life takes precedence in times of extreme danger and suffering. Rabbi Oshry ruled that it was therefore permissible to eat or drink on Yom Kippur in order to sustain oneself in such dire conditions.

After the war, new questions arose. How do we reclaim our shattered lives? How do we reclaim our traditions, recreate connections that may have been broken in the worst of times? In the Fährenwald Displaced Persons Camp in Germany in 1945, Rabbi Yekutiel Yehuda Halberstam, the rebbe of Sanz-Klausenberg, delivered a fiery Yom Kippur sermon:

“Ashamnu - Did we sin? Bagadnu - Were we unfaithful?… Were we, G-d forbid, unfaithful to G-d and fail to remain loyal to him? Gazalnu - did we steal? From whom did we steal in Auschwitz and Mühldorf? … Maradnu - We rebelled? Against whom? We rebelled against you, Master of the Universe?”

“This Vidui was not written for us,” he concluded, closing his machzor.

“But,” he thundered anew, “we are guilty of sins that are not written in the machzor… How many times did many of us pray, ‘Master of the Universe, I have no more strength, take my soul so I will not have to recite Modeh Ani1 anymore’?… We must ask the Almighty to restore our faith and trust in him. ‘Trust in G-d forever.’… Pour your hearts out to him.”

Since 1946, an additional verse has been added to the Yom Kippur morning Yizkor [mourning] prayer: a Yizkor for the millions of Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. This year as we say Yizkor, let us each remember one name from among the millions. In remembering one name, we will be doing our part atoning for them as well, allowing them peace, and allowing their memory to be kept with the everlasting flame of our people.

Shopping for Shofars

Post-pandemic, brick-and-mortar Judaica stores are closing at a rapid rate

BY SARAH OGINCE | JNS.ORG

Long, twisted Kudu shofars — made from the horns of the African antelope — hang dramatically from the ceiling. But small rams’ horns are still the biggest sellers, says Shlomo Salczer, a buyer in the gifts department, pausing to give instructions for folding a kittel, the white garment traditionally worn during Yom Kippur services and during Passover seders.

A legacy business established in 1934, West Side Judaica & Bookstore is itself an endangered species. Prohibitive Manhattan rents and competition from the web have made a family store like it all but untenable, Salczer says. (His brother owned the shop for 40 years before selling it to his brother-in-law in 2017.)

“Business is not like it used to be. The rent’s going up, so I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he laments. Amazon and other online retailers knocked out its last competitor, J. Levine’s Judaica, in 2019, leaving only a couple of boutique galleries and gift shops.

Even as the Upper West Side transformed from an immigrant enclave to a gentrified playground for yuppies, the Salczers’ store has remained a fixture. “Religious, not religious, we cater to everybody,” he says.

Large Judaica stores still flourish in Chassidic neighborhoods in Brooklyn, but those like West Side Judaica, which draw in a diverse clientele — stocking everything from biblical criticism to the traditional Artscroll Chumash — are struggling. Post-pandemic, the market has moved definitively online, where retailers offer convenience and prices that small stores struggling with large overhead costs can’t hope to match.

In the process, however, something is being lost, insists Salczer. In-person experiences with Judaica — and other Jews — that might not happen elsewhere: “Talking, shmoozing, trying on a tallit, seeing the [mezuzah] parchment, feeling it.”

The daily afternoon prayer service hosted in the store attracts strictly observant Jewish men who wear black hats, as well as those who only don a kippah for prayer. Both sorts are comfortable in the shop’s neutral environment, he notes.

That communal function keeps West Side Judaica’s doors open, even when turning a profit has become a distant dream.

“A Jewish neighborhood without a Judaica store is embarrassing,” says Salczer.

SELLING SCROLLS IN SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco isn’t known for its Chassidic neighborhoods, but it does have a Judaica store.

“In the Bay Area, we have a lot of non-affiliated people who are still culturally Jewish and want to put up mezuzahs,” says owner Hiroko Nogami-Rosen. “I often give them advice on how to put it up and what’s on the scroll.”

A Tokyo native, she opened her store, Dayenu, in 2004 when she couldn’t find bat mitzvah gifts for her daughter’s friends. Housed in the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, Dayenu — like many shops in synagogues across the country — benefits from a sympathetic landlord. “They gave me a really good break,” she says. “That’s how I’ve been staying here.”

In Dayenu’s case, the store came first … and then the community. The fact that Nogami-Rosen wasn’t Jewish didn’t prevent her clientele from coming together when she was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after she opened the shop. “The Jewish community was very, very supportive,” she recalls. “I made friends.” She said that she was so moved by the experience that she decided to convert.

