MARCH 2014 l ADAR I • ADAR II 5774
2014
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HISTORY HUNTER Craig Gottlieb makes sense of the past with military artifacts
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CONTENTS
March 2014 Adar I • Adar II 5774
32
COVER: Craig Gottlieb is a modern day Indiana Jones whose discoveries have garnered him international acclaim as the “History Hunter”
40
SIMCHAS: A complete listing of vendors and services for your next celebration
58
THEATER: Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman present “Harmony,” based on the true tale of a singing group torn apart during Nazi Germany
70
FEATURE: Lynne Kennedy’s latest fictional work focuses on the real-life mystery surrounding paintings missing since World War II
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IN THIS ISSUE: 64 PURIM:
A Purimspiel by Curt Leviant
66 PURIM:
A message from Beth Shalom’s Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel
68 FEATURE:
JFS’s Heart and Soul Gala honors community members who make a difference
73 BOOK REVIEW:
Judith Fein’s “The Spoon From Minkowitz”
74 FEATURE:
JNF focuses on the positive side of Israel with Ido Aharoni
75 BUSINESS:
The Fabulous Rag Boutique
82 OP-ED:
Michael Hayutin
Around Town 10 Mailbag 12 Our Town 16 Event Recap 76 What’s Goin’ On 88 Calendar In Every Issue 8 Welcome 18 Parenting 20 Israeli Lifestyle 22 Dating 24 Guest Column 26 Spirituality 28 Israel 84 News 93 Desert Life
Good Eats 80 Food Adar I • Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 5
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www.sdjewishjournal.com March 2014 • Adar I/Adar II 5774 PUBLISHER • Dr. Mark S. Moss CO-PUBLISHER • Mark Edelstein EDITOR-IN-CHIEF • Alanna Berman ART DIRECTOR • Laurie Miller ASSISTANT EDITOR • Natalie Jacobs ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR • Eileen Sondak ADVERTISING DIRECTOR • Mark Edelstein CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tori Avey, Betsy Baranov, Linda Bennett, Tinamarie Bernard, David Ebenbach, Judith Fein (Senior Travel Correspondent), Michael Fox, Jennifer Garstang, Rabbi Philip Graubart, Natalie Holtz, Miki Lamm, Pat Launer, Curt Leviant, David Ogul, Pamela Price, Sharon Rosen Leib, Nikki Salvo, Andrea Simantov CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS/ARTISTS Vincent Andrunas, Leigh Castelli, Pepe Fainberg, Steve Greenberg, Pat Krause, Laurie Miller, Paul Ross (Senior Travel Photographer), Angela Sissa, Daisy Varley ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Diane Benaroya (Senior Account Executive), Alan Moss (Palm Springs) SAN DIEGO JEWISH JOURNAL (858) 638-9818 • fax: (858) 638-9801 5665 Oberlin Drive, Suite 204 • San Diego, CA 92121 EDITORIAL: editor@sdjewishjournal.com ADVERTISING: sales@sdjewishjournal.com CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS: publisher@sdjewishjournal.com ART DEPARTMENT: art@sdjewishjournal.com LISTINGS & CALENDAR: calendar@sdjewishjournal.com COVER PHOTO BY DAISY VARLEY
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SDJJ is published monthly by San Diego Jewish Journal, LLC. Subscription rate is $24 for one year (12 issues). Send subscription requests to SDJJ, 5665 Oberlin Drive, Suite 204, San Diego, CA 92121. The San Diego Jewish Journal is a free and open forum for the expression of opinions. The opinions expressed herein are solely the opinion of the author and in no way reflect the opinions of the publishers, staff or advertisers. The San Diego Jewish Journal is not responsible for the accuracy of any and all information within advertisements. The San Diego Jewish Journal reserves the right to edit all submitted materials, including press releases, letters to the editor, articles and calendar listings for brevity and clarity. The Journal is not legally responsible for the accuracy of calendar or directory listings, nor is it responsible for possible postponements, cancellations or changes in venue. Manuscripts, letters, documents and photographs sent to the Journal become the physical property of the publication, which is not responsible for the return or loss of such material. All contents ©2014 by San Diego Jewish Journal. The San Diego Jewish Journal is a member of the American Jewish Press Association and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
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WELCOME by Alanna Berman Editor of the San Diego Jewish Journal editor@sdjewishjournal.com
A Season for Giving
E
ach year at Purim, I ask myself the same question that I’m sure many of you do: what will my costume be? And while it’s true that dressing up as someone – or something – else is part of the fun of this holiday, there are some traditions that I think deserve a resurgence in practice. The mitzvah of mishloach manot, the ancient tradition of sending and receiving food, was meant to encourage fraternity and friendship among Jews while making sure that everyone would have enough food to enjoy the Purim feast. Spelled out in the Book of Esther, the mitzvah commands people to observe the holiday “as days of feasting and gladness, and sending portions of food to one another, and gifts to the poor” (9:22). Traditionally, you send ready-to-eat items to a friend and make a charitable donation (money or food) to someone in need, yet today it is a tradition that seems to have gone the way of the dinosaurs. Sure, at Purim parties we bring a basket of candy and tchotchkes to share, but what about the charitable giving piece? Recently, I sat with friends and had a conversation about living well. Someone in the group suggested eating up everything in their home before going to the supermarket, to ensure that nothing went to waste and that future trips to the grocery store would become more streamlined. The discussion then led to how long it would take to eat up all the food in our cupboards, and who could hold out the longest without needing to run to the store. It was an interesting idea, and something I hope to try someday, but it pointed out how wasteful we are when it comes to food. For now, I think better than trying to eat up food that we normally wouldn’t – except as a social experiment – we could donate those items to someone who can’t afford to conduct such an experiment. In San Diego County, about 480,000 people go hungry each year. We think about donating food during Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Yom Kippur,
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but I think we should add Purim to the list of holidays on which we give to the less fortunate. I’m not even saying we should go out to buy food specifically for the purposes of donating – although that would be ideal – but couldn’t we give up some of our excess a little more often? At Jewish Family Service, the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry is constantly in search of volunteers and donations to keep the only Jewish food pantry in San Diego running. Clients of the Food Pantry and JFS’s Foodmobile are not exclusively Jewish, though the Food Pantry is the only place where Kosher items are requested. Last month, I was contacted by an organization in Israel whose mission is to keep the model of mishloach manot alive throughout the year, not just at Purim time. Latet (“to give” in Hebrew) is an independent, nonprofit organization with close to 6,500 volunteers who give 270,000 hours of service every year. A national umbrella organization, Latet collaborates with 150 local nonprofit organizations and associations, and heads a dozen independent programs devoted to nutritional security, helping Holocaust survivors in distress, working with atrisk youth, and more. Through Latet’s Hunger Free City project, volunteers deliver boxes of food to their less-fortunate neighbors in the Israeli city of Bat Yam each week. Since the Hunger Free City project began, almost 300 of the 2,000 families struggling for nutritional security are already receiving food. By partnering with local businesses who donate food items and city officials who volunteer, Bat Yam is a city on its way to eradicating hunger and becoming self sufficient at the same time – a lesson I think San Diegans can take to heart this month. It may be a small gesture at your next Purim party to donate your excess pantry items instead of exchanging treats with friends, but for those with little, it can mean a lot. A
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FEBRUARY 2014 l ADAR I 5774
24th ANNUAL
SD JEWISH FILM FEST
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Jewish Camping
STILL REELING FROM “SECOND HANUKKAH” Dear Editor: I’d like to respond to Len Hyman’s criticism of Rabbi Ben Leinow’s article (Mailbag, Feb. 2014). Lighten up Mr. Hyman! Anyone who knows Rabbi Ben would say, as Sheldon of “The Big Bang Theory” would, “That’s sarcasm, isn’t it?” Use the “sacred lights” to read the satire in every paragraph that Rabbi Leinow wrote, and get a laugh out of it! It was not intended to be taken seriously. And as an aside, since Hanukkah is such a movable holiday due to our lunar calendar, why couldn’t
it be as long as our Reform Jewish members wanted? Anything that tends to make our religion more attractive is a big plus as far as I’m concerned! Sincerely, Rhoda Hamburger Past President, Congregation Etz Chaim Dear Editor: I read Rabbi Leinow’s article before it was published in the Jewish Journal. I cautioned him that while I loved his tongue-incheek description of a “Second Hanukkah,” a great number of the reading public might not understand that this was a satirical article. Sometimes satire can backfire as it seems to have for Len Hyman. Sincerely, Diana Levin President, Congregation Etz Chaim
WOMEN OF POWER Dear Editor: I found the article, “Women of Power” (Israel, Feb. 2014) about women raised in the United States reaching impressive heights in the IDF to be both interesting and inspiring. I was, however, disappointed that the article failed to discuss local San
Diego women who have chosen to enlist in the Israeli Army. The organization I work for, San Diego National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY), currently has four female (and six male) alumni serving in the IDF in various capacities. And that is just from NCSY, I am sure there are many others. Shir Hebron, Natania Feifel, Hanna Moyal and Sarin Mizan have each decided to leave their families and put their lives on hold to ensure the safety and security of the Jewish homeland and I think Jewish San Diegans should know about the great sacrifice they are making. Thank you, Josh Cohen Assistant Director, San Diego NCSY
THE GIFT OF A BIRTHRIGHT TRIP Dear Editor: As someone who grew up in a half-Jewish home, somewhat disconnected from my Jewish roots, I found the Birthright Trip to be a really amazing and life-changing experience for me. It saddens me to read in “Birthright Eligible,” (Musings From Mama, Feb. 2014) that half of the applicants are now turned away because when I participated, I really felt this sense of everyone
wanting to help introduce me to this part of myself that I was very disconnected from. My group leaders and peers were so warm and welcoming and inviting and I even had my bat mitzvah there. It’s such a wonderful experience and it is my hope that Birthright trips are able to continue for many years to come. It is honestly one of the best gifts anyone has ever given to me. Best, Vanessa Shapiro San Diego
* CORRECTIONS * In the Feb. 2014 edition of the San Diego Jewish Journal, the story on Rabbi Joel David Bakst (“The Psychedellic Rabbi”) incorrectly listed the website to his yeshiva in Colo. The website should have been listed as cityofluz.com. In the same issue’s Palm Springs column, the photo was incorrectly attributed to Temple Sinai, not Temple Isaiah, as it should have been. The SDJJ regrets the errors.
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editor@sdjewishjournal.com • 5665 Oberlin Dr., Ste 204 • San Diego, CA 92121
Adar I • Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 11
our
TOWN
Lou Dunst Book Launch
Local Holocaust survivor Lou Dunst launched his book, “My Bargain With God: The Story of Holocaust Survivor Lou Dunst� recently. His personal story of bravery and message of love and forgiveness is written with Rabbi Ben Kamin. An overflowing crowd of about 500 people heard him speak at Ohr Shalom Synagogue. In the crowd were Sam and Jan Landau, David and Reina Shteremberg, Paulette and George Osher, Michal Hamui, Morris Casuto, Albert Cohen, Natalie Sutton, Burt Disner, Michael Bart, Tito and Stella Saltzman, Diane and Ian Kutner, and Morris and Zita Liebermensh.
BY LINDA BENNETT & BETSY BARANOV l BETSY1945@COX.NET PHOTOS BY SOLANGE
Births...
Goldie and Freddy Leff welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Susana Sophia on Feb. 3, 2014. Mazel tov! Also born recently in La Jolla was Caleb Asher Romano to Tamar Caspi and Mark Romano! Big brothers are Jordan, 5, and Remy, 3! Happy grandparents are Leslie and Shlomo Caspi of Our Town and Vivian and Sol Romano of Canada.
Birthdays...
Happy 100th birthday to Sam Weiss! Happy 80th birthday to Betty Byrnes! Happiest of birthdays to Mel Spiegler (91), Marvin Jacobs (90), Joan Jacobs (88), Edy Lange (91), Bob Epsten (90), and Ilene Silvers (77)!
Anniversaries...
Happy 50th wedding anniversary to Madeline and Warren Gershwin! Mazel tov to Daniel and Arlene Orlansky on their 65th year, and to Dean and Edie Greenberg on their 60th! Mazel tov to Gaston and Anita Maya, who celebrated their 45th anniversary in February!
Weddings...
Eileen Shelden and Andrew Katz were married at Ohr Shalom Synagogue by Rabbi Scott Meltzer on Jan. 26. Happy parents are Al and Marilyn Shelden and Anne Katz of Los Angeles. 12 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
Top: Rabbi Ben Kamin and Keren-Dee Hamui. Clockwise from middle right: Beto Hamui and Nir Benzvi; Michal Hamui and Dan Cohen; Lou Dunst.
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our
TOWN Seacrest Village’s “Sapphire Jubilee” PHOTOS BY VINCENT ANDRUNAS In February, the Women’s Auxiliary of Seacrest Village Retirement Communities held its 36th annual Gala, dubbed “Sapphire Jubilee,” at the Hyatt Regency in La Jolla to honor Sylvia and David Geffen for their philanthropy. More than 350 guests helped to raise more than $350,000 at the event, which will be used for the provision of charitable care for those residents who have exhausted their financial resources. Guests were welcomed by a blue carpet to coincide with the sapphire theme and enjoyed cocktails prepared by juggling bartenders. The evening began with a welcome by Robert Haimsohn, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Seacrest; followed by Master of Ceremonies Dan Cohen. Pam Ferris, President and CEO of Seacrest, welcomed her colleagues and three VIP tables of Seacrest Village residents who were in attendance. Some enjoying the evening were Ellen and Ernie Addleson, Bea and Bob Epsten, Lisa and Jeffrey Glazer, Anabel and Ted Mintz, Steve and Janice Boner, Silvana and Richard Christy, Cindy and Larry Bloch, Marla and Gordon Gerson, and Izzy and Marc Leverant. For more information, visit seacrestvillage.org.
Top: Paul and Joyce Dostart. Clockwise from middle: David and Sylvia Geffen, Pam Ferris and Dan Cohen; Bob Haimsohn, Robin Israel, Jon and Mary Epsten; Loretta Adams and Bill Snyder. 14 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
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the SCENE BY EILEEN SONDAK l NSONDAK@GMAIL.COM PHOTOS BY VINCENT ANDRUNAS
SD Opera Gala The San Diego Opera launched its 2014 International Season recently with a lavish black-tie gala accompanying the opening of “Pagliacci” at the Civic Center. The event honored philanthropists Erna and Andrew Viterbi for their generous contributions to the organization over the years. The evening started with a reception in the Golden Hall Lobby of the Civic Concourse, then the revelers moved on to the Civic Theatre for the stirring performance. The ballroom was magnificently decked out to reflect the opera’s circus theme. Gossamer fabrics created a circus tent overhead, and the tables were laid out with elegant crystal glasses and stunning centerpieces arranged on opulent cloths. Among the many opera lovers in attendance for the gala were Karen and Donald Cohn, Leonard and Elaine Hirsch, Rusti Bartell Weiss, Barbara Bloom, Lee and Frank Goldberg, Jennifer and Richard Greenfield, Iris and Matthew Strauss, Jeanne Jones and Don Breitenberg, Sally and John Thornton, and Jeffrey and Sheila Lipinsky.
Symphony Celebration
The San Diego Symphony held “A Return Celebration” with the world’s pre-eminent violinist Itzhak Perlman as guest artist recently. The event also included the re-naming of the Symphony’s newly renovated Donor Room, to pay homage to Helene and George Gould for their valuable support. The festive evening began with a cocktail hour in the upper lobby of Symphony Hall. Then, the delighted guests enjoyed a sit-down dinner in the new Helene and George Gould Room. The highlight of the evening for music aficionados took place in the Hall, when Perlman joined the San Diego Symphony for a thrilling performance with Maestro Jahja Ling conducting the orchestra. During intermission, special guests joined the Goulds at a VIP reception in the new party room. Included among them were Sherry and Larry Kline, Joan and Irwin Jacobs, Phyllis and Dave Snyder, Judith Harris and Robert Singer, Warren Kessler, Marjory Kaplan, Joanne and Steve Laverson, and Valerie and Harry Cooper.
Top: Sheila and Jeff Lipinsky. Clockwise from top right: Conrad Prebys, Debbie Turner, Joyce Gattas and Gwyn Richards; George and Hélène Gould and Joan and Irwin Jacobs; Sheryl Sutton, Ivy Valentino and Valerie Cooper; Courtney Gill, Edward Gill, Itzhak Perlman, Evelyn Lamden and Jahja Ling.
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parenting
MUSINGS FROM MAMA by Sharon Rosen Leib srleib@roadrunner.com
Protecting a Legacy
I
’m the great-granddaughter and namesake of pioneer Hollywood producer and 20th Century Fox executive Sol M. Wurtzel. A lesser known but incredibly prolific mogul, he churned out hundreds of movies with directors and stars that defined their times – Tom Mix, Shirley Temple, Will Rogers, John Ford and Marilyn Monroe – to name drop the biggest and brightest. His Jewish communal involvement also warrants admiration. In 1926, he co-founded and served as first president of Temple Israel of Hollywood. From 1934 on, he worked with a group of prominent Jewish film executives to combat the Los Angeles Nazi Bund’s rampant anti-Semitism. So I hit the ceiling when I first read about a book titled “The Collaboration: Hollywood’s Pact with Hitler,” published in 2013 by Harvard University Press (HUP). Was the author Ben Urwand, a Harvard Junior Fellow, making the spurious claim that Hollywood moguls like my great-grandfather collaborated with Hitler? I had to get my hands on a copy of this book and see for myself. But I wasn’t about to pay one cent to support HUP’s academic hucksterism. I requested and was granted a free review copy. While Urwand’s book doesn’t mention my great-grandfather by name it references movies he produced. As I read, I imagined Papa Sol raging around his travertine crypt in Culver City, Calif. How dare this young Australian Jewish academic (the grandson of Hungarian Holocaust survivors) make such slanderous accusations? Much of Urwand’s book is so off base that I concluded he either lacked understanding of the moguls’ context or chose to ignore it. And lest you doubt biased me, please note that esteemed critics around the country, including The New Yorker’s David Denby, have discredited the book. I know from family oral history and personal research that a compelling counter-narrative undermines Urwand’s ahistorical conclusions. The Hollywood moguls faced tremendous pressure from
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notorious domestic anti-Semites like Henry Ford and Father Coughlin who accused the “Jewish movie magnates” of polluting young American minds with their “filthy” movies. In 1934, Joseph Breen, the newly appointed head of Hollywood’s Production Code Administration, wrote a letter to a friend about his job: “These Jews seem to think of nothing but money-making and sexual indulgence … They are, probably, the scum of the scum of the earth.” Such unabashed American anti-Semitism squeezed the Hollywood Jews in a vice as they struggled to hang on to the motion picture empire they created. Disturbingly, Urwand’s book perpetuates the antiSemitic stereotype of Jewish businessmen as immoral money-grubbers willing to sell out – even to the Nazis. So why do I care about this academic quackery? Because the legacies we leave matter. I’m not about to let some Harvard Junior Fellow hijack my family’s narrative. I don’t want my daughters or (hopefully future) grandchildren to believe for a split second that one of their ancestors collaborated with the Nazis. A silver lining to Urwand’s book is that it motivates me to share long-archived family stories and speak truth to venerated Harvard power. For instance, 20th Century Fox quietly smuggled Jews like our beloved friends, brilliant Austrian lawyer Paul Koretz, his wife Andula and their two young daughters, out of Vienna after the 1938 Nazi Anschluss ensnared them. Fox’s London office secured English visas for the Koretzs and sent an employee to Vienna to escort them on a harrowing journey through Germany to England. The intelligent, streetwise Jewish moguls knew how to run a complicated game. They did what they could to save lives behind enemy lines. Their movies also exposed Nazi Germany and the world at large to a diverse society where impoverished Jewish immigrants could achieve the American dream through sheer will and the power of storytelling. That’s a proud legacy worthy of protection. A
Did you know? In June, 2013, 20th Century Fox CEO Jim Gianopulos was given the Humanitarian Award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center for his philanthropic work in the community.
israeli lifestyle
LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE by Andrea Simantov
andreasimantov@gmail.com
When Ariel Came Marching Home
I thought it would feel “heavier” and there would be more reflection. That the meaning of my son’s military service would loom larger. Instead, it felt like, uh, Friday. Everything was ready for Shabbat; the table set, laundry folded and put away, and there was enough time to issue Ariel the requisite military haircut for the last time. In only 48 hours he’d be officially released from the Israel Defense Forces. When he was still a little boy, I’d written about the fear, the shame of imposing my iron-clad Zionist values upon children who rarely/never questioned my decisions. No one was asked: “Who wants to move to Israel and serve in the army to preserve our God-given right to the 20 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
land?” The possibility of giving up one’s life wasn’t even a blip on our radar screen. My toddlers and tadpoles nestled in my lap, impervious to any obscure dangers that might await any of us in the future. Today, I blush with the pride of having had a son who served his three combat years with honor, with determination and with insurmountable dignity. And I also will risk crowing that, with only two or three worrisome days, I never succumbed to the fear. Okay; there were a few stretches of time that he was unreachable and – as I’d later find out – in danger. He would call and tell me not to expect to hear from him until “Thursday” or “when I can.” Did I wring my
hands, fall to my knees and run to the Western Wall for some supplementary praying? Not really. Of course I prayed but this is Israel; I prayed for all our sons. I prayed that no mother received unwanted news. And I knew that other mothers were praying for me as well. Placing one foot in front of the other and periodically checking my lipstick, this is the way I survived. Indeed, the years sped by and I’m loathe to admit that I never got around to surprising him on his base with pots of favorite stews and home-baked cookies the way that other mothers did. I meant to have the boys over for beers and kebobs and host lone soldier buddies for endless Sabbath meals more often than I did. And while he did schlep home a khaki-clad straggler or two for a well-earned shower, good night’s sleep and a chance to do a load of laundry before returning to active duty, my recollections are hazy and skewed. Ari was quieter than usual this “last Shabbat.” There was little laundry to do as most of his uniform pieces have already been returned for next year’s inductees. He has confessed that he will miss his gun; a soldier is a soldier 24 hours a day and, true to his personality, he was always on alert. And I can’t imagine how Civilian Ariel will look. Thankfully, he has three job interviews lined up, is beginning to study for college entrance exams, has put out some feelers for shlichut (Zionist outreach) programs and I think I hear him whispering on the phone to a girl. Many of his buddies are taking off in the coming days to India, Bolivia, Nepal and Kenya. Ari’s plans aren’t so grandiose but one thing we’ve agreed upon: Within this next month we will have an open house evening replete with drinks, desserts, music and laughter. In Hebrew it’s called seudat hoda’ah – a Feast of Gratitude. The reason is simple: My boy came home. A
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PLAYING WITH MATCHES by Jennifer Garstrang jenscy@gmail.com
The Case for Texting
I
’ve been seeing a lot of new studies lately about all the ways technology destroys our social and romantic lives. The statistics are certainly compelling, but as I sit alone in my room, staring at my flashy electric light-box, I find myself protesting their primary assertion that the problem is the technology. The fact is, technology is nothing more than a tool – a tool that we can use to the detriment or the enhancement of our social and romantic interactions. Consider the Terminator. On the one hand, it was a terrifying death machine bent on the destruction of mankind. But on the other, without the Terminator, Sarah Connor never would have met her hunky man from the future, Kyle Reese. So, from that perspective, the Terminator is nothing short of a laser-toting Yenta! “But Jenny,” you protest, “the Terminator is a speculative technology from a fictional story.” Yes. That is the single, solitary flaw in that example. So, let’s look at a real-world technology: the cell phone. Of all the technology cited for destroying our social lives, the one that comes up the most is (ironically) the technology whose primary purpose is to help us communicate. These pocket-sized electronic beasties have become a problematic part of modern dating. Whether it’s because one person is so addicted to their phone that their significant other feels like a third wheel to a piece of circuitry or because of a drastic text message miscommunication, the fact remains: dating in the time of cell phones is tricky. For example, I once had a guy cuss me out via text because I didn’t respond to his “had a great time on our first date” message within a few hours. I happened to have been at work, and hadn’t had a chance to check 22 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
my personal cell. When I did get the message, he received a prompt reply – which contained a few choice words of my own. So, would it shock you if I said that none of these are examples of how smartphones ruin our dating lives? Well, hold on to your yarmulkes, because that is exactly what I’m saying! Smart phones are only as intelligent as the people using them. So if you’re having dating and relationship problems, it does you no good to assume the fault lies with the phone. Can texting or surfing the net become habit-forming? Sure. So can chocolate or owning puppies. Does that make you physically incapable of putting your gadgets away when it is not appropriate to be using them? In the vast majority of cases, the answer is a resounding “nope.” If you use common sense, and constructively communicate with your partner about their feelings on the subject, you can not only avoid any technological pitfalls, but actually enhance your relationship. For instance, while texting is a terrible medium for intense and emotionally-charged conversations, it can be a fantastic way to let your significant other know you’re thinking of them. Likewise, while withdrawing into your own little technology bubble at dinner is extremely rude and a surefire way to tick off your date, using your phone to share a fun video or look up a fact that applies to your dinner time conversation can be a fun way to get closer to the person you’re with. So, as you go forth into this brave new world, think of your technology as a metaphorical hammer. If it is wielded without care, it can result in sore thumbs and sadness. But when used correctly, it can be a useful instrument as you build your relationships. But please, don’t use your smart phone to help you hang a picture frame. A
Did you know?
The first-ever text message was sent by software engineer Neil Papworth to Vodafone director Richard Jarvis in 1992. It read, “Merry Christmas.”
guest column
GOD TALK
by Rabbi Philip Graubart rabbi@cbe.org
Where Does God Live?
W
hen I was growing up, I was convinced my maternal grandparents lived in a mansion. The finished basement in particular seemed enormous to me; it had a pool table, a ping pong table, my grandfather’s workshop with his various tools, and we still had room for floor hockey, or soccer. Plus, my grandmother never seemed to have a problem hosting my large family. On Passover, 25 or 30 people would sleep over, and it never seemed crowded. My childhood memories of my grandparents are tied up with that house: the hide-and-seek games we played in what I imagined to be the huge lawn; the tomato plants my grandfather tended; the sewing room where my grandmother made my pajamas; my grandfather pounding on wood in his workshop. For many years, it was as if the house archived all my experiences with my grandparents. I couldn’t remember them without seeing or thinking of the house. I was weirdly surprised then, when I suddenly noticed that it wasn’t a particularly big house. This was shortly after my grandmother passed away about five years ago (she lived to be 100), and we were finally dividing up the last of my mother’s possessions, 10 years after she’d died. It was a fine house, for sure, but middle class. Apart from the spacious basement common in Midwestern homes, I live in a bigger house today (and my house isn’t all that big). But I was a small kid, and my grandparents loomed large. I was thinking about the connection between memory and space during a recent trip to Italy. Many friends asked if I had a chance to meet with the Pope (very funny). My answer is I didn’t, but I saw where he davens – St. Peter’s Basilica. By Catholic law, St. Peter’s is the biggest Catholic church in the world (there are lines on the ground indicating where other immense churches would fit if placed inside of St. Peter’s). Of course it’s not just the biggest – it’s filled with dizzying, intimidating 24 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
masterpieces – Bellinis, Michaelangelos – but it’s the bigness that catches your attention, and seems to matter the most. I couldn’t help but compare St. Peter’s – the spiritual center of Catholicism – with the spiritual center of Judaism: the Kotel. The difference couldn’t be starker. St. Peter’s is the biggest and the best, a place that beats you into submission with its size and grandeur. The Kotel, literally, is a ruin, a heap of stones. I could accurately call it the worst synagogue in the world, because even the poorest, tiniest shtiebel in Slovakia or Grozny (I’ve been to both) can at least boast four walls and a roof. In the Torah, the Israelites build a sanctuary but God tells them from the very beginning “build me a sanctuary and I will live among you.” We expect God to say “I will live in it,” but God switches the pronoun at the last minute – “in you,” instead of “in it.” I would probably translate the Hebrew vav in the sentence as “but” rather than “and” (the word often means “but”), so the sentence should read: “You will build me a sanctuary but I will live in you.” Don’t think, God is saying, that a building can house me. And don’t think your access to me can ever be confined to rituals occurring in any one building. Space doesn’t hold me. I live in your hearts. At some point, all religions have to answer the question: where do I locate God? If the answer is a building then, of course, it would have to be a pretty big building. In fact, it could never be big enough. As it happens, whenever Judaism tried to answer the question with a building, the building was destroyed. Now we know better. We locate God in our own hearts, and especially in the spaces between each other – the soulful places where human relationships flourish, where we tell each other stories, and love each other. That’s where I find my grandparents nowadays and it’s where God lives. A
DID YOU KNOW?
The world’s largest synagogue is assumed to be Belz Great Synagogue in Jerusalem, with a main sanctuary that seats up to 10,000 people.
Adar I • Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 25
spirituality
THE ARTIST’S TORAH by David Ebenbach ebenbach@netzero.com
Beauty and the Beastly
I
t’s tempting to think of the Torah as a single, continuous document, all on one scroll. And yet we call the Torah the Chumash (a word rooted in the Hebrew word for “five”), because it contains, of course, five distinct books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These distinctions can inform our Torah study; for starters, we can note the ways in which each book has its own interests, emphases, and personality. It can also be fruitful to think about how the books sit side by side with one another: when we move from one to the next, as we do this month, what can we learn from the shift? And the jump from Exodus to Leviticus is a pretty jarring one. The last portion of Exodus, P’kudei, puts the final touches on the construction of the Mishkan, the Israelites’ portable sanctuary. We watch as skilled weavers, builders, and carvers come together to create a structure ornamented with gold and silver, draped with finely woven cloth hangings and screens; we see the assembly of ornate and dazzling vestments for the priests; there’s an aroma of incense; we watch as God descends in the form of a cloud into the space. That beautiful, cloud-filled space is where Exodus ends. Then Leviticus begins, with considerably less beauty, unless you happen to be a fan of bloodspatter. We begin immediately with the subject of ritual animal sacrifices, and by the fifth verse of the first chapter we see priests taking the blood of the sacrifices and flinging it all around the Mishkan’s altar, all over the walls. This bloodspattering continues through the early portions of Leviticus, when we’re not talking about the act of slaughtering itself or about removing and burning internal organs. And so: from the outside of the Mishkan, we have a gorgeous, majestic structure, while on the inside, it looks like a slaughterhouse. As a post-Temple Jew (not to mention a vegetarian), it’s a little hard to reconcile these
26 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
inside and outside views of the Mishkan. In the eye of the Torah, however, there’s no contradiction, as both things are sacred; God designs the Mishkan in all its glory and God also commands the sacrifices and decides exactly how vividly they’ll be carried out. I think I understand this better as a writer. In a recent “Sacred Words” issue of the online Israeli literary magazine The Ilanot Review, the editors wrote, “What is sacred? Nothing is sacred. Except for that which takes on, for a moment or for millennia, the power to evoke a meaning beyond mere presence.” And indeed we find that power in both the beautiful and the gruesome. In fact, they often occupy the same space. Consider the human body, which we regard with awe, wonder, attraction. Yet inside we are as bloody, as gory as any sacrificial animal – we are, like those animals, held together only by fragile flesh – and though we aren’t going to meet our end on the altar of a kohen, we will nonetheless meet our end at some point, somewhere. And it’s that potentially horrifying certainty that lends life its preciousness, that makes it worth revering and writing about. Traditionally, every morning we pause to recite, among other blessings, a blessing to express our gratitude that all our innards are working well, that our pipes are open when they ought to be and closed when they ought to be. In that moment we turn ordinary presence – our bodies, doing their normal things – into something more meaningful. We are post-Temple Jews, and that means we no longer live by ritual sacrifice – but we still navigate a world where life, bounty, and discovery are tangled up with loss and destruction. These things are not always in balance – sometimes we find ourselves more squarely in the book of beauty, and sometimes more in the book of the ugly – but, just like the Torah does, it is our task, our challenge, and our privilege, to hold those books together. A
This
month’s Torah portions March 1: Pekudei (Exodus 38:21-40:38) March 6: Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1-5:26) March 13: Tzav (Leviticus 6:1-8:36) March 20: Sh’mini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47) March 27: Tazria (Leviticus 12:1-13:59)
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I
AN AMERICAN HALF-JEW IN ISRAEL
israel
My recent Birthright trip • BY NATALIE JACOBS
PHOTOS BY LEETAL ELMALEH
Israeli tour guide Stav Lefler leads the way on an afternoon hike.
I
t’s 3:15 a.m. and I’m walking bleary-eyed to the shower. One last bag check and I’m in the car with my mom at exactly 4, driving to Los Angeles. The Birthright emails said we were to be at the airport by 7:30, no excuses, and I’m not about to be late for a free trip to Israel. At the airport, it’s obvious who’s going on the trip even without seeing the two 20-somethings carting clipboards. Globs of young Jews sit and stand and lay around the entryway in front of the terminal’s check-in desk. I’m one of them. We quickly begin assessing each other and start the first of many “Hi, what’s your name?” and “What do you do?” conversations. We’re about to spend
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10 days together, so we’d better get the details out of the way. Birthright is a program funded by a trifecta of Jewish interests – the Israeli government, private donors and the United Jewish Federation. These groups feed money to 15 trip organizers who then take packs of about 40 18-26 year-olds to Israel during myriad winter and summer sessions. No one in charge is shy about discussing why we’ve been encouraged to come here but each of the 40 people in my group seems to have a different reason for why he or she chose to embark on this journey. When we’re asked, during our first nightly group meeting, what we are doing here, many admit that it is hard to
pass up a free trip to a foreign country. But when we allow ourselves to get a bit deeper, we reveal that we’re all grappling with how to define our Jewish identity, wondering whether or not that’s something that is even important to us. Like me, a handful of my group members weren’t even raised Jewish. We come from mixed backgrounds with little or no understanding of Judaism beyond the Holocaust and challah bread (although my knowledge did span a bit beyond that thanks to the year I’ve spent writing for the Jewish Journal). Others were raised with a strong connection to the religion but have since moved away from regimented practice. But no continued on page 30...
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I israel
Yael Adventures’ Birthright group 29-192 stops for a goofy photo atop Masada. The author sits in the second row, third from left.
...continued from page 28 matter where we came from, we’re now sitting in a circle, looking into the eyes of strangers with whom we feel an odd connection after a mere 32 hours together. Where is this connection coming from? Is it because we’re all Jewish in one way or another, or because we know we’re stuck together for the next 10 days so we’ve resigned ourselves to getting along? It’s hard to say. But it’s impossible to be here and not be struck by the diversity of viewpoints and philosophies that Judaism, as a religion or a culture or a tradition, allows for. Later, at the so-called “Mega Event,” all of the approximately 3,000 Birthright participants in Israel at the time gather to hear Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak before dancing into the night together. Bibi said that in 1999, philanthropists Michael Steinhardt and Charles Bronfman came up to him with the idea to bring young Jews to Israel, on Netanyahu’s shekel. To hear him tell it, Netanyahu said “yes” without a flinch. By the time we’re in the convention center in
30 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
Jerusalem listening to Netanyahu address us, my group, which has grown with the addition of eight young Israelis, has been together for eight days. We’re exhausted from 7 a.m. breakfasts and hours-long hikes. We’ve driven nearly the full length and width of this small country. We’ve skimmed the surface of more than 2,000 years of history fraught with war and hatred and greed. We’ve climbed through a hilltop army bunker overlooking Syria and we’ve seen ancient ruins stacked three generations on top of each other, underneath the ground. There were icebreakers and awkward hookups, even an engagement. But now we’re here listening to this country’s (our country’s?) Prime Minister talk about the importance of our connection to the “homeland.” There are Birthright groups here from Brazil, Canada, Chile, and Sweden. After Netanyahu finishes, Michael Steinhardt and Lynn Schusterman (both big Birthright donors) talk about why they started and continue to fund Birthright. Then there’s Israeli pop music and lots of dancing. Such is the essence of Birthright – listen, listen, listen, then socialize until your
voice gives out. In addition to discussing the wide history of the Jewish people in the region, we touch on some of the current political scenarios that we, as young Americans first and foremost, have been struggling to determine our feelings about. Of course, no one boards the plane at Ben Gurion Airport with his or her mind made up. But that’s the oft-expressed goal of this trip, for participants to go home with more questions than answers. At Independence Hall, a very passionate representative of the museum speaks to us at length about Israel’s founding. He tells us stories about how touching the Western Wall would make “electricity surge through our spine” and about how the iPhone has a Jewish brain – and then he asks us to consider what it means to be a Jewish state. We’re all familiar with the fact that Israel is a Jewish state, but it’s likely that none of us on the trip have ever really considered the question. It’s a big one to add to the list of morequestions-than-answers. For me, after experiencing so many different aspects of Judaism, from the holy sites and the ancient history to the modern-day innovations and my real-life Jewish-American and Israeli peers, more than wondering about a Jewish state, I was left wondering: “What is Jewish?” If we are all of these disparate things, how can we all be one common thing? And where do we go from here? One thing I do know is I now have 50 new Facebook friends and couches to sleep on in various parts of the country, so I’m looking forward to keeping up the conversations about Israel, history, politics and Judaism until we all run out of questions. A Registration for Birthright summer sessions is open now through March 19, and the Jewish Federation of San Diego County has spots specifically reserved for members of the San Diego Jewish community. Find details at birthrightsandiego.com or call Carly Ezell, Next Gen Community Engagement Manager at (858) 737-7148.
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Adar I • Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 31
THE HISTORY HUNTER
Local expert unlocks mysteries of World War II BY ALANNA BERMAN • PHOTOS BY DAISY VARLEY
San Diego militaria expert Craig Gottlieb recently got his hands on what he says would have been on his “most wanted” list had he even thought it existed a few years ago: the Italian passport used by one of World War II’s most notorious criminals, Joseph Mengele. Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 33
COVER STORY
PREVIOUS PAGE: Gottlieb's warehouse in Solana Beach houses military artifacts from all over the world. LEFT: A case holds German military artifacts from World War II. RIGHT: Gottlieb at work in his warehouse. “The provenance of a thing like this seems irrefutable,” he says of the finding, his latest in a string of artifacts from World War II that he buys and sells out of his warehouse in Solana Beach. “When you look at it, it looks pretty real, but it’s a fake ID, [so] everything about it is that much harder to authenticate because of that.” The passport was issued to Gregor Hellmuth, one of many aliases Mengele is purported to have used after leaving Germany for Argentina. The photo is none other than the “Angel of Death” himself, yet all other documentation seems to be falsified, down to the date of issue. “It’s issued in 1947, and we know Mengele didn’t escape until 1949,” Gottlieb says. “He wasn’t in Italy [then], so it’s backdated. It’s got a fake name on it. It is a false identity document, almost certainly not issued by the Italian Government to Mengele, but produced on the black market for him by altering another original passport. That’s why looking at the photograph is important, its why looking at the paper is important, and why
34 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
looking at the ink is important, to determine if the passport is a product of the 1950s, or a modern forgery.” In addition to looking at the passport himself, Gottlieb has enlisted the help of several museums. In February, the passport, along with signed affidavits and photographs of the previous owner, Elsa Havarich (Mengele’s personal secretary in Argentina) turning over the documents, was sent to a museum on the east coast, for assistance with the project. Gottlieb says it would be “the shock of his career” if the passport turns out to be a modern forgery. “Everything points to it actually being a passport that he carried with him and got [into Argentina] with … But why did he have this? Was it made in 1952 because he needed a cancelled passport in his file to show someone for a visa? Did he really get this in 1947 or 1953, and was the immigration stamp a forgery? There are so many unanswered questions, so it’s a process, and the important thing about this work [is that
we get to ask] those questions.” Gottlieb’s work has made headlines in the past. In 2011, he sold Adolf Hitler’s desk set, on which the Nazi leader signed the Munich Pact. At one time, he sold one-of-a-kind portraits of Klara and Alois Hitler, parents of Adolf. Nazi military uniforms, iron crosses, swastika flags, and German military propaganda line the walls of his warehouse. But the Jewish-born Gottlieb says dealing in what some may call the macabre, dark past of the Holocaust is an important part of our shared history, and something that all people should be interested in. “Most people don’t understand the importance of Nazi artifacts, but for me, part of the excitement of dealing with these things on a daily basis is that it connects me to the history of the Holocaust,” he says. Gottlieb says he was raised a “gastronomical Jew.” His father, a World War II veteran, was born to parents who emigrated from Russia around the turn of the century. His mother was
COVER STORY
“When you hold a significant piece of history in your hands, as a human being, you can make a very first-person connection to that period or that event or person in a way that you can’t by just walking through a museum or reading a book,” Gottleib says.
raised Protestant but converted to Judaism after marrying his father. The family celebrated “the major holidays, but it wasn’t an intense thing for any of us.” Though his family wasn’t very religious, Gottlieb says he and his siblings were aware of their Jewish roots, and never shied away from their personal history. Today, he makes a living dealing in military artifacts from all over the world, but is known for his expertise in and fascination with World War II. Ironically, he says this work has deepened his connection to his past. “My religious roots have grown by doing what I do, and I didn’t expect that,” he says. “What was previously just a part of my past is something that I connect to now. “When you look at things like the Mengele passport, you should connect to it as a human being, but the fact that I am ‘Jewish by ethnicity,’ as I like to say, gives me a different way of looking at things, and it makes what I do a little more personal.” Gottlieb’s love of all things military began at a young age when his father gifted him a bayonet.
He still has that bayonet, among others in his warehouse which is filled to the brim with military items from all over the world. He runs an online auction company, Craig Gottlieb Militaria Auctions, where he deals in military antiques and firearms; and has written four books based on these items. He’s even turned his love of military artifacts into regular television appearances on the History Channel’s “Pawn Stars,” as the military antiques and firearms expert for Las Vegas’s Gold and Silver Pawn Shop. “I am a big believer in the power of an artifact,” he says. “The power of an artifact to instruct us or teach us about history is bigger than the power that one experiences by going through a museum, reading a book or watching a documentary, because all of those things are laden with a bias. As great as museums are, they are curated, and the experience is designed and presented. [Good or bad], that’s the fact of the matter. “[However] when you hold a significant piece of history in your hands, as a human being, you can make a very first-person connection to that period or that event or person in a way that
you can’t by just walking through a museum or reading a book.” The importance of historical framework is not lost on Gottlieb, either. “History is a place that all of us need to be connected to as human beings, and if we don’t inform ourselves with history as a foundation, we don’t know where we came from and we don’t know where we are going,” he says. But there are questions that come along with housing a warehouse full of Nazi memorabilia. Even more questions come up when someone wants to buy or sell these items, though Gottlieb says he’s almost never had a problem with any of his clients; many of whom are history buffs or people looking for information about their family history. While he does deal in “collector common” items, sometimes the personal affects of war’s most notorious criminals are the most fascinating. It’s a way to look at the cause, rather than the effect of something as horrifying as the Holocaust, he says. “It’s the transition from good to evil that is really important,” he says. “We should remember what Mengele did, and remember what Hitler did, but it’s so much more important to grab a hold of these artifacts and really start to think about who they were and how they got to that point.” Not all people recognize the significance of these pieces, however. Years ago, when he sold some of Hitler’s personal family portraits – portraits of his mother and father that hung in Hitler’s mountain home – Gottlieb offered part of his commission from their sale to a museum, which refused the donation on the grounds that dealing in those items would “humanize Hitler,” he says. “It’s wrong to refuse to look at a particular side of someone because you don’t think it’s right. So it’s a bias against looking at the whole picture – and it’s not looking at the ‘good’ in Hitler, it’s Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 35
COVER STORY
A German helmet from World War II, Japanese Samurai sword, a World War II-issued German Luger pistol, and SS Officer's belt buckle (worth $2,000) are displayed atop a Japanese Flag from World War II inside Gottlieb's warehouse.
looking at his early life, looking at baby pictures to see who he was before he became what we all know him to be,” he says. For Gottlieb, the rise of Hitler and the Third Reich is much more important than the fall because we can look at the events that led up to the Holocaust and use that knowledge to inform future generations. “There is a disconnect in the Jewish community, and I think in the Holocaust community as well, that does a disservice to the concept that we can really learn from these artifacts and that they are very important. All [most people] look at is the effect. We don’t look at the cause, and I think that what’s missing in our education as people and as Jews is the context.” Gottlieb says that the Jewish community can learn a lot from articles like the ones he deals in about the important process of keeping history alive. The legitimacy of these artifacts for both buyer and seller are what he aims to show the general public. If he had a dream, he says, it would be to build a bridge between the collector and the museum community, which he says 36 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
has historically shied away from Nazi-related materials. “Right now, museums don’t want to have anything to do with a swastika, and TV shows don’t either, and that’s their decision and that’s their right ... But we are doing a disservice to ourselves to only look at one side of the story.” Gottlieb says looking to the past has the power to inform us about how much the world has changed, too. “If you compare what Mengele was able to do, which was to escape justice for 30 years under the nose of just about everyone, to today ... technology has solved that problem. Because today, two kids can walk into the Boston Marathon with bombs in their backpacks and thanks to video surveillance and Facebook, we were able to find them not even three days after the event.” Gottlieb also says that while we can see how much our world has changed, we have to remember that people have not. “The Germans didn’t invent genocide; the word was used after World War II to describe
what the Germans did, but it’s been happening for thousands of years, and it can happen again. I always say that we are a generation away from anything, so to just sit there and say ‘oh, that’s not going to happen,’ [doesn’t solve the problem] because it could.” It’s another reason why he feels that history is so important, because the reality can “keep us on our toes.” “[These artifacts] are the Holocaust in physical form; you can hold them in your hand, and they speak to you,” he says. As for the Mengele passport? Although Gottlieb has gotten myriad offers to buy the passport since news of its finding broke, he hopes to donate it to a museum, so that it’s power – to inform people about the past – can be felt by the general public for years to come. A For more information about Craig Gottlieb or his military auctions, visit historyhunter.com.
Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 37
38 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 39
SIMCHA 2014
planning your simcha A resource guide to make your celebration shine l
BY NATALIE JACOBS
venues San Diego Marriott Del Mar 11966 El Camino Real marriott.com/hotels/travel/sandmsan-diego-marriott-del-mar (858) 523-1700 Capacity: 120-420 Room cost: varies by event date and requirements Advance booking recommended: depends on the season Outside catering allowed: Yes San Diego Marriott La Jolla 4240 La Jolla Village Drive marriottlajolla.com (858) 597-6384 Capacity: 80-700 Room cost: none, but food and beverages run $25-60/person plus tax and service charge Advance booking recommended: up to a year and a half out Outside catering allowed: only if full kosher is needed
I
n our annual Simcha issue, we cover everything you need to know about planning the perfect Jewish celebration, but this time, we’ve done things a bit different in order to highlight all of the great vendors available in the San Diego area. We’ve got everything from caterers and venues to DJs, photographers, decorators and party favors.
Since the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Event Services Association (BESA) has a long history with countless Jewish parties, we turned to co-president Lydia Krasner to provide helpful party planning tips and tricks of the trade throughout the section. You’ll find BESA members noted with a throughout this guide. We hope you’ll find the information included in these pages to be a useful starting point for your upcoming party. If you’ve got ideas that aren’t addressed here, feel free to get in touch on Facebook, Twitter or through a letter to the editor. In the meantime, party on!
Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine 3777 La Jolla Village Drive lajolla.hyatt.com (858) 552-6025 Capacity: up to 650 Room cost: none, but food and beverages run $50-200/person Advance booking recommended: one year from event date Outside catering allowed: Yes Party Pals 10427 Roselle St. partypals.com
why use BESA vendors? 1. EXPERIENCE WITH THE CEREMONY: The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Event Services Association requires that each member complete 75 bar or bat mitzvahs before being eligible for membership. They do this to ensure that the vendors are familiar with the rituals and symbols that go along with these celebrations. 2. FAMILIARITY WITH THE AUDIENCE: Each vendor brings a high level of experience working with the 40 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
Jewish community. They know the delicate balance that is needed to keep three generations happy at the same event and they’re prepared to do whatever it takes. 3. IT’S A WELL-OILED MACHINE: BESA members are used to working with each other in addition to working with the ceremonies. They come to the event with a professional and mutual respect for everyone involved.
SIMCHA 2014
VENUES
The Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine is a great place to host your next celebration.
sandiegozoo.org/catering (619) 685-3223 Call for quote and details
PHOTO BY DEL RIO STUDIOS
Maderas Golf Club 17750 Old Coach Road maderasgolf.com (858) 451-8100 Call for quote and details
(858) 622-6613 Capacity: up to 1,000 (inside and/ or outside space available) Room cost: call for quote Advance booking recommended: extremely busy through summer, starting in May. Recommended six months in advance Outside catering allowed: Yes Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines 10950 North Torrey Pines Road hiltonlajollatorreypines.com (858) 558-1500 Call for quote and details Hilton Garden Inn San Diego/Del Mar 3939 Ocean Bluff Ave. hiltongardeninndelmar.com (858) 720-9500 Capacity: up to 150 Room cost: free with food and beverage minimum of $2,500 Advance booking recommended: anytime Outside catering allowed: Only for ethnic requirements, but perperson fee is applied Sheraton Carlsbad 5480 Grand Pacific Drive sheratoncarlsbad.com (760) 827-2414 Capacity: 300-500 Room cost: no room reservation cost, only charged for food and
beverages Advance booking recommended: six months to one year, but flexible Outside catering allowed: No Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina 1380 Harbor Island Drive sheraton.com/sandiegomarina (619) 692-2702 Capacity: 50-1500 Room cost: consultation required Advance booking recommended: at least one month Outside catering allowed: No Hotel Del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave. hoteldel.com (619) 435-6611 Capacity: up to 1,100 Room cost: food and beverage minimums on top of room rental Advance booking recommended: at least one year Outside catering allowed: No UCSD Faculty Club 9500 Gilman Drive, #0121 facclub.ucsd.edu (858) 534-5450 Capacity: 400 Room cost: $400-2,000 Advance booking recommended: flexible availability with summers very open Outside catering allowed: No
Hilton San Diego/Del Mar 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd. sandiegodelmar.hilton.com (858) 764-6044 Capacity: up to 400 Room cost: call for quote Advance booking recommended: six months Outside catering allowed: Only if dietary restrictions are required Westin Gaslamp Quarter 910 Broadway Circle westingaslamp.com (619) 239-2200 Capacity: 100-600 Room cost: call for a quote Advance booking recommended: as far out as possible but availability is very flexible Outside catering allowed: Yes The New Children’s Museum 200 West Island Ave. thinkplaycreate.org (619) 233-8792 Capacity: 1,000 Room cost: $2,500-6,500 Advance booking recommended: availability varies Outside catering allowed: No, but exceptions can be made for kosher requirements San Diego Zoo 2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego Marriott Mission Valley 8757 Rio San Diego Drive marriott.com/hotels/travel/sanmv-sandiego-marriott-mission-valley (619) 692-3800 Capacity: 150-550 Room cost: food and beverage minimums only, depends on day of week Advance booking recommended: as soon as possible Outside catering allowed: Yes Hornblower Cruises 1800 N. Harbor Drive hornblower.com (619) 686-8700 Capacity: 10-1,000 Room cost: price varies with custom options Advance booking recommended: as soon as possible Outside catering allowed: No San Diego Botanic Garden 230 Quail Gardens Drive sdbgarden.org (760) 436-3036 Capacity: 30-300 Room cost: $550-1900 Advance booking recommended: 15 months Outside catering allowed: No, but exceptions can be made for kosher requirements Hilton San Diego Bayfront 1 Park Blvd. hiltonsandiegobayfront.com (619) 321-4211 Capacity: up to 2,400 Room cost: varies, call for quote Advance booking recommended: one year Outside catering allowed: No, kosher catering available in-house
Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 41
SIMCHA 2014
EVENT PLANNERS
event planners Hire a pro to help you with all the details for your next party. Remember, they do this every weekend!
Katherine Buchholz enjoys her bat mitzvah with confetti.
Mitzvah Event Productions mitzvahevent.com (619) 548-3485 Years in Business: 19
PHOTO BY DEL RIO STUDIOS
The Party Link thepartylink.net (619) 464-3800 Years in Business: 15 Sherrill Kinsler Events sherrillkinslerevents.com (858) 647-1644 Years in Business: 20
ALL NEW ATTIRE
50% OFF Any one item
One coupon per person. Sale item or other promos excluded. Expiration 3/31/2014
829 Garnet Avenue l Pacific Beach 92109 858-270-1993
42 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
Capture the Moments Trusted in the Jewish Community Since 1983
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs • Weddings Photography • Videography • Photo Montage
THROWING A SIMCHA? WE CATER ANY EVENT! • BAR/BAT MITZVAH PARTIES • WEDDINGS • GRADUATION PARTIES • CORPORATE EVENTS • 30-5,000 PEOPLE • KOSHER PLATTERS • BARUCHA LUNCHEONS
ALWAYS COOKED FRESH ON-SITE! • Rotisserie Free Range Chicken • Kosher Slow-Cooked Brisket • Whole Rotisserie Lamb • Grilled Salmon & Mahi Mahi • Choice cut Roast Beef • Rotisserie Marinated Turkey • Shabbat Luncheons
858-578-8891
7313 Carroll Road • 92121 www.rotisserieaffair.com Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 43
SIMCHA 2014
INVITATIONS
invitations/decorations/ favors Backdrops Beautiful backdropsbeautiful.com (858) 300-2100 Products: digital and static backdrops A Little Scene Flip Books alittlescene.com/bar-bat-mitzvahs (619) 922-0939 Products: photo flip books
PHOTO BY DEL RIO STUDIOS
Chris’ Custom Airbrush airbrushchris.com (858) 488-7723 Products: airbrush t-shirts Create-A-Design at CLONE createadesign.net (858) 259-6789 Products: invitations, napkins, iPhone cases, other favors and gifts A guitar-themed bar mitzvah is enhanced with details by The Center of Attention. Shirley Sharff ssinvitations.com (858) 675-0509 Products: invitations, tallit, kippot, accessories, simcha scroll
Charming Expressions charming-expressions.com (858) 674-1664 Products: bracelets, photo frames, flip-flops, necklaces
The Finished Touch thefinishedtouchsd.com (858) 342-7774 Products: invitations, accessories, party favors
Lickety Split Balloons licketysplitballoons.com (760) 207-4675 Products: balloons The Center of Attention thecenterofattention.biz
(619)857-5225 Products: décor
Paper Moment Papermoment.com (858) 342-7774 Products: invitations
AFR Lounge Furniture Rentals afrevents.com (619) 819-9680 Products: furniture
GloCone glocone.com (402) 871-8356 Products: edible cotton candy glow cones
Absolutely Fabulous! absofab.net (858) 866-6807 Products: games, lighting, glow products, furniture
Edible Arrangements ediblearrangements.com (858) 792-9100 Products: edible fruit baskets
PHOTO BY DEL RIO STUDIOS
common mitzvah mistakes:
Eliana Krasner enjoyed every minute of her bat mitzvah with friends.
44 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
1. NOT ENOUGH ACTIVITIES FOR THE KIDS You may have the most well-behaved 13-year-old in the world, but kids will be kids, especially in large groups. Make sure there is plenty for them to do at the party, otherwise they’ll find curious ways to entertain themselves. Keep in mind that not all of the kids are going to want to dance, and not everyone will be interested in making bracelets. It’s important to have a diverse range of things for the kids to do between the ceremony and meal time.
2. MIND THE RATIO If you’re having a bar mitzvah, it can be easy to come up with a bunch of boys to attend the party, but if you’ve only got three girls on the list, there’s going to be a lot of awkwardness. Mind the ratio of girls to boys so that everyone has someone to talk to.
UCSD Faculty Club La Jolla, California
For your tour, contact: Julia Engstrom l jengstrom@ucsd.edu
Adar I 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 45
Cantor Deborah Davis
N
Custom Wedding Ceremonies
Let me help you create a wedding, commitment ceremony or baby-naming that will reflect the beauty and spirituality of your special day. As a Humanist cantor I welcome Jewish and interfaith couples and will honor the customs of both families. I also perform all life-cycle ceremonies. For further information please contact www.deborahjdavis.com Deborah Davis • (619) 275-1539
MUSIC FOR ALL
OCCASIONS Sanford Blaze
Piano Performance & Instruction
619.251.7083 Jazz • Standards • Classical Jewish Music Specialty
shirley@ssinvitations.com
✓
The Joyous Music of Tradition and Transition. Let the award-winning
Second Avenue Klezmer Ensemble
provide your wedding or Bar/Bat Mitzvah with lively, authentic music. Tradition has never been so much fun!
For information call Deborah Davis: 619-275-1539
To hear samples, visit our website: secondavenueklezmer.com 46 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 47
SIMCHA 2014
PHOTOS
photography/videography Twins Noah and Eliana Krasner dance the Hora at their ice cream themed b'nai mitzvah.
Del Rio Studios delriostudios.com (760) 480-7553 Bob Hoffman hoffmanmitzvahs.com (858) 576-0046 Aaron Huniu Photography aaronhuniuphotography.com (949) 307-8499 Daisy Varley daisyvarley.com (619) 405-4780
PHOTO BY DEL RIO STUDIOS
Leetal Elmaleh leetalphoto.com (858) 692-3418 Alon David photographybyalon.com (858) 699-5376
2009 Winner Best Deli
• 134 Great Sandwiches & Burgers • Pastrami • Blintzes • Lox • Chopped Liver • Matzo Ball Soup • Rugalach • Other Delicious Desserts
restaurant • delicatessen • bakery • fountain
6930 AlvArAdo roAd (I-8 at 70th Street) SAn diego • 619/265-0218
Sunday-Thursday 7 am-9 pm • Friday & Saturday 7 am - 10 pm.
www.dzakinsdeli.com 48 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
Make YOUR family part of OUR family... Ner Tamid
At NER TAMID, your whole family can share in the joy and tradition of being Jewish, starting with our exceptional Sam S. Bloom Learning Center – but that’s just the beginning. Our proven programs help your children become confident teens, including innovative Torah/Haftarah tutoring from Liat Levit and one-on-one conversations with Rav Nadav. These moments personalize the meaning of each teen’s bar/bat mitzvah.
PHOTO BY ROBIN’S NEST PHOTOGRAPHY
This approach connects your teen to our community, an extended family of friends and mentors. We have a thriving teen volunteer program; Hebrew High with Rav Nadav, and quarterly Friday night teen Shabbats - not to mention Yalla, our fun youth group, where teens discover new connections to their Judaism!
JOIN US Purim Havdalah Family Shabbat service on MARCH 15TH AT 7PM. See for yourself what sets us apart! Questions? We can’t wait to hear from you! Call our office at 858 513-8330.
www.sambloomlearningcenter.com
15318 Pomerado Rd • Poway 92064 www.nertamidsd.org
SIMCHA 2014
ENTERTAINMENT
entertainment Classy Event Group classyeventgroup.com (888) 978-8998 Services available: DJs, photo booth, green screen, graffiti wall Sundance Productions sandiegobarmitzvah.com (619) 286-DJDJ Services available: MC/DJ, dancers, video projection, party props, lighting
PHOTO BY DEL RIO STUDIOS
Second Avenue Klezmer secondavenueklezmer.com (619) 275-1539 Services available: live music
The Zimmerman family rallies around a homemade sign to remind everyone how much fun they're having.
Maximum Impact m-i-p.com (760) 929-9669 Services available: DJs, dancers, party pumpers, lighting, sound systems, video screens
WHEN YOU NEED A RABBI CALL RABBI BEN LEINOW “A RABBI WHO CARES”
Ben Leinow Rabbi, PhD
COUNSELING & CEREMONIES FOR:
Weddings (for all couples) • Baby Namings • Rabbi at Congregation Etz Chaim (Ramona) & Congregation B’nai Tikvah (Carlsbad) cell: 619.992.2367 • 760.727.5333 email: rabbiben@email.com 50 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
MFT Lic #11820
ENTERTAINMENT
graffiti wall, 3d images, flip books, magazine covers Launch Live Art stephenfishwick.com (619) 787-5215 Services available: live art Dance Masters dancemasters.tv (818) 430-5626 Services available: hip hop and break dancers ZG Productions zgproductionsonline.com (760) 722-4450 Services available: MC/DJ, dancers, lighting, video screens, photo booth
pumpers, lighting
Mr. Disc Jockey mrdiscjockey.com (760) 575-4798 Services available: DJ, party
3d Cheeze 3dcheeze.com (714) 771-1281 Services available: flip photos,
Magic Mike Stilwell magicmikesd.com (619) 660-9662 Services available: magic shows
Pediatric Care
“We enjoy and take great pride in providing the best possible pediatric care for our families.”
Betty Lovegren Entertainment bettylovegren.com (619) 884-7964 Services available: Henna tattoos SoCal Green Screen socalgreenscreen.com (760) 755-7720 Services available: green screens
Star Shields starshields.com (949) 939-4363 Services available: airbrush and body art My Little Carnival mylittlecarnival.com (619) 571-7654 Services available: carnival games/ prizes, clowns, jugglers, magicians, dunk tanks, rock walls, amusement rides, pony rides, balloons Operation MINDBLOW facebook.com/operationmindblow (619) 813-4392 Services available: analog liquid light show Jay Valdez bpmsupreme.com (619) 402-6879 Services available: MC/DJ
BAGELS & SANDWICHES SO GOOD THEY’RE TO LIVE FOR!
We Do CaTeRiNG
Let us cater your next event
10% OFF
on any purchase of $20 or more
Joel M. Snyder, M.D.
CERTIFIED ORTHODOX MOHEL
CALL 619-583-6133 New Extended Hours at San Diego Pediatrics 6475 Alvarado Road, Suite 120 • San Diego, 92120
BOARS HEAD HEADQUARTERS All sandwiches made with boars head meat & cheese
SidNY’s Deli 858-674-1090 11981 Bernardo Plaza Dr. Rancho Bernardo Von’s Shopping Center OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK AT 7AM
Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 51
CANTOR KATHY ROBBINS ‘The People’s Cantor’
Inclusive and accommodating Mindful and compassionate Creative or traditional Jewish and Interfaith Spiritual guidance and officiation All life-cycle events Bar/Bat Mitzvah Services Wedding Ceremonies Baby and Child Naming Ceremonies Funeral and Memorial Services
760 707-8112
kathyrobbinsnow@gmail.com www.cantorkathyrobbins.com
52 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
(30 years experience) Member American Conference of Cantors
THE DYNAMIC Jacquelyne Silver
Country Club
The
of Rancho Bernardo
EXCEPTIONAL ENTERTAINMENT DONE WITH STYLE, SPARKLE & WIT! Celebrations • Fund Raisers • Special Events Award-winning Juilliard graduate & stage personality supreme, worked with Leonard Bernstein, Luciano Pavarotti & Broadway luminaries!
12280 Greens East Road San Diego, CA 92128 (858) 487-1134
Her unique style & energy will take your event to a new level!
www.ccofrb.com
THINK BIG! THINK MAGIC! THINK MUSIC! 858-412-5858 • jsilver@san.rr.com
Specializing in Weddings, Special Events, & Bar/Bat Mitzvahs Memberships & Golf Tournaments Available
Affordable Fine Dining in UTC Area VILLA CAPRI ITALIAN KITCHEN GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS AVAILABLE
Lunch or Dinner
TO GO Special
Max value $9 Lunch Max value $18 Dinner
To-go orders only. 1 per party.
Buy 1, get 1 FREE
$5 off of $25 $10 off of $50
Not valid with any other discounts, to go orders, pre-fix menu or holiday. Equal or lesser value. 1 per party/table.
Not valid with any other discounts, to go orders, pre-fix menu or holiday. Equal or lesser value. One “to go special” per party.
Expires 3/31/2014
Expires 3/31/2014
20% OFF
Sal’s $.99
Max value $30
Receive a bottle of “select” wine for $.99 with purchase of two entrees.
Not valid with any other discounts, to go orders, pre-fix menu or holiday. Equal or lesser value.
Not valid with any other discounts, to go orders, pre-fix menu or holiday. Equal or lesser value. 1 per party/table.
Expires 3/31/2014
Expires 3/31/2014
ENTIRE BILL
858.622.1202 VillaCapriRistorante.com
Hours: Monday-Friday: 11am-9:30pm • Saturday & Sunday: 4pm-9:30pm
Wine Special
Villa Capri Italian Kitchen 8935 Towne Centre Dr., #113 San Diego, CA
Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 53
SIMCHA 2014
CATERERS
caterers
PHOTO BY DEL RIO STUDIOS
A candy or sweets table, like the one here by Charming Expressions, is a nice addition to any celebration.
The French Gourmