DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
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DOUBLE ISSUE CHANUKKAH + ISRAEL: Amazon, Virtual Reality and Robots
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December 2017/January 2018 • www.lchaimmagazine.com
COVER STORY
The Power of Positive Chutzpah...................................................................................................... 1000 WORDS Big Data and Robots are Part of the Israeli Military's New World................................ CHANUKKAH
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Is Chanukkah the Holiday for Jews Without Religion?........................................................ Managing Stress During the Holidays........................................................................................
CHILDREN'S BOOKS
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Children’s Books: The Chanukkah Gifts That Keep Giving.............................................. FOOD
Shawarschnitzfel (Shawarma +Falafel+Schnitzel)................................................................ FEATURES
Jerusalem Site Uses Virtual Reality to Fuse Past, Present and Future................. Chabad’s Massive Growth Rooted in Key Ingredients, yet ‘Defies Logic’..............
Gold Star Recording Studios' 'House of Dreams'.................................................................. What Amazon's Big Splash in Israel Means for the 'Start-up Nation'...................... Book Review: 77 Miles of Jewish Stories by Donald Harrison....................................... Is San Diego Ready for Recreational Cannabis? Q&A with Torrey Holistics....... Wonder Woman's Gal Godot, other stars put Israel on the map...............................
COLUMNS
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My Comic Relief.........................................
JewishMom.com........................................
Torah: Of the Book..................................
Humor: Mazel & Mishagoss................
PUBLISHERS Diane Benaroya & Laurie Miller EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alanna Maya CREATIVE DIRECTOR Laurie Miller
ADVERTISING & SALES Diane Benaroya (dianeb@lchaimmagazine.com), Sharon Buchsbaum (sharonbux@gmail.com) 4
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CONTRIBUTORS Daniel Bortz, Donald H. Harrison, Stephanie Lewis, Salomon Maya, Mimi Pollack, Sharon Rapoport, Eva Trieger, Deborah Vietor, Chana Jenny Weisberg
SCHNITZEL WITH A TWIST
Copyright ©2017 L’Chaim San Diego LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator” to: publisher@lchaimmagazine.com Published in San Diego, CA • www.lchaimmagazine.com lchaimmagazine
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BY SALOMON MAYA l RANDOM RANTS
my
comic relief HoliDaze "WHEN SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF A LOCAL ACTOR (MINE), SAN DIEGO WILL ALWAYS WILL BE A SMALL, INTIMATE COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME." ‘Tis the season, isn’t it? The season for giving and receiving. For lighting candles and watching endless reruns of A Christmas Story on TBS (and don’t pull the Jewish card, you know you watch it). And as the days get shorter and the nights longer, this is the season of amazing theatre, a perfect reason to record those episodes of The Walking Dead, get a babysitter and go out and see some amazing dramatic art. If you truly know theatre, you’ll know that San Diego holds its own when it comes to the local theatre community. Yes, we are not Los Angeles’s immense theatre scene, but the beauty is we don’t want to be. Ranging from small community theatres to large equity houses, San Diego’s on stage offerings have garnered some much-deserved national attention. When seen through the eyes of a local actor (mine), it still always will be a small, intimate community where everybody knows your name. Topical, exhilarating, jaw dropping. All adjectives used by local theatre reviewers for recent area theatrical productions. As a small speck in this theatrical landscape, I’ve had the honor of not only getting to know some amazing people in the San Diego theatre world but also work with them. I can honestly say that I have worked with awesome actors that have left me dumbfounded by their 6
performances. Recently, I saw a play entitled Falling produced by Innermision Productions. Robert Malave gave a flawless performance as Josh, a teenager living with autism. Expertly directed by Sam Ginn, Falling left me numb and overcome with emotion at the same time, and reminded me to hug my family a little harder when getting home. Good theatre makes you look within and alter the way you look at the world. At Moxie Theatre through December 17, a powerful (and not your typical high school version) of The Diary of Anne Frank is on stage while Ion Theatre sends out the risqué musical Cabaret through December 23, starring the audaciously talented Linda Libby. Personally, I always feel I don’t attend enough theatre. Yes, getting out of the house with a two-year-old can prove difficult but if I were to give myself a New Year’s resolution, it definitely will be to broaden the amount of local theatre I attend. And it’s not just the professional equity houses that should get some attention. Community theatre, which sometimes can err on the side of playing it safe when it comes to content due to a very loyal base, has taken some strides in premiering works in San Diego. Back in 2015, I had the honor of being part of an amazing production
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
of Coyote on a Fence written by Bruce Graham and directed by James P. Darvas at OnStage Theatre in Chula Vista. Coyote tells the story of death row inmates John Brennan and Bobby Reyburn and the relationship they form as they await their fates. This was my first venture into community theatre and working in such an intimate setting (with some of the audience members merely feet from me on stage) made me a better actor. Lately, I have been able to use that intimate actor-to-audience experience to my benefit as I embark on San Diego REP’s Beachtown, of which I am proudly cast. Beachtown will ask theatregoers to drop that playbill and work alongside the actors; giving SD REP it’s first completely immersive play in its history. Beachtown opens in March 2018. As actors, we challenge ourselves with every choice we make on stage. And that’s what I hope you, reading this article at home, will do as well. Yes, it’s easier to get some stocking stuffers (or Chanukah bush stuffers) at Target’s $1 bins. But instead of that, try giving someone you love the gift of art during these nutty holiDaze.
SALOMON MAYA IS A LOCAL ACTOR AND PLAYWRIGHT. FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @SALOMAYA OR EMAIL HIM AT SALOMONM@LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM.
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TORAH l BY RABBI DANIEL BORTZ
of
the book Light in Darkness – The Power of Mindset
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Rabbi once asked our class, “What’s the most important part of the body?” Some answered the heart; others the eyes. “It’s the brain,” he said. The state of our mind is paramount. How can we optimize our mindset to its most healthy and happy state? Joseph of the Torah didn’t have it easy. As a teenager, his mother Rachel dies. His jealous brothers throw him inro a pit of snakes and scorpions, then sell him into slavery. Soon he’s framed and imprisoned indefinitely in a dungeon. Joseph has nothing and is truly alone in a foreign place. Everything around him is awful, but inside Joseph’s mind and soul is a peace — a bright light of hope and trust. He knows there’s a purpose to his life, no matter how low he is. One day, Joseph sees two dejected prisoners and asks them: “Why are your faces sad today?” They describe the nightmares they had. He interprets them and when word reaches Pharaoh of this young dream interpreter, Joseph is raised from the dungeon and becomes second in command of all of Egypt. All of this came about because Joseph didn’t let his circumstances define him. His positive perspective was impenetrable. After the Holocaust, Dr. Viktor Frankl 8
wrote Man’s Search For Meaning, describing his theory that the longevity of life for a concentration camp prisoner depended on his perspective. “I had wanted simply to convey to the reader by way of concrete example that life holds a potential meaning under any conditions, even the most miserable ones … Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Life is a struggle, but tough times are truly painful when we don’t see meaning or purpose behind them. Athletes in pain are happy with the knowledge that they’re building something great. The more their muscles burn, the more they know they’re growing. Every test and descent in your life is for the sake of a greater ascent through it. With 7 billion people and an endless universe, what difference can you make? The Talmud in Sanhedrin teaches that each of us must say: “The world was created for my sake.” Every single musician in a massive orchestra is crucial to its success. No person is expendable in the grand scheme of humanity. One Joseph changed saved his entire world. Maimondes taught: “One should look at the world as an evenly balanced scale:
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
One good action can tip the scales and bring salvation to the world.” Who’s to say which actions are more precious to G-d and mankind? Every moment and deed is infinitely precious, like a baby’s first words to her parent’s ears. No matter how dark it ever gets, let’s remember that this darkness is temporary, that our lives have incredible meaning beyond this moment and a brighter future awaits. Often we’re only having a bad day (or week or month) but not a bad life. Let’s also focus on what we have — not only on what we lack. There’s a divine plan to all of our downs, and we have the ability to completely flip our mindsets from a negative defensive state to an optimistic offense. It’s amazing how things start to change when your mind and soul move into a directed, positive, trusting state. As the Chanukkah miracle of light over darkness fills our lives and 2017 comes to a close, let’s start channeling our inner Joseph mindset for a bright new year.
RABBI DANIEL BORTZ IS THE DIRECTOR OF JTEEN SAN DIEGO, JTEENSD.COM. TO WATCH HIS UNIQUE VIDEOS, VISIT RABBIBORTZ.COM.
Baruch ata Adonai, Elohenu melech ha-olam asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav, ve-tzivanu le-hadlik ner shel Hanukah.
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L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
L’CHAIM
A THOUSAND
WORDS PHOTO COURTESY YAAKOV LAPPIN
BIG DATA AND ROBOTS — PART OF ISRAELI MILITARY'S 'NEW WORLD'
The Israeli company Roboteam’s MTGR — the world’s lightest tactical ground robot — is pictured at the recent Future Tech conference in Herzliya.
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nited by a common need to analyze huge quantities of streaming data, and to recognize the key information contained within all of it, the Israeli Air Force (IAF), Google, Facebook and other high-tech firms came together in Herzliya recently to share lessons and insights. The Future Tech conference was organized by the IAF’s Information and Communications Technology Department. It saw private sector leaders, such as the CEOs of the Israel-based operations of Google and Facebook, deliver talks to members of the military. Col. Shai (full name withheld for security reasons), head of the Information and Communications Technology Department,
said, “We are in a new world. The Israel Defense Forces and IAF have a big technological gap to fill when it comes to catching up with the civilian world, and bringing this technology to the military world.” The end objective, he said, is to gain an across-the-board advantage over the enemy. “Technology allows us to develop this advantage,” he said. One key area of mutual learning with high-tech firms, Col. Shai said, is big data. With an ever-growing range of sensors and capabilities feeding the IAF with vast quantities of intelligence, the personnel would be swamped without big data processing and analytical tools.
“The quantity of data coming in is very big. We have to create automation,” the officer said, referring to computing abilities that can receive the big data and analyze it automatically, drawing human operators’ attention to the critical information. During the conference, a doctor told military personnel about how the medical profession is struggling to deal with an oversaturation of information on patients, and that big data tools are now being employed to detect disease and prioritize information, keeping doctors focused on the important data. “The same thing is happening in the IDF,” said Col. Shai. “We need automation to deal with the large flow of data. Military personnel can’t deal with it all by themselves.” Just as these tools can be used for early illness detection, they can also be utilized by the IDF for early threat detection, he added. Another area of shared learning with the high-tech sector is data fusion. “This is an ability we want, for ‘acquiring’ the enemy, by tracking its activities through a variety of sensors,” Col. Shai said. “This is a part of achieving victory. The one who controls knowledge will win the war.” With increasing numbers of drones and quadcopters joining more traditional aircraft in feeding intelligence to the IDF, the ability to fuse the data together will be a significant factor in any future conflict. The officer said that augmented reality technology is just beginning to enter the IAF, adding, “We are at the start of a revolution. Right now, it is as the pre-flight cockpit stage, where we use Augmented Reality for WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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Check it out robo-team.com
checklists, and keep the hands free. This is not yet operational. Our exposure to this came from the civilian world.” The officer stressed that people continue to be in the loop in the IDF, and will have the final say on whether to use intelligence to strike targets, a process known in the military as the “sensor to shooter cycle.” In recent years, the IAF has linked up its command network to the rest of the IDF, becoming part of an interconnected synergy, according to Col. Shai. “No one works alone anymore,” he said. THE ARRIVAL OF MILITARY ROBOTS One of the exhibition stalls at the conference was staffed by the Israeli company Roboteam, which has become a pioneer in the area of 12
military robots. Its systems are in operational use in both the IDF and the U.S. Army. Shai Dvir, of Roboteam’s Implementation Department, said the company’s MTGR — the world’s lightest tactical ground robot — is being used by the IDF to prepare for tunnel warfare and urban combat. The IDF has ordered dozens of MTGRs, and it has been in service for a year and a half. The remote-controlled robot, Dvir said, can “climb stairs in houses, or enter tunnels. It can carry sensors for tracking targets. All of the reconnaissance and elite units have them.” The robot goes ahead of human personnel, towards the enemy, entering a danger zone first and sending back intelligence. “It saves lives. It has been used operationally,” said Dvir, himself a former member of an elite
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
military unit. The U.S. Army has also ordered “a large number of these systems,” he added. Roboteam is now working on a nextgeneration tactical robot for the IDF, called Tiger. The company has also sold the IDF a remote-controlled vehicle that carries up to 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) of equipment along with soldiers in the field. The vehicle, called Probot, has been in service in the IDF for six months. Its upgraded versions will be autonomous, and will carry both weapons and observation sensors. “The IDF’s demand for high-tech civilian sector solutions is high,” said Dvir. “It is a part of the modern battlefield.”
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COVER STORY l BY DEBORAH VIETOR
The Power
OF POSITIVE
CHUTZPAH
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G
il and Nili Peretz are the owners and founders of Positive Chutzpah International, a corporate training and consulting company. Based on their research regarding hundreds of the most successful game changing companies in Israel and around the world, they identified and coined the “Positive Chutzpah” factor and are sharing this unique mindset with audiences internationally. Positive Chutzpah is an innovative business mindset that is important for everyone. This revolutionary thinking helped Israel to become the “Start-up Nation,” utilizing this vital mentality successfully in corporations around the globe. This mindset pairs an ambitious vision with the passion and determination to follow through. Positive Chutzpah extends beyond
Gil and Nili Peretz are the owners and founders of Positive Chutzpah International.
merely thinking outside the box. This concept provides the tools to create the audacity to change the rules of the game. Without fear of failure or criticism, positive results are exponential. Ultimately results are brought to the life of the individual, a business and the global community. According to Gil and Nili, “Our seminars are the first training programs ever applying the positive side of chutzpah, based on research. We transformed the old, negative concept of chutzpah into a new, innovative, positive form. We share the mental habits and thinking skills of Positive Chutzpah practitioners and help participants transform
PHOTO BY BEKAH PEACE PHOTOGRAPHY
COVER STORY
their mindset.” The Peretz's combined experience includes over 25 years in consulting, training and coaching thousands of CEOs, entrepreneurs, C-level executives, and sales organizations, as well as R&D centers. Their expertise in peak performance, leadership and communications has elevated individuals and corporations on many levels over the years. Their company is multi-dimensional as strategies and techniques are utilized and applied to organizations and individuals with regard to innovation, creativity and positivity. Each interaction carries
something practical, with specialized application to a company’s needs. Gil and Nili are also the founders of the Israeli Expert’s Academy, where people are trained in public speaking and learn how to deliver unforgettable, knockout presentations. The Peretz’s co-authored Obama’s Secrets: How to Speak and Communicate with Power and a Little Magic. The work became the ultimate “communication bible.” They illustrate how President Obama’s techniques and rhetoric skills translate into one success. This was accomplished through analysis and research conducted from the 1990s WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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COVER STORY
until 2011, and examined the former President’s public appearances worldwide. Gil is the author of a book called Intimate Marketing. And the Peretz’s co-authored a forthcoming book, titled Positive Chutzpah™: A New Mindset for Success.
GIL PERETZ
Gil has been a professional public business speaker for over 25 years and directed a leading management company in Israel for 24 years. He has delivered more than 3,000 keynote speeches, presentations and seminars before thousands of people from 46 countries and directed a leading management company in Israel. His client list includes Intel, Microsoft, Allergan, Merck Pharmaceuticals, PayPal, Hollandia International, Toyota, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Jewish National Fund, and the Foreign Ministry of Israel to name a few. He served in a key position in the Israeli Defense Force’s, (IDF) computer center and trained many future entrepreneurs and leaders of Israel’s high-tech industry. Years later, he became an international speaker and one of the world’s leading authorities on communication and business strategy. He was nominated for the prestigious “Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award” in Israel during 2005, part of a worldwide competition.
NILI PERETZ Nili is a former litigator, employed for over 10 years as a defense attorney in the corporate world. She is an international trainer of NeuroLinguistic Programming, (NLP) and a high-performance expert. She was the driving force behind Positive Chutzpah’s research project, including the research behind Obama’s Secrets. Her work includes an integration of cutting-edge neuroscience principles with mind-body experience. According to Nili: “We teach and train corporations to use [these skills] and outperform the competition. There are many ways to think creatively and utilize innovative thinking, but the problem is most people do not use it after the training and workshops. The reason: Techniques are not enough. It’s the mindset that makes the difference. As Israelis who meet so many people from different cultures, we understand what holds them, or prevents them from having the mentality to ‘do whatever it takes’ and to ‘take the risk.’” She continues: “The bottom line: After participation in our workshops, people are feeling a kind of ‘personal transformation.’ … People have a different attitude for success and that’s a competitive advantage for every corporation and organization.” We asked Gil and Nili some questions regarding “Positive Chutzpah” and their future. L’CHAIM Magazine: What specifically can you offer an organization pro bono prior to contracting with you and how do you support their results? Gil Peretz: We have a pro bono “Power Positive Chutzpah Experience” for executives and board meetings. It’s a 75-minute session allowing participants to experience the benefits of our methodology. We follow by discussing how to best assist the organization applying Positive 16
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Chutzpah for their most important challenges. Nili developed unique strategies to help rewire their thinking with new mindsets, conquering and disrupting their limited beliefs and fear of failure. The strategy assists introverts and those with social anxiety to deliver their messages with power and passion. We can be booked together or separately for keynote speeches, company presentations, TED-like inspiring events and executive summits. We are also available to deliver public seminars, in-company seminars and Positive Chutzpah master classes. L’CHAIM: What sets you apart from other business consulting firms? GP: Imagine, what if you could buy a computer chip containing the secret mindset of the most extraordinary and successful entrepreneurs and business leaders around the world? Now, imagine being able to instantly incorporate this mindset into your own mind. We cracked the secret mental code behind the success of the Start Up Nation and show people how to think with Positive Chutzpah. The fact that Israel became a leader in innovation is well recognized worldwide. Still, all over the world people and corporations ask one simple question: How can we do the same thing? What’s the secret behind it? As professional trainers and Israeli natives, we developed an intensive research approach to understand the thinking skills below the culture. We did it! We developed a step-by-step system, allowing us to inspire and train people to adopt the Positive Chutzpah for their needs. You can be an American, Japanese or Brazillian and use the Israeli-based Positive Chutzpah mindset. Thirty years ago, Israel innovated to survive. Most of the innovations were for defense and military uses. Not anymore, the spectrum of innovations is wide in many areas. Positive Chutzpah can be used in education, science, health, military, high tech, robotics and biomedical to name a few.” L’CHAIM: What is the ultimate positive result an organization or individual receives through working with your company? GP: The more employees use Positive Chutzpah, the better. It affects the speed and impact of developing new services and products on various markets. It is leadership in action, translated to sales, market domination and profit. The Positive Chutzpah Seminar gives your team the mindset and the tools they need to think and act differently. Most importantly, they will apply this on a daily basis. Employees will return supercharged and determined to make real, lasting changes. This executive seminar is guaranteed to help you and your company attain extraordinary results. We could all use a little more Positive Chutzpah! CHECK OUT THE POSITIVE CHUTZPAH WEBSITE AT POSITIVECHUTZPAH.COM, AND REACH GIL AND NILI FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING POSITIVE CHUTZPAH VIA EMAIL AT GIL@POSITIVECHUTZPAH.COM.
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CHANUKKAH
Is Chanukkah a Holiday for Jews without Religion? BY JONATHAN S. TOBIN | jns.org
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o the generation of European Jewish immigrants who came to the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chanukkah was only a minor festival in a Jewish calendar with no shortage of holidays. But for their descendants who make up the overwhelming majority of those who currently identify as Jewish, it is the most popular and widely observed religious holiday. The reasons for this are obvious. To an increasingly assimilated Jewish population, a holiday that involves no restrictions on food (unlike Passover) or any required time in synagogue (unlike Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) has an edge. But the most important factor is its proximity to Christmas. Since the 25th of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar generally coincides with mid-tolate December, Chanukkah is the Jewish Christmas. That’s why the tradition of a small gift of gelt to children on Chanukkah became a full-blown Jewish component of the mass marketing end-of-year splurge. For some observant Jews, this is just one more sign of the demographic apocalypse that threatens the non-Orthodox population. Each national Jewish population study that has come out in the course of the last three decades has illustrated the growing toll of assimilation. In the most recent survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), the numbers tell of a precipitous rise — from 22 percent to approximately 33 percent — in the number of Jews who claim Jewish identity but don’t embrace Judaism as a religion. PRRI calls these people (who don’t answer “Jewish” when asked their religion but give other answers indicating their identity) “cultural Jews.” I think that term is
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L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
less useful than the one that used to describe the same group in the Pew Research Center study published in 2013: Jews of “no religion.” Jews of no religion are proud of their identity. But their conception of what it means to be a Jew has more to do with food and even comedy than essential elements of Judaism and Jewish peoplehood. Thus, for Jews of no religion, a holiday with a few parochial elements like lighting candles and food (latkes or jelly donuts) and no burdens, is an easy way to take part in the Christmas spirit of giving. That leads scolds to complain about incorporating the vapid materialism of the American holiday season into Jewish culture. From their point of view, we’d be better off with no December holiday at all than one that is just a blue-tinseled version of Christmas. But I think they’re wrong, and not just because exchanging gifts is fun no matter what the excuse might be. That’s because if the true message of Chanukkah can somehow be insinuated into our observances, it can be an efficacious antidote to the decline of a sense of belonging to the Jewish people and what Judaism means. Contrary to the marketing pitches, Chanukkah is not a Jewish version of the same anodyne non-sectarian message of good will that has replaced the original religious content of Christmas. To the contrary, the Chanukkah story is about a conflict in which Jews had to fight to retain not just their independence against Syrian Greek invaders, but also their religious identity as a popular and all-consuming secular Hellenist culture threatened to overwhelm Judaism. Though aspects of this history are repellent to those who see
PHOTO COURTESY THE JEWISH MUSEUM, GIFT OF KARL NATHAN
Jews around the world celebrate Chanukkah each year by lighting a menorah such as this one.
universal values as more important than parochial Jewish ones, Chanukkah is an inspiring tale of something that ought to be both popular and familiar to 21st-century Americans. The Maccabees were doing something liberal Americans are supposed to applaud: fighting to preserve their culture against the majoritarian impulse. Unless you think everyone has a right to their own identity, faith and homeland except Jews — which is the essence of an anti-Semitic BDS movement that targets Israel — Chanukkah is a good way to educate young Jews to think it’s okay to be Jewish and proud. Above all, Chanukkah’s message is that refusing to bow down to the idols of popular culture in any era is the duty of every Jew. That’s not as warm and fuzzy as Santa Claus, but it ought to resonate with young people who tell us they want something more idealistic than materialism. The lights we kindle on Chanukkah may commemorate a miracle
"Contrary to the marketing pitches, Chanukkah is not a Jewish version of the same anodyne nonsectarian message of good will that has replaced the original religious content of Christmas. To the contrary, the Chanukkah story is about a conflict in which Jews had to fight to retain not just their independence against Syrian Greek invaders, but also their religious identity..." that secular Jews may disdain as a fairy tale, but they are also a reminder that it takes the extraordinary efforts and faith of ordinary Jews to keep the flame of Jewish civilization alive. That’s something we should hope the growing numbers of American Jews of “no religion” would embrace. JONATHAN S. TOBIN IS OPINION EDITOR OF JNS.ORG AND A CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR NATIONAL REVIEW. FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @JONATHANS_TOBIN.
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CHANUKKAH
Managing Caregiver Stress During the Holidays BY DR. DIANE DARBY BEACH
S
eventy percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease are taken care of for the entirety of their disease by family caregivers. The responsibilities and challenges that come with caregiving can be overwhelming and stressful. Research in this area shows that between 40 and 70 percent of caregivers are significantly stressed and/or depressed. The symptoms of stress, burden, and depression can creep up on caregivers with little notice to their condition. Due to the physical and emotional symptoms caregivers experience, these symptoms set in and can be extreme and persistent. Symptoms of significant stress and depression include: feelings of hopelessness or pessimism; sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings; loss of interest in once pleasurable hobbies or activities, including sex; irritability, restlessness and anxiety; feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness; persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease, even with treatment; overeating or appetite loss; fatigue and decreased energy; difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions; insomnia, waking up during the night, or excessive sleeping; thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts. People caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s may also encounter “ambiguous grief.” Specifically, the person with Alzheimer’s is “here” in body, yet absent from relationships and many aspects of daily living. The holiday season can cause even more stress for caregivers. In prior years, you may have joyfully anticipated and participated in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season (including shopping, attending parties, tree decorating, cooking, etc.) Now, however, you may just want the whole thing to be over. The additional stress of family gatherings, gift buying, cooking, and other obligations can become cumbersome. How can you, as a caregiver, better cope with this stress? The following tips may help you get through (and even enjoy) your holiday season.
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Consider alternative shopping methods. The Internet is a convenient way to shop for food and gifts without ever leaving home. You can also choose gifts from catalogs without leaving your house. Minimize the hassle of shopping! Scale back on rituals and traditions. We often feel compelled to live up to past holiday traditions, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Suggest that someone else host Thanksgiving, Chanukkah gatherings or Christmas dinner. A potluck is also a great idea — delegate friends and family to bring favorite dishes. Be moderate. There are many attractive options in front of us during the holidays such as alcohol, sweets and highcalorie foods. Enjoy, but don’t over-indulge. (You can avoid the stress of feeling sick the next day). Practice flexibility. Be prepared for unexpected circumstances. Something may come up, and probably will, so what can you do? If you can, change the situation. If you can’t, accept it and move on. You cannot control life no matter how planned out you believe you have things. Laugh … it’s OK. Exercise. Try to keep up on your regular exercise routine, or start one, during the holidays. Walking several times a week is a great way to stay in shape, and it is easy to do. There is also something about pounding the pavement that helps release frustrations and clears your head. Take breaks. Spend time with friends and take part in hobbies and other enjoyable activities such as yoga, meditation, needlepoint or reading. Remember, you have to take care of yourself in order to take care of others! Implementing these strategies will help you enjoy a more relaxed, stress-free holiday season! DR. DIANE DARBY BEACH, GERONTOLOGIST, IS THE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR RIGHT AT HOME LA JOLLA. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT RIGHT AT HOME, LA JOLLA @ 858-277-5900 OR VISIT RAHLAJOLLA.COM.
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CHANUKKAH
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CHILDREN S BOOKS The Chanukkah Gifts that Keep Giving
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L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
CHANUKKAH
Joy Getnick reading a Chanukkah story book to her son, Benjamin.
PHOTO BY JONATHAN GETNICK
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hanukkah and children’s books go together like latkes and applesauce. In fact, Chanukkahs of old often included a book, its pages spotted with droplets of candle wax. In its pages, the brave Maccabees once again defeat the Syrian Greeks, a tiny cruse of oil keeps the temple’s menorah aglow for a miraculous eight days, children spin dreidels for chocolate gelt (money) and you can almost smell the sizzling latkes. These days, the marketplace overflows with books that can warm up the coldest Chanukkah night. The books reflect both the holiday’s miracles and the nuances of growing up Jewish in the 21st century. “We’re seeing an exciting diversity in kids’ Chanukkah books now,” says Joy Getnick, director of Jewish life at the Louis S. Wolk Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester. One of the best parts of her job: funneling children’s books into the JCC’s preschool, books Getnick test-drives with her 2-year-old son. Experts say there’s a certain quality of magic in the best of these books — making them the kinds of gifts that keep giving. “They have to celebrate being Jewish in a diverse world and transmit powerful values to the new generation,” Getnick says. “They have to make the child wonder what’s going to happen next,” says Lyndall Miller, who directs the Jewish Early Childhood Education Leadership Institute, where the Jewish Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion provide leadership training and Jewish learning to directors of early childhood centers. “They have to give Jewish children a sense of pride and inclusion,” says Rachel Kamin, a book reviewer, judge and editor who directs the Joseph and Mae Gray Cultural & Learning Center at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park, Ill. Chanukkah-themed children’s books “help us see how the miracles in our own lives reflect the miracle” of the holiday, says Meredith Lewis, director of content and engagement for the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s PJ Library program, which distributes nearly 200,000 Jewish children’s books to families in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. As of press time, publishers were still rolling out new Chanukkah releases, but several titles had already surfaced. Among them are Little Red Ruthie: A Hanukkah Tale, by Gloria Koster, a spin on Little Red Riding Hood; and Queen of the Chanukkah Dosas, by Pamela Ehrenberg, featuring a family celebrating with spicy Indian food. “You can smell the curry coming off this wonderful new book,” says Lewis, noting that Queen of the Chanukkah Dosas and Little Red Ruthie made it into PJ Library’s fall lineup.
Other notable new releases include Judah Maccabee Goes to the Doctor, by Ann Koffsky; Way Too Many Latkes: A Chanukkah in Chelm, by Linda Glaser; and The Missing Letters: A Dreidel Story, by Renee Londner. But tried-and-true Chanukkah classics continue to delight. “If I had to pick one Chanukkah book to read to my kids every night, it would be Eric Kimmel’s brilliant Hershel and the Chanukkah Goblins,” says Kamin. She also loves Kimmel’s lesser-known goblin story, Zigazak! A Magical Chanukkah Night and his The Chanukkah Bear, in which an elderly latkemaker mistakes a bear for her rabbi. For those looking for a dramatic children’s book, Louise Borden’s The Journey That Saved Curious George features Hans and Margret Rey’s escape on bicycles from the Nazis during World War II — taking children’s book manuscripts along for the journey. Meanwhile, for interfaith families, Chanukkah can be a delicate time when it comes to reading. “Parents and grandparents say, ‘A book about Christmas and Chanukkah? That’s great!’ But they need to read it first,” warns Kamin. “Is it patronizing or insulting? Or does it sensitively reflect the message of Chanukkah for an interfaith family?” “In what can be a confusing time of year,” she says, “it’s often the grandparents who become the portal to tradition and play a key role in shaping identity.” WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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FOOD
KOSHEROLOGY SHAWARSHNITZEFEL (SHAWARMA + FALAFEL + SCHNITZEL) STORY & PHOTOS BY ALEX THE KOSHEROLOGIST KOSHEROLOGY.COM
This shawarma spiced, falafel coated schnitzel is simply awesome. Think of it as all of the Israeli trademark favorites melded into one awesome dish..
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FOOD
MEAT Serves 10-12 When shawarma and falafel meet schnitzel, and you can’t think of a better name, you get Shawarschnitzfel. In any case, this shawarma spiced, falafel coated schnitzel is simply awesome. Think of it as all of the Israeli trademark favorites melded into one awesome dish. Winner, winner, chicken dinner. seriously. Enjoy, Y’all. Bitayavon. YOU WILL NEED: 4 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, tenders trimmed 2-3 cups vegetable oil, for frying FOR THE SHAWARMA MARINADE 1/4 cup olive oil 2 tsp. ground cumin 2 tsp. ground paprika 1 tsp. ground allspice 1 tsp. ground turmeric 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
FOR THE FALAFEL CRUMB COATING 1 package Knorr’s Falafel Mix DIRECTIONS: 1. Place chicken breasts between 2 pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper and pound lightly with a mallet to an even thickness of about 1/4 inch. [You can also accomplish this by carefully using a knife to cut the chicken into thin cutlets.] 2. Marinate: Pour the olive oil into a 1 gallon zip-lock bag. Add the spices. seal the bag and shake to combine. Add the chicken cutlets. Seal the bag and use your hands to work the spice marinade into the chicken. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours. For best results, marinate chicken overnight. 3. Pour both packets of Knorr’s falafel mix onto a flat plate. Remove the chicken from the shawarma marinade. Dredge both sides of each piece of chicken. Coat well.
a small piece of onion into the oil.) Working in batches, pan-fry the cutlets 2-3 minutes on each side. Drain on a paper-towel lined cookie sheet/sheet tray. Serve hot with Israeli salad and the works. Enjoy. Bitayavon, Y’all. Born and bred in the American South, Alex ‘the Kosherologist’ Idov, was raised on collard greens stewed with smoked turkey leg (in place of ham hocks), black-eyedpeas, and Brunswick Stew. He boasts being a 4th generation Jewish Southerner, with one of his great-grandmother’s born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1888. His other greatgrandparents hailed from Russia, Poland, and France-inspiring much of his cooking with the cuisines of his heritage. Alex’s culinary repertoire goes beyond traditional Jewish and Southern fare, as he revisits and reinvents the cuisines of his ancestors. Alex holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality from the Kennesaw State University Michael A. Leven School of Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality and works as a freelance food writer. Find more recipes at kosherology. com
4. In a large skillet or frying pan, heat the vegetable oil to 365°. (test the oil to see if it has reached frying temperature by dropping WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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FEATURE STORY l BY JUDY LASH BALINT | jns.org
VIRTUAL REALITY
Iconic Jerusalem Site to Fuse the Past, Present and Future
PHOTO BY JUDY LASH BALINT.
Inception VR’s virtual reality experience at Jerusalem’s Tower of David Museum.
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ne of Jerusalem’s most iconic tourist sites is deploying futuristic technology to blend the past and the present, placing it at the vanguard of a revolution in museum experiences. In October, the Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem hosted an event featuring a forthcoming Innovation Lab that’s a showcase and incubator for the kind of interactive high-tech that museums need to remain relevant for visitors. The lab — housed in the Pasha Hall, one of the rooms of the Phasael Tower, built by King Herod 2,000 years ago — will offer workspace, equipment and a real-time beta site for a constellation of Israeli virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) start-ups, providing content and support as well as a test market for their products. The initiative is sponsored by JNext, a joint project of the Jerusalem Development Authority, Israel’s Ministry of Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs, and the Jerusalem municipality. One of the start-ups, Inception VR, launched its Tower of David VR experience on Oct. 25. (The full Innovation Lab opens 26
to the public on Jan. 1, 2018.) Visitors can navigate around an interactive map of the site and explore the medieval fortress with one of its previous residents. A Crusader knight guides you to locations around the citadel, explains the history of surrounding landmarks using 3D models and weaves his personal story into the narrative. “The Tower of David is another way we are working to give people a chance to experience something they couldn’t anywhere else. Combining the past with the present allows users to experience the centuries-old site like never before,” says Inception CEO Benny Arbel. Devora Mason, director of the Innovation Lab, praised Inception as “leaders in capturing the essence of the story and sharing it using high-end VR technology. The story of Jerusalem both past and present and future all come together under one roof, in one courtyard and in one virtual center of the universe through the creation of this VR experience.” The Tower of David Museum — a complex near Jaffa Gate that includes an archaeological garden, exhibition halls, panoramic views of
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
Jerusalem, Herodian pools, secret passages, towers and turrets — might seem like an unlikely venue for cutting-edge technology. But that’s part of the rationale for the project. “The future of museums is a global issue,” notes Caroline Shapiro, the museum’s director of international Relations. Visitors want to own their experience, she adds, and the key is innovation. Tower of David Museum Director Eilat Lieber explains, “We need the right technology to bring the stories to life and to make the stones speak again.” Then-Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek initiated the museum more than 30 years ago to recount the history of the city, and today the site hosts around 400,000 visitors per year. Those visitors make the museum a perfect testing ground for VR and AR startups, according to Devora Mason, director of the Innovation Lab. “The museum is an experimental lab,” she says. “It’s the perfect place for companies that are looking to test new technologies developed to enhance visitor experience, whether at a museum, heritage site or tourist center.” Ori Noam of MARstorytelling showed off the company’s “Jerusalem Awakens” app, which features a mixed reality journey through the streets of the Old City where historical figures, structures and battles come alive all around the users, allowing visitors to interact with ancient characters while “time traveling” through key historical moments. The content is based on material from the museum. Noam, a former film director, sees the collaboration with the museum as an opportunity for MARstorytelling to be “in the frontier of content.”
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Emissaries and other guests rejoice during the ChabadLubavitch movement’s 44th annual Kinus Hashluchim (gathering of emissaries) in Bayonne, N.J., on Nov. 19. 28
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
PHOTOS COURTESY CHABAD-LUBAVITCH.
FEATURE STORY
FEATURE STORY
CHABAD'S
MASSIVE GROWTH
Rooted in several key ingredients, yet 'defies logic' BY DEBORAH FINEBLUM | jns.org
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ow do you go about feeding a crowd of 5,600 hungry rabbis and other guests, many of whom have just traveled across the globe? If you ask Greenwald Caterers, they’ll tell you to start with 2.5 tons of meat, 10 pallets of drinks and 40 cases of tomatoes. And don’t forget the 5,600 cups of coffee. Greenwald was the caterer of November’s International Conference of ChabadLubavitch Emissaries in Bayonne, N.J. The largest event of the year in the Chabad world, the 44th annual Kinus Hashluchim (gathering of emissaries) drew a recordsetting attendance of 5,600, including 4,700 emissaries. The rabbis traveled from as far away as New Zealand, Thailand and the Congo. The Kinus tradition began in 1983, when Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, affectionately known as “the Rebbe,” appointed his longtime personal secretary Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky (now chairman of the Chabad umbrella organization Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch) to chair a conference of Chabad’s North American rabbis. That October, some 65 of them gathered at Lubavitch headquarters in Brooklyn to share ideas, solutions and support. Rabbi Yisroel Shmotkin was there that day, and he’s been to every Kinus since. As Wisconsin’s top Chabad rabbi for half a century, he has also seen the astronomical growth of both the event and the movement it represents. “In the general sessions and individual workshops you find a wealth of innovative new ideas for programs and solutions to the challenges we all face, plus a real sharing of
experiences,” Shmotkin says. “It takes you out of your little shtetl, and all of a sudden you can see yourself as part of a huge mission engraved in the lives of each person Chabad is able to touch. There’s an almost electrifying spirit of unity and enthusiasm.” An announcement at this year’s conference highlighted the fact that, 23 years after the death of its leader, the movement continues to grow exponentially. Last month, Uganda became the 100th country to have a Chabad center. Rabbi Moishe and Yocheved Raskin, along with their young son Menachem Mendel, have set up Chabad of Uganda in the capital of Kampala, adding to the 3,500 Chabad institutions around the globe. Including the Chabad.org website, these institutions reach millions of Jews every year. Chabad-Lubavich describes itself as the largest Jewish organization in the world, and leading experts on Jewish communal life agree with that assessment. “Nobody else comes close,” says Mark Rosen, an expert on Jewish institutions and a professor at Brandeis University’s Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program, who recently completed a study of Chabad’s campus programs. What’s behind Chabad’s growth? A major factor could be the preservation and dissemination of countless videos and recordings of the Rebbe’s sermons, as well as dozens of his Torah commentaries and 32 volumes containing a sampling of the hundreds of thousands of letters he wrote in response to a constant stream of questions. “It’s the first repository of a great Torah teacher’s wisdom to be kept alive by technology,” says Chabad spokesman Rabbi
Motti Seligson. “So the Rebbe continues to teach us years after his passing.” Another widely recognized ingredient in the movement’s secret sauce is the personal dedication of the rabbinical emissaries, who move their families into remote corners of the world like India, Laos and Siberia in order to serve Jews wherever they are. “For them, it’s not a job — it’s a mission,” Rosen says. “They’re not angling for a promotion and they don’t go home at 5 o’clock. Instead they’ve made a lifelong commitment to spread Judaism to every Jew, wherever they’re needed, so they can accomplish a lot.” Chabad “loves and accepts every Jew wherever they are with no judging,” Rosen adds. “Their goal is to not to get you to be just like them, but to help you take the next step in being Jewish, whatever that looks for you. That brings people who would otherwise never be attracted to Orthodox Judaism to Chabad.” The Rebbe still inspires this group of 4,700 emissary families around the world. “It’s an ongoing relationship,” says Rosen. “Gone for more than 20 years, his teachings still guide them. They don’t insist on others having that same relationship with him, but in their lives he is a daily presence.” Insiders and outsiders alike point to a third ingredient in Chabad’s formula: the effective transference of the passion to spread Jewish life to the next generation. The Nov. 19 Kinus event included a junior emissary program for 1,100 youths ages 8-14. “It was fun. I played with kids from Switzerland and Denmark and France,” says 10-year-old Chaim Blesofsky. “I just like the WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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FEATURE STORY
Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries from around the world pose for their annual group photo during the 44th annual Kinus Hashluchim (gathering of emissaries) this month.
idea of helping Jewish people connect, and making big Jewish communities in places where there aren’t any yet.” “The whole Chabad movement is about developing young leadership,” says Chaim’s mother, Naomi Blesofsky, who along with her husband and parents runs the Chabad center in Yorba Linda, Calif. “When we were growing up the message was always, ‘It’s not about what’s good for us; it’s about all Jews,’” she says. “And now our own kids know it’s on their shoulders going forward, not as a burden but as a privilege.” Rabbi Yosef Kantor, who along with his wife Nechama runs Chabad centers in Thailand, says, “At the Kinus, I was able to tell younger rabbis that the impact they have on every Jew they meet isn’t quantifiable, but it’s there.” In Thailand, the Kantors have served more than 100,000 meals, many of them to backpacking post-army Israelis who stop by for kosher food and a warm Jewish welcome. “The Rebbe taught us that it’s not about having followers, but about bringing out the 30
leadership in others,” Rabbi Kantor says. At a time when Jews are becoming less connected with formal Jewish organizations, according to the Pew Research Center’s much-discussed “Portrait of Jewish Americans” survey of 2013, why haven’t other institutions implemented the Chabad playbook? Chabad’s model “cannot be replicated since you can’t do it if you don’t live it,” says Brandeis’s Rosen, who shares the insight of a fellow scholar from that university, Jonathan Sarna, that “no one would have predicted the greatest force in 21st-century Jewish life would be an Orthodox movement like Chabad.” “It defies logic,” Rosen says of Chabad’s ascent. “So there must be some deeper truth that’s escaping our understanding and that our social science skills don’t quite encompass.”
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017 /JANUARY 2018
"The whole Chabad movement is about developing young leadership ... When we were growing up the message was always, ‘It’s not about what’s good for us; it’s about all Jews.’"
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FEATURE STORY l BY MIMI POLLACK
g o l d s ta r r e c o r d i n g s t u d i o s making music history
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t all started with a trip to a San Diego dental office. Jonathan Rosenberg, in need of a check-up, went to see Dr. Brad Ross. For almost two decades, they have shared a cordial professional relationship, during which time Ross discovered that Rosenberg was not only a teacher/psychologist, but also a music historian. Rosenberg, a native New Yorker, discovered that Dr. Ross was the son of music royalty. His father, Stan Ross, an engineering genius, together with studio design pioneer Dave Gold, operated Gold Star Recording Studios in Hollywood from 1950-1984. As Rosenberg says, “Gold Star produced more Top-40 hits than any other independent recording studio in history.” With music as the common thread, their professional relationship soon turned into a close friendship and productive working partnership as they embarked on both a documentary about Stan Ross’s career and accomplishments at the studio, and a musical; using over 30 of Gold Star’s greatest hits. Interviewing many of the musicians and others who could recall anecdotes of their
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days at the studio, including Brian Wilson; Herb Alpert; Bill Medley; and Brad’s late mother, Vera; Rosenberg and Ross tell this heretofore unknown story in their musical, titled 33 1/3-House of Dreams. More than just a musical revue, the audience is “brought into the studio” famous for its “Wall of Sound” to witness the birth of the most iconic songs in music history. Known by some as the “Godfather of Rock and Roll,” we see the struggles Ross faced as he attempted to balance work and family with the constant demands of running the country’s hottest studio. As one of the first independent studios in the ‘50s that was “color blind,” Gold Star worked with artists that included African Americans (Hugh Masekela, Barry White) and Hispanics (Ritchie Valens, Chris Montez). An elite group of studio musicians, including Leon Russell, Carol Kaye, Hal Blaine, and Glen Campbell, who called themselves “The Wrecking Crew,” made Gold Star their “home away from home.” Singers and songwriters; musicians and arrangers, and even actors like William
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
Shatner believed that they could successfully record the next hit record — if they recorded it at Gold Star. After much hard work, 33 1/3-House of Dreams is ready to be unveiled. “The stars have aligned!” stated Ross. “We have the award-winning production team of Javier Velasco and Steve Gunderson, along with the enthusiastic support of the San Diego Repertory Theater and the Jewish Arts Festival.” The production is poised for a summer 2018 World Premiere at the Lyceum Theater. 33 1/3-House of Dreams, with its themes of creativity, competition, commitment, and comradery, is a story that is both contemporary and a look into the past, combined with many of the best pop music songs of the past century that have stood the test of time. Rosenberg and Ross have recently set up a Kickstarter campaign to help fund this production, so it can reach its fruition. Tax-deductible donations can also be made to the San Diego Rep earmarked for 33 1/3-House of Dreams.
BY ADAM ABRAMS | jns.org | FEATURE STORY
amazon's big splash what it means for israel's 'start-up nation'
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hen the online retail giant Amazon recently entered Israel’s high-tech ecosystem, it was far from business as usual in the “start-up nation.” As the conglomerate began attracting top Israeli programmers with aggressive hiring tactics and unusually high salary offerings, industry experts initiated calls for the Jewish state to expand its pool of highly skilled technology talent — which is becoming an increasingly scarce resource despite the country’s well-known penchant for innovation. With the opening of Amazon’s new research and development (R&D) center in Tel Aviv in October, the company joined more than 300 other foreign firms — including Facebook, Microsoft, Intel, Google, IBM and Apple — that have set up shop in Israel. After inking deals in July valued at NIS 37 million ($10.5 million) per year to lease upscale office space in Tel Aviv, Amazon embarked on a massive local hiring spree. In doing so, the company placed
unprecedented pressure on Israel’s domestic technology firms to retain their most talented programmers and engineers, highlighting the challenge of sustaining the highly skilled workforce that is the lifeblood of Israeli innovation. “The real question is not which multinational [company] is hiring and how many engineers they’re hiring. This happens wherever there is a large concentration of highly skilled talent, and Israel’s tech talent continues to be outstanding,” said Guy Hilton, general manager of Start-Up Nation Central, an initiative that works to “connect business, NGO and government leaders throughout the world with the people and technologies of Israel that can help them solve their most pressing challenges.” “More important,” Hilton said, “is whether or not the local talent pool is being replenished in sufficient numbers and with sufficient expertise.” In its bid to acquire the best and brightest, Amazon has reportedly offered prospective Israeli hires salaries as high as NIS 100,000
($28,180) per month, and is typically offering salaries of around NIS 60,000 ($16,900) per month with additional bonuses. These offerings are far above Israel’s average wage, even in the Jewish state’s booming high-tech field. Top programmers in Israel can already earn about NIS 40,000 ($11,370) per month, which is more than four times the average Israeli salary, while the average Israeli hightech employee earns around NIS 21,000 ($5,940) monthly, according to the country’s Central Bureau of Statistics. The pressure created by Amazon’s activity underscores a challenge identified in the recently released annual report of the Israel Innovation Authority. The report notes that while Israel leads the world in R&D and venture capital investments as a percentage of gross domestic product, the country is in danger of losing its status as one of the world’s top high-tech innovators if the shortage of skilled employees in the field is not addressed. But Hilton said he sees “good progress” on this front. “All the stakeholders are moving in the right direction,” he said, “but more needs to be done to include sectors of the population not present in the tech industry in any significant numbers: the haredim, Israeli Arabs, people in peripheral towns and women in general.” The Innovation Authority reached the same conclusion in its report, and outlined a plan to boost Israel’s current total of 270,000 high-tech employees to more than half a million, by further integrating underrepresented sectors of Israeli society into the field. The report also outlined methods for assisting local start-ups with growing into larger companies. “Getting this right,” said Hilton, “will benefit the multinationals and Israeli startups alike.” WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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BOOK REVIEW 77 MILES OF JEWISH STORIES BY DONALD HARRISON BY EVA TIEGER
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o, you know the term “Jewish Geography?” It’s when you mention a city or town, and are asked, “Oh, do you know Tsippy Weinberg? She lives just outside of Scarsdale!” Or when you start linking people by the Six Degrees of Kevin (TREYF) Bacon. “My sister-in-law’s dog groomer’s uncle went to Yale too! You and I are practically related!” Well, Don Harrison’s book, 77 Miles of Jewish Stories takes this to a whole new, very enchanting level. Traveling along Interstate 8, Don introduces us to many of San Diego’s Jewish icons as well as some other folks whom we wish we knew after learning their stories. This very clever mode of organization invites the reader to ride along the highway, 34
exit by exit, and listen in on several sweet, funny, and personal tales of entrepreneurs, social activists, gunslingers, Torah chocham, naturalists, a mikvah lady, restauranteurs and so many others. In reading each chapter, one common thread runs throughout this tapestry of these Jewish lives: a sense of purpose, duty and desire to make a difference and behave with chesed while engaging in tikkun olam. And as Harrison proves to his readers, there is a Jewish story everywhere. Some of the interviewees are known to us through their philanthropy. If you’re a San Diegan you certainly know names like Qualcomm, Jacobs and Viterbi. Other big machars who altered the skyline and landscape include Jewish sports visionaries like Robert Breitbard, who made a home for the Western Hockey League and International Sports Arena in what was known in the mid1960s as the Midway-Frontier section of San Diego. Today the Valley View Casino Center resides on this site, and to its credit, hatched the San Diego Gulls hockey team, the San Diego Rockets basketball team, and in 1971 hosted the NBA’s 21st Annual All Star Game featuring such greats as Kareem Addul Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) Wilt Chamberlain, and Oscar Robinson among others. My own knowledge of organized sports is severely limited, and I was delighted and surprised to learn that the idea for the Super Bowl, a faceoff between the National Football League and the American Football League, came from Jewish San Diego Chargers’ coach, Sid Gillman, who appealed to Pete Rozelle, the then-NFL Commissioner. Harrison’s travelogue includes tales of
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
mavericks, trailblazers and vigilantes, if you will. There truly is something for everyone, even a Western shootout on the order of the OK Corral! San Diego’s first Jewish settler, Louis Rose, arrived from Neuhaus-an-derOste, Germany. In 1869 Rose founded a 30-block area of Point Loma known as Roseville. This entrepreneur arrived in the Golden State in 1850 hoping to find fortunes. His pioneering spirit led Rose to pursue many businesses including a butcher shop, a tannery, a hotel, a saloon and a general store. Additionally, he also provided for a Jewish cemetery as well as a building where Jews observed the High Holy Days. To honor Rose, the administration of Old Town San Diego Historic Park placed a mezuzah on the doorpost of the auxiliary room of the Robinson-Rose House. There are so many other heroic and fascinating individuals described in Harrison’s book, and each one is deserving of recognition. Indeed, in a phone interview, Harrison told me that he has spent roughly two years researching and writing this incredible collection. With the help of his daughter Sandi and his grandson, Shor, the editor of the San Diego Jewish World provides a richly informative and highly entertaining history of Jews in San Diego along the I-8 corridor. The road trip is charming and engaging and really demonstrates that whether it’s an alpaca ranch, a recycling center, or the Pacific Crest Trail, there is, indeed, a Jewish story everywhere.
33 1/3 – HOUSE OF DREAMS A JUKEBOX MUSICAL
Re-live the ‘Soundtrack of Your Life’ as we take you on a behind-the scenes journey to Hollywood’s famous Gold Star Recording Studios in our world premiere musical, 33 1/3 - House of Dreams. Two young Jewish guys build a studio from scratch that becomes known for its famous “Wall of Sound.” Many of the greatest hits in Rock n’ Roll history such as La Bamba, Rockin’ Robin, Unchained Melody, Tequila, Inna Gadda Da Vida, He’s a Rebel and Good Vibrations were recorded there. We need your support to bring this production to the San Diego stage in 2018! Join our Kickstarter campaign at: kck.st/2ixh6Fx
33 1/3 - House of Dreams Tax deductible donations may be made to the San Diego Repertory Theater-501c3. Designate for 33 1/3-House of Dreams. For Investor & Other Inquiries: Contact Brad Ross goldstarrecordingstudios@gmail.com
MARCH 2016
Family
...AND BABY MAKES THREE at San Diego Fertility Center
A PINCH, A DASH AND A SPRIG
Bastyr University and Clinic Integrates Mind, Body and Spirit
BREWISH STATE
Israel taps into growing craft beer bazaar
TO LIFE!
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FEATURE STORY
Nir Bergman
Is San Diego
ready for recreational cannabis? A Q&A WITH TORREY HOLISTICS
O
n November 8, 2016, California voters approved Proposition 64, making recreational marijuana legal for people 21 and older. The law is slated to go into effect on January 1, but are we prepared for this? We asked the professionals at Torrey Holistics, a licensed San Diego dispensary that has been in operation since 2015. L’CHAIM Magazine: Take us back to the beginning, how did Torrey Holistics come to be? Torrey Holistics: Our founders set out to become a safe, legal, and reliable place for 36
people looking to ease the symptoms of medical conditions through the benefits of medical cannabis. To date, the city has issued only 17 licenses for the sale of medical marijuana, and we are proud to have been here from the beginning and to have built a reputation as a pioneer in the industry. Today, we serve over 10,000 patients at the dispensary and are continuing to grow. We will begin delivery and pick up service in the coming weeks. L’CHAIM: Speaking of the future, what changes do you expect after January 1st?
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
TH: In preparation for adult recreational use, the state has unveiled a list of very clear rules in an effort to guide the industry through this transition. For example, customers may only purchase one ounce of non-concentrated cannabis at a time, a serving size of edibles is limited to 10 milligrams of THC, and all products must adhere to strict testing standards and carry the state’s cannabis warning label. At Torrey Holistics, we are avoiding any anxiety over the upcoming changes by being proactive. We will just do our best to stock up and staff up as demand requires, and we will continue to provide
FEATURE STORY
laws. It is unlawful for a person under the influence of ANY drug to drive a car, and public use of marijuana will still be illegal. In addition, customers must be 21 and have a valid state or federal ID to purchase cannabis products. L’CHAIM: Are there unlicensed cannabis dispensaries in San Diego? Why should people buy from a legal dispensary? TH: Yes, unfortunately there are unlicensed sellers out there. As a matter of public safety, we strongly advise people to seek out only legal, licensed, established dispensaries like Torrey Holistics. Our products are all labtested to be safe, and we take the well-being of our patients very seriously.
friendly, knowledgable customer service as new customers seek information about what is now available to them. L’CHAIM: I’m glad you brought up new customers. For those not familiar, what is the difference between THC products and CBD products and how will people know which is right for them? TH: Great question! We carry hundreds of products in our store, which can be a bit intimidating, but our staff provides oneon-one assistance so each customer gets the information and the products that they need. In a nutshell, THC is the component of cannabis that produces mind-altering effects. Within the realm of THC products are various strains, which have varied benefits depending on one’s needs and preferences. CBD also comes from cannabis, but does not produce that sort of high. CBD products are widely used for sleep, relaxation, pain relief, etc. We even carry CBD products for pets! L’CHAIM: For those who have never taken cannabis products before, how do you know how much to take and will marijuana interfere with prescription medications? TH: It is important to find your personal
dosage level. Studies disagree about just how much stronger marijuana is today versus the marijuana from the 30 to 40 years ago, but it is definitely more potent due to growers crossing their most potent strains to produce a more valuable crop. Cannabis products also affect people differently because people metabolize it at different rates. We advise our new patients to take it slow. Perhaps start with an edible product with very low THC content, then wait 30 to 60 minutes to see how it affects you. As for drug interaction, virtually all chemical compounds from over-the-counter remedies to prescribed pharmaceuticals to illicit drugs will interact with other compounds. It is always best to consult with your physician before adding any new medicinal products to existing prescribed medications. L’CHAIM: Is the city of San Diego ready for this? TH: Actually, San Diego is embracing adult recreational marijuana more than most other parts of the state. The city has already authorized a supply chain to manage everything from cultivation to testing to manufacturing. That does not mean, however, that the city will be lax about enforcing the
L’CHAIM: Can I purchase cannabis products with my credit card? TH: No, until federal laws change, marijuana sales remains a cash-only business. L’CHAIM: What can people expect when coming to Torrey Holistics for the first time? TH: When people arrive at the dispensary, they are greeted by our friendly security guards. Prior to January 1st, Torrey Holistics is solely licensed as a medical marijuana dispensary, therefore, you will need to bring with you a Doctor Recommendation Card and proof of California residency such as a California Drivers License. After January 1, we will become both a medical and recreational facility, so the Doctor Recommendation Card will no longer be required. Once you have been checked in, our Cannabis Consultants will take it from there to walk you through our products. Don’t forget to bring cash, first time patients receive 20% off their purchase! TORREY HOLISTICS IS LOCATED IN SORRENTO VALLEY AT 10671 ROSELLE STREET, SUITE 100, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121. THEY ARE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 7AM TO 9PM AND SATURDAY & SUNDAY 9AM TO 9PM. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL 858-5581420 OR TORREYHOLISTICS.COM WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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FEATURE STORY l BY ADAM ABRAMS | jns.org
Wonder Woman
BIG-NAME STARS UPSTAGE CULTURAL BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL 38
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
A
s Israeli actress Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman film headed toward $400 million in earnings after debuting in early June, and numerous big-name musical acts lined up to perform in Israel this summer, the influence of the BDS movement’s cultural boycott of the Jewish state appeared to be waning. Gadot, who served in the IDF, has drawn ire from anti-Israel activists worldwide for her vocal support of Israel. Yet despite BDS campaigns to boycott Wonder Woman in Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia and Algeria due to the “Zionist” actress’s leading role, Gadot’s
FEATURE STORY
Marvel comic superhero movie soared to success — earning $103.1 million in North America during its first weekend — and received overwhelmingly positive reviews. On the musical front, while leading artists routinely receive BDS pressure to cancel their shows in Israel, the number of star-studded acts scheduled to perform in the Jewish state this summer is unprecedented. “Most artists understand that boycott campaigns in this case are racist and destructive, and will not lead to peace,” Roz Rothstein, CEO of the pro-Israel education organization StandWithUs, said. “Not only is the boycott movement against Israel a failure among performing artists, but 21 [U.S.] states have already passed anti-BDS legislation because it is viewed as discriminatory and harmful,” she added. In May, the Aerosmith rock band and pop star Justin Bieber both performed at Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park, resisting BDS petitions signed by thousands to cancel their concerts in Israel. Adding to their defiance of the boycott movement, the Aerosmith rockers met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu at his office in Jerusalem. “You don’t want to miss a thing,” Netanyahu told the band when recommending places to visit in Israel, a reference to the group’s first number-one hit. “Artists that come to Israel have understood that people are trying to take advantage of them because of hatred and for narrow political needs….[At their performances] they see a young, liberal, open audience… and feel that attempts to make them boycott Israel do not give credit to their intelligence,” Lior Weintraub, vice president of The Israel Project educational organization, said. Besides the Bieber and Aersomith performances, big-name shows hitting Israel this summer include Tom Jones, Armin van Buuren, Britney Spears, the Pixies, Guns N’ Roses, Rod Stewart, Lil Wayne, Radiohead and comedian Chris Rock. Ahead of Radiohead’s July 19 performance in Tel Aviv, the band publicly clashed with the de facto frontman of the BDS movement, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, over the cultural boycott of Israel. The public spat was instigated when
Waters, along with South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, published an open letter on Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day demanding that Radiohead cancel its performance in Israel. The letter, co-signed by dozens of artists, stated, “By playing in Israel you’ll be playing in a state where, U.N. rapporteurs say, ‘A system of apartheid has been imposed on the Palestinian people’…Please do what artists did in South Africa’s era of oppression: stay away, until apartheid is over.” Radiohead’s lead singer, Thom Yorke — who rarely speaks with the media — responded furiously to the letter in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. Yorke lambasted critics of Radiohead who assumed he and his bandmates were ignorant about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and condemned Waters for “throw[ing] the word ‘apartheid’ around.” “The kind of dialogue that [BDS activists] want to engage in is one that’s black or white. I have a problem with that,” said Yorke, who added it is “really upsetting that artists I respect think we are not capable of making a moral decision ourselves after all these years … There’s an awful lot of people who don’t agree with the BDS movement, including us. I don’t agree with the cultural ban at all.” Creative Community for Peace co-founder David Renzer said, “We are pleased to see the continuation of major international artists performing in Israel, despite the ongoing efforts of the BDS movement and artists such as Roger Waters.” Renzer, whose organization works “behind the scenes” to provide support to artists performing in Israel, added, “Thankfully, artists are recognizing that the arts are a powerful means to building bridges and aren’t allowing themselves to be manipulated.”
DID YOU KNOW? • Gal Gadot is an Israeli actress, singer, martial artist, and model. She was born in Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel, to an Ashkenazi Jewish family. Her parents are Irit, a teacher, and Michael, an engineer, who is a sixth-generation Israeli. • She was crowned Miss Israel in 2004 at only 18 years old. • She has been quoted as saying. “I definitely have a strong sense of my Jewish and Israeli identity. I did my twoyear military service, I was brought up in a very Jewish, Israeli family environment, so of course my heritage is very important to me. I want people to have a good impression of Israel. I don’t feel like I’m an ambassador for my country, but I do talk about Israel a lot - I enjoy telling people about where I come from and my religion.” • Her military training helped her land the role of Gisele in the Fast and Furious franchise, where she performed all of her own stunts for the film. WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
STANDING UP PROUD WITH STAND WITH US The SWU gala, attended by over 500 Israel supporters on Dec 2nd, was as entertaining and delicious as it was informational. The Festival of Lights Gala Dinner at the Marriott Marquis heard pep talks from Roz Rothstein, founder and CEO of SWU; Sara Miller, the organization’s San Diego director; Yahya Mahamid, an Arab-Israeli who has risked his life to defend Israel; and Dore Gold, former director general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry. Julian and Jenny Josephson cosponsored the dinner along with Shirley and Harold Pidgeon. An Israeli acapella group, Kippalive, entertained throughout the dinner. Rothstein outlined the hostile situation faced by Jewish students on numerous campuses. In August, Students for Justice in Palestine issued a document linking white supremacy, racism and Zionism and also said violence against Israeli interests is okay because it is a matter of “resistance.” Sara Miller said anti-Israel forces are active on both the UCSD and SDSU. She said the local chapter has developed programs for the college level, high school, and middle school,
and may soon develop educational programs about Israel for elementary school students. Yahya Mahamid, who had worked in a Tel Aviv hotel, said he spoke out because his mother had taught him not to be silent in the face of evil. His courage earned him and his family death threats, and eventually he made alliance with SWU which came to his aid. Now Mahamid tells his story at venues around the world. In the last two months, he said, he has told his story in 120 speeches. Asked about Israel’s ongoing conflict with the Palestinians, Gold said the world needs to know that this is not really a dispute over territory, but rather one over whether Israel should continue to exist in the Middle East. He pointed out that Israel voluntarily withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, and instead of promoting peace, the withdrawal resulted in an immediate increase of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel. So it’s not a matter of Israel simply giving up land to secure peace, whatever agreement is made with the Palestinians must also provide for Israel’s security, he stressed. Gold
noted that Israel is improving its bilateral relations in the Arab world, in Asia, Africa, and in Latin America.
Chanukkah
HAPPY
From the Staff of L’CHAIM MAGAZINE
lchaimmagazine.com WWW.LCHAIMMAGAZINE.COM
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L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
BY CHANA JENNY WEISBERG l FAMILY
jewish
mom.com My Moon Pie Dance
I
have been feeling burnt out for a while now. Jumping at any opportunity that takes me away from my kids and my house. I’ll admit that I was relieved when I heard from Rabbi Nivin that I’m not alone. Many people feel depressed and burnt out at this time of year. And for that reason, Rabbi Nivin has dedicated his post-Chagim classes to healing from burnout, or, as he puts it, “How to Take Care Yourself While Taking Care of Everyone Else.” One of the main causes of burnout, Rabbi Nivin taught us, is lack of authenticity. For example, when a former rock-band member becomes a baal teshuva and trades in his guitar-playing for all-day gemara learning. Or a marathon runner who becomes a mom and trades in her running shoes for playgroups and diapers. Burnout comes, Rabbi Nivin says, when we feed our higher soul but starve our lower soul. When we feed that idealistic part of ourselves that wants to learn Torah and raise a Jewish family and serve Hashem but starve that equally crucial part of our souls that needs to experience pleasure right now. This morning at Devora’s Dance Journey workshop, we explored this tension between our higher soul and lower soul, between Heaven and Earth, through the sense of
smell, the sense associated with this Hebrew month, Cheshvan. Devora started off by asking us to remember a smell we loved when we were children. And out of the blue, I remembered a smell I haven’t smelled in several decades…As a kid, when I would come home tired after a long day at school, I would puff up a moon pie in the microwave, and I would eat it while vegging out in front of Oprah. So this morning, I smelled the smell of microwaved marshmallow, melted chocolate, toasted graham cracker. I danced around and smiled big and smelled that smell as though I was again sitting again in front of Oprah, licking the melted chocolate off the tines of my fork, lower soul Heaven. And then Devora took down something from her bookshelf that looked like a menorah which held small vials instead of candles. And she told us that these vials contained the spices which made up the original ketoret, the incense used in the Holy Temple 2000 years ago. She told us to choose one of the vials and breathe in its smell, and to imagine that smell filling every cell in our bodies. I chose out the spice called Kalufa, and when I screwed off its top, I discovered that it was one of the most delicious smells I ever
smelled. Intense cinnamon with a gentle touch of vanilla. And I smelled the incense and danced around and imagined that I had snuck into the Beit HaMikdash and somehow had it all to myself, smelling the Ketoret and sacrifices mixing together as I swirled around, Hashem right there with me in that ancient meeting place of seamless connection between G-d and Jew. Devora finished off her class by having us dance Heaven and Earth, switching back and forth, between the dance of the higher soul and dance of the lower soul. And for me, I danced the dance of microwaved moon pies and Temple incense, finding just the right balance to feel alive and whole. CHANA JENNY WEISBERG, THE CREATOR OF JEWISHMOM.COM, IS A STAY-HOME MOTHER OF 8 CHILDREN LIVING IN JERUSALEM WITH HER HUSBAND, RABBI JOSHUA WEISBERG. ORIGINALLY FROM BALTIMORE, CHANA JENNY HAS DEVOTED HER NON-MOM TIME OVER THE PAST DECADE TO PROVIDING INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OTHER JEWISH MOMS THROUGH HER POPULAR BOOKS EXPECTING MIRACLES AND ONE BABY STEP AT A TIME.
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JEWISH NATIONAL FUND INTRODUCES JNFUTURE TO SAN DIEGO
J
ewish National Fund is introducing JNFuture to San Diego, according to Steffaine Altman, Campaign Executive, JNFuture Southern California. JNFuture is a global community of young professionals and supporters of Jewish National Fund, ages 22–40, who share a commitment and passion for Israel. Since its founding in 2007, JNFuture has grown exponentially from one city to more than 20 across the U.S. and Israel. All members have access to a vast network of like-minded peers, a variety of events, exclusive speaker series, VIP receptions with senior Israeli officials, and specialized trips to Israel. What started with a few friends in New York wishing there were more young people involved like them, has grown to be almost 900 people in over across the country. “JNFuture is experiencing amazing growth across the country,” Altman said. “Our Southern California community has grown in general, and with Jewish National Fund’s new national president, Dr. Sol Lizerbram, who lives in San Diego, we’re going to have fantastic events and speakers for the young professional community.” With regard to San Diego, Altman said, “We want this to be the beginning of a new community that grows exponentially. Any profession is welcome to join JNFuture – we’re looking for people who are passionate about Israel and want to be a part of a philanthropic community ensuring Israel’s success. Our Root Society donors are often also a part of our professional affinity groups, such as Lawyers for Israel, Doctor’s for Israel, and many other communities that they can join.” DECEMBER 11, 2017 KICK-OFF EVENT JNFuture San Diego will have its “Kick-off Event” on December 11, 2017 to celebrate Chanukah. This first event, Altman explained, will be the beginning of a lifelong community. “We will be engaging the next generation of Zionist leaders to step up, learn more, go back to Israel, and build a community within their community to take on the responsibility of developing the land and people of Israel.” “I am so excited to witness the launch of JNFuture in San Diego! I have seen the success of JNFuture chapters around the country, bringing together a thousand young adults and professionals who love Israel and want to roll up their sleeves and get to work. I look forward to seeing the amazing work our chapter will do to support 44
L’CHAIM SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
and strengthen Israel,” said James Kimmey, Director, Jewish National Fund San Diego. In addition, JNFuture San Diego members can draw upon the experience of JNFuture chapters in other cities to grow the San Diego chapter by capitalizing on Jewish National Fund being a relationshipdriven organization. “We have seen in JNFuture members around the country, as well as in Jewish National Fund, that growth comes through friendship and connecting like-minded people who want to not only be philanthropic, but also have fun doing it,” Altman said. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OR TO GET INVOLVED IN JNFUTURE SAN DIEGO, PLEASE CONTACT STEFFANIE ALTMAN, AT 323.964.140 X964, OR EMAIL SALTMAN@JNF.ORG.
BY STEPHANIE LEWIS l HUMOR
mazel
& mishagoss Should Jews Trade Cookies? “Can I organize a traditional holiday cookie exchange?” Posing problems that would cross a Rabbi’s eyes! With a look of consternation as he tugged at his long beard, you’d have thought I just asked him to hold my hand and dance with me in Motel and Tzeitel’s wedding scene on Fiddler on the Roof. “Well it isn’t exactly forbidden, and I suppose it’s no sin,” he finally said. I left the synagogue before he could issue his final ominous warning, “Just don’t get caught with your hand in the cookie jar!” How hard could it be to coordinate something the gentiles have been doing since the dawn of Nestles chocolate chips? I excitedly approached our temple book club membership to get everyone revved up about my great idea! Me: In honor of Chanukah, let’s each bring a plate of cookies for a fun swap during our next meeting, ok? Reader 3: But we don’t have 10 members! Me: Nu? Since when do you need a minyan for a cookie exchange? Reader 1: Oy! You’re picking the week we’re reading Exodus? No time. I’ll just buy Oreos. Reader 5: Or you could make those premade slice n’ bakes that pop out of a tube. Reader 2: For shame. That’s like cheating and using Cliff Notes. Me: Okay, seriously?? Reader 2: Uh…my shiksa sister-in-law said women have to actually own a rolling pin to be involved in these exchanges.
Me: This is supposed to be fun! Reader 3: Why should I put major time and effort creating homemade Leon Uris cookies if someone else just brings a bag of store bought Shel Silverstein sandwich cookies? Me: That’s true. If we wanted commercially made cookies, we’d head to the supermarket. C’mon ladies, we can get out our festive cookie cutters with the best of ‘em! The church down the street does it annually. Reader 1: But they’ve already cornered the market on easy circle-shapes like snowmen, Santa’s face, and X-mas tree ornament sugar cookies! Reader 4: (Gasp!) That’s right. We could have a casualty! Like losing one of the points on a Star of David cookie, or the spinner top of the dreidel might break in half. Or G-d forbid the shamash candle snaps right off an overly crispy menorah. And then where would we be? (A long, respectful hush fell over the temple library.) Reader 2: You’re right, it’s far too dangerous. Why don’t we just make gingerbread men, with yarmulke and tallis icing? We can sing, “Batchmaker, bathchmaker, bake me a batch!” Me: Ugh, let’s just forget this whole complicated thing and have a latke party. I’ll bring the applesauce. When Rabbi heard my dismal results he wisely uttered, “Well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles!” Not giving up, I thought I’d try the idea with our Jewish group therapy.
Me: We’ve all become so supportive of our unique personalities -- how about a cookie exchange? Bring 3.5-dozen! Mr. OCD: I can’t deal with odd numbers. Can we round up to an even 4-dozen? Ms. Germaphobe: Everyone bakes wearing gloves! Mrs. Agoraphobic: I’ll attend if the cookies are distributed in my own home. Miss Panic Attack: I’m anxious they’ll burn. Mr. OCD: Check the oven every 30 seconds, like I do. Miss Chronic Depression: Such a downer project. I’ll probably spend the day sleeping. Mr. Low Self-Esteem: My cookies will get shoved in the corner and nobody will taste them. Ms. Narcissist: Listen up, people! It’s not always about you. Can’t you see I love Chanukah cookies? I went back to the Rabbi for more advice. “Rabbi, is there a proper blessing for organizing a holiday cookie exchange?” He lowered his eyes profoundly. “May G-d bless and keep the holiday cookie exchange organizer … far away from me! Now be a smart cookie and go buy a dozen Kosher chocolate rugelach and call it a day!” STEPHANIE LEWIS REGULARLY WRITES FOR THE HUFFINGTON POST AND ONCEUPONYOURPRIME.COM
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