But two decades later, Dayenu’s customer base has dwindled to senior citizens and parents from the JCC’s preschool. “I’m not making a living. It’s more like volunteering my time,” NogamiRosen says wryly.

The freshly baked challahs she sells on Fridays don’t move quickly anymore, and her favorite items — colorful, hand-woven tallitot — are getting harder to find. “In the last 10 years, most of the Judaica artists who supplied us closed up or retired,” she says. “Young artists just don’t come to us.”

Where young Judaica artists are going is no secret. Amy Kritzer Brecker, president of ModernTribe.com, reels off some of her more

interesting suppliers: a company in South Africa making ethically sourced African menorahs, a young woman in Brooklyn who uses her degree in fashion design to create acrylic Jewish jewelry, a Conservative rabbi who makes holiday-themed nail decals (who is also the inventor of Instagram-famous matzah pajamas, predictably followed by sleepwear for every holiday).

Even with the occasional in-person pop-up and an active Instagram account, Brecker, who also lives in San Francisco, acknowledges that ModernTribe can’t replace brick-and-mortar Judaica stores.

“I definitely agree there’s a lot of community around Judaica,” she says. But with or without community, ModernTribe is thriving — the store has grown every year since Brecker and her brother purchased it in 2016.

IT'S A STRUGGLE

There are times when a Judaica store is indispensable. In late October of 2018, Pinsker’s Judaica Center — the last independent Judaica store in Pittsburgh — was flooded with customers. Workers filled endless orders for memorial candles, while the store’s in-house cafe struggled to feed the throngs of mourners who descended on the city in the aftermath of the shooting that month of 11 Jewish worshippers at the Tree of Life / Or L’Simcha Synagogue.

“We felt it in a big way,” recalls co-owner Baila Cohen. “It’s a small enough city so that people really do have contact with one another.”

Five years later, however, Pinsker’s is facing the same challenges as other Judaica stores around the country. “We’re still working to stabilize and continue,” she says. “In terms of the bottom line, it’s a struggle.”

On New York’s Upper West Side, the struggle has often seemed to be approaching the end. In 2017, West Side Judaica announced that it was closing permanently. The news generated an outpouring of love and support for the store — so much support, in fact, that the owners decided not to close after all. The 100-plus comments posted on the 2017 closing announcement read like a love letter to in-person Judaica shopping.

“I love speaking with the salespeople and even other customers,” one reads. “Every time I walk into WSJ, I feel like I’m getting a tune-up on my Jewishness.”

MAUI JEWS FIND SOLACE

BY DIANE BENAROYA

In the heart of Maui, nestled between rolling hills and azure waters, lies the tranquil haven of Maui Kosher Farms. It isn’t just a farm but a refuge where people seek solace and connection with nature. Amidst the tropical green flora, a diverse community has found its home. Jews seeking inspiration and spirituality have arrived from Israel and other parts of the world to work in agriculture and with animals.

Rabbi Zirkind, with a passion for sustainability, tends to the land with care, fostering an environment where people and the earth can thrive harmoniously. But he is always prepared. He has eight chest freezers where he stores kosher meat and chicken. Fuel canisters are always full.

Through the years, people have said, “Mendel is always ready for a disaster.”

On August 18, the last two fire victims staying at Maui Kosher Farms left the farm.

A week before, on August 10, Rabbi Mendel and his wife Chana had 45 people sleeping on their farm in tents, makeshift beds, sleeping bags, and in their cars. Little did the Zirkinds know when they opened their farm six years prior, that it would become a refuge for the Jews and non-Jews of Maui.

Boris Gladshtein of Makena IT Group, a Maui resident and friend of L’CHAIM Magazine, related that on Tuesday, August 8, he was working and saw that all his routers had disconnected. The next day, he went to Lahaina and ran into tourists who said the road was closed due to high winds and downed electrical poles. By 6 a.m. on August 10, Lahaina was burning down. Gladshtein lost two dozen stores and

30 clients.

Because the electrical power had cut off, the water was off. The sirens didn’t turn on.

The Internet was down because Internet lines had burnt. Cell phones could not operate. No one could call for help. There was no reception, leaving the area of Lahaina cut off completely. Three and four-story buildings collapsed. Complete chaos ensued, according to Gladshtein.

The Israeli contingent in Maui is close-knit and integrated into the Hawaiian community. Many families, including Israelis, lost homes, boats, businesses, passports, jewelry, documents, family photos and more. Even metal safes and their contents burnt. Despite over 100 deaths, no Jews perished.

Knowing that Rabbi Zirkind was always prepared, people headed out to the Farm. Jews and non-Jews, citizens and tourists found refuge at Rabbi and Chana Zirkind’s farm.

“My sister Chana and my brother-in-law Mendel immediately saw what was needed and jumped into action. The summer camp girls there for three weeks were eager to help and did whatever they could to prepare the farm for fire refugees,” Bluma Rubenfeld of Chabad of Poway related.

As a cancer survivor, Chana’s dream has always been to have a place of refuge for those who would seek peace, comfort, and hope. Mendel had always dreamed to be a farmer; to plant, harvest and care for animals. The dream came true when Chabad offered the couple a place in Maui to do outreach work, known as Shlichut.

Six years have passed since the Zirkinds moved to Maui, and the

In the aftermath of the Maui fires, a kosher farm provides refuge for people on the island.

farm continues to thrive. It has become more than just a refuge; it is a testament to the resilience of nature and the human spirit. Visitors come seeking peace, rejuvenation, and a sense of belonging. Maui Kosher Farms remains a place where the rhythm of life is felt deeply, where people and the land share an unbreakable bond—a haven forever etched in their hearts. Most recently, Maui Kosher Farms was a refuge from the flames.

IF YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP VICTIMS IN MAUI, VISIT MAUIKOSHERFARM.COM/FIRE.

ANSWERS TO TEST YOUR JEWISH IQTM

1. d. All of the above. Haffkine is the little-known Ukrainian Orthodox Jew who is credited with the development and use of vaccines against cholera and bubonic plague. Called “a savior of humanity” by Joseph Lister, the pioneer of antiseptic surgery, Haffkine arguably saved far more lives than Jonas Salk (polio and influenza), Edward Jenner (smallpox), and Louis Pasteur (rabies, anthrax). Albert Bourla, a Greek Jew and son of Holocaust survivors, as Chairman and CEO of Pfizer, pushed for the fast development of a COVID-19 vaccine and was first to succeed at getting it from the lab into people’s arms.

2. a. Many reasons have been suggested why such a seemingly small transgression as striking a rock to produce water for millions of thirsty Jews, rather than speaking to the rock, should have resulted in such a severe punishment for Moses.

3. c. 40 days. Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas agree that the female gender is endowed after 80 days in the womb.

4. a. Abraham with 318 of his household members and disciples defeated the armies of the four kings and rescued Lot, who was his nephew and brother-inlaw. Abraham took no share of the booty for himself, but rewarded those who helped him.

5. b. UAE, as a result of the Abraham Accords.

6. c. After his eyes were put out by the Philistines, Samson broke the pillars supporting the Temple of Dagon, killing himself and the 3000 Philistines who had come to watch him perform. Daniel survived being thrown into the lions’ pit by Darius the Mede, who then threw those who conspired against Daniel and their families into the pit in his place. Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survived being thrown into the fiery furnace for their refusal to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue.

7. b. Two Jews, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, and one African American, James Chaney, were abducted, murdered, and buried in an earthen dam. After an extensive search by the FBI, local and state authorities, and 400 U.S. Navy sailors, their bodies were discovered seven weeks later. National outrage helped gain passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

8. b. The obligation to drink four cups of wine at the Passover seder was imposed by the Sages much later. But the obligation is so strong that even a poor person is required to drink the four cups at the Passover seder (Mishnah Pes. 10:1), and even if he has to sell the shirt off his back. Fortunately, there is also an obligation to host others at the Passover seder, and especially the poor.

9. c. Tsuris is a direct adaptation in Yiddish of tsaros (or tsarot), the plural of the Hebrew word tsar, meaning narrow or constricted. Tsaros is often expanded to include situations in which a person is troubled as, for example, King David was when writing, “The troubles (tsaros) of my heart have increased ...” (Psalms 25:17)

10. d. The story of Rabbi Lau and his ascension, foretold by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, to become Chief Rabbi of Israel, can be read in his memoir, Out of the Depths.

0 – 2 Talmid/Talmida (Student)

3 – 5 Melamed/Melamedet (Teacher)

6 – 8 Talmid Chacham/Talmidat Chacham (Scholar)

9 – 10 Gaon/Gaona (Genius)

Your comments are welcome at Felber@Jewish-IQ.com

©2023 Felber, Starmark, Inc., all rights reserved.

COULD JUDICIAL REFORM BE LINKED TO SAUDI DEAL?

What will Israel look like on its 100th birthday? It’s a question not asked enough, according to Israel’s former Ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, during a recent interview on ILTV. Oren shared his trademark pragmatism during the wide-ranging interview that covered the judicial reforms crisis, IsraelSaudi negotiations, and the challenges facing Israel’s relationship with Diaspora Jewry.

“We won’t be able to overcome any of [Israel’s] challenges until we understand them and face up to them,” he said. “Ignoring them is not going to make them go away.”

Oren sighted his latest book, Israel 2048: The Rejuvenated State, which lays out his vision for the Jewish State, 25 years into the future. In fact, a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu was the catalyst behind the book.

“It’s a book that originated in a conversation I had with the Prime Minister about five years ago, [where I said], ‘Listen, we never talk about the future,’ because we’re so bogged down in our current crises [and] we really don’t think about tomorrow much less about 25 years,’” recalled Oren.

In reference to the Judicial reform crisis currently gripping the country, Oren remarked, “I wrote a chapter about the need to reform the judicial system…in a way that was very measured. The way judges are chosen, the scope of the Supreme Court etc. Many of the issues that we’re dealing with now but in a way that also preserved the checks on government. If we had addressed that issue three or four years ago in a serious way, maybe we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in right now.”

On Israel-Diaspora relations, Oren painted a far from rosy picture, noting the changing demographics in North American Jewry. “You have young liberal American Jews who feel particularly disenfranchised from Israel,” he lamented. “They feel alienated from Israel. They don’t understand the trends that are occurring here and quite frankly they’re difficult to understand. We have to reach out and try to maintain open channels of dialogue to understand that Israel is not the United States of America. We live in a very different neighborhood, and we have to understand them and the situations they face.”

Oren shared his desire to continue his dialogue with American Jewry, noting that he will be speaking at Jewish National FundUSA’s Global Conference for Israel at the end of November (more information at jnf.org).

“I’ll be embarking on a number of trips for Jewish National FundUSA and talking to Jewish communities in the United States and elsewhere about ways in which we can talk openly about the issues that divide us and how we can overcome them.”

On the topic of foreign affairs, Oren was asked about a potential Israel-Saudi normalization deal. With his trademark pragmatism, he suggested that there could be a link between the judicial reforms and achieving a lasting agreement with the Saudis.

“[You have] a unique confluence of interests here,” he said. “The President of the United States needs a diplomatic victory. He’s entering a presidential race in 2024 where his numbers are not particularly good right now. He has to bring the Saudis back into the American sphere of interest away from the Chinese and the Iranians. The Saudis

FORMER ISRAELI ENVOY THINKS SO

want American arms [and] security guarantees vis-a-vis the Iranian threat. And the state of Israel would very much like peace with Saudi Arabia which would then open up the entire Sunni world. It’s not just peace with Saudi Arabia, it’s peace with Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and vast markets could possibly open before us basically spelling the end of the Arab-Israeli Conflict.”

However, Oren was quick to add that speedbumps remained on the road to normalization.

“There’s one little hitch,” he said. “The Israeli government has to give a gesture toward the Palestinians, which under the current political configuration is very very difficult.”

“I think that one of the reasons the government, and certainly the prime minister was so intent on passing this law which revised the ‘reasonableness clause’ that the Supreme Court had used to negate the candidacy of Aryeh Deri…was that the Prime Minister wants to bring [him] back into the cabinet.”

“Everyone’s very focused on his criminal background but he also has a diplomatic factor, and he’s very moderate. He had supported the Oslo Accords back in the 1990s, so I think the Prime Minister wants Deri in the cabinet to counterbalance some of the very radical right-wingers in that government. I think he very much wants to give that gesture to the Saudis and [the normalization deal] will frankly be a game changer. I can’t think historically of anything as big as this going back as far as the Egyptian Israeli peace of 1979. If we can make it happen, it would be amazing.”

Michael Oren

NEWS TO KNOW NOW

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

HEBREW FREE LOAN OF SAN DIEGO

Financial need does not discriminate. It affects people of all ages, and from many demographic segments of our community. Hebrew Free Loan of San Diego (HFLSD) was formed to aid and empower members of the San Diego community with interest-free loans, fostering financial stability. They have made loans to recipients living in 36 different zip codes in San Diego County, with loan recipients age ranges from 20 to 79 years old, with the two largest age groups being from 20-29 years-old and people 50+.

HFLSD loan recipients are single, married, divorced, and widowed. Many are caring for families, trying to make ends meet during a challenging time. HFLSD works with potential borrowers to make sure that a cost free, interest-free loan is the right fit for them and will empower them on their path to financial security. HFLSD offers a unique product to our community with the objective of understanding a potential borrower’s holistic life objectives, their current financial position and needs, and then structuring loans with their best interests in mind. HFLSD works with those individuals who are on the cusp of becoming impoverished or financial unstable, taking advantage of life changing opportunities such as assisting in funding education that launches careers, assisting entrepreneurs expand businesses and create jobs, and funding invitro-fertilization to create Jewish lives and happy Jewish families. And they are constantly looking at ways to help the community and potentially expand their loan portfolio.

Every case is individually assessed, and then the loan program that best meets their current financial needs is recommended. Every applicant is paired with an HFLSD employee that will walk them through the process of filling out an application, finding guarantors, and submitting the proper documentation. They take the time to understand and address each potential loan recipient with dignity, respect, and confidentiality. Taking a loan from HFLSD is simple, free, and confidential.

To learn more about HFLSD and the loan programs they offer, or to join them on their journey through a tax-deductible donation, visit www.hflsd.com or email info@hflsd.org.

HELP HADASSAH RAISE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT BREAST CANCER RESEARCH

Hadassah members across the country are wearing pink and taking action during Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. The goal is to educate more people about breast cancer risks and prevention,

and to raise funds to support groundbreaking breast cancer research at Hadassah’s hospitals.

San Diego’s Bat Harim group is hosting a Bagels & Bingo Brunch for Breast Cancer Research on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Rancho Bernardo (address will be provided to registrants). You can support this mission by attending or making a direct donation to this important cause.

Put on your pink, join the fun, and help us cure this disease which affects so many of us, especially in the Jewish community. RSVP, or donate, by visiting events.hadassah.org/BagelsBingoBreastCancer by October 11. Registration is open now.

According to the San Diego Hunger Coalition, 1 in 4 people in San Diego County are nutrition insecure—that’s 25% of all San Diegans. And as rising costs and inflation impact our community, these numbers continue to rise with more vulnerable families and individuals facing food insecurity every day. To help, Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) and its Center for Jewish Care are on the frontlines providing essential meals, financial assistance, and vital community resources. This includes the annual High Holy Days Community Food Drive, held this year from Sept. 10 to Oct. 10.

“Every year our Jewish community shows its generosity and support for those in need by donating more than 30,000 lbs. of food. The need is even more critical now, so we are asking the community to really step up and help,” said JFS CEO Michael Hopkins. “Together, we can ensure our neighbors will not go hungry during these challenging times.”

Those interested in contributing non-perishable food items to the JFS High Holy Days Community Food Drive are encouraged to contact their closest synagogue or Jewish community organization to

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE CALLS FOR HIGH HOLY DAYS COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE DONATIONS

confirm their participation, or schedule a time to bring donations to the JFS Joan & Irwin Jacobs Campus at 8804 Balboa Avenue by contacting tikkunolam@jfssd.org or (858) 637-3264.

Suggested items include grains, proteins, canned goods and kosher items.

ONETABLE ANNOUNCES NEW FEATURES FOR GUESTS, HOSTS

The national nonprofit OneTable, which empowers young professionals to find and share Shabbat dinners, announces two new features for guests and hosts to elevate such hospitality.

The “guests +1” and “open your dinner, unlock $300 nourishment” options are now available through the organization.

“We are excited to help more people recharge and find meaning at Shabbat dinner tables this year,” said Tirtzah Bassel, OneTable’s vice president of Jewish Learning and Partnerships. “We are all enjoying the chance to reconnect in person at our own comfort levels. OneTable is listening and giving our hosts and guests new options to savor a Friday meal, unplug from the week and build meaningful communities.”

Hosts can receive up to $300 per Shabbat dinner in nourishment support (up from $100), which equals $10 per person for up to 30 people. They can use the OneTable nourishment catalog to elevate Friday nights with groceries, prepared meals or delivery, and homedecor items from hundreds of businesses. Such dinners work to network, build community and celebrate the weekly Jewish holiday.

“This year alone, more than 24,000 people have participated in 13,000-plus OneTable dinners, bringing good conversation and meaningful connections to Shabbat tables,” said Eva Laporte, OneTable’s director of marketing and communications. “We are excited for these new features to elevate hospitality and allow more people to create unique and meaningful Shabbat dinners throughout the country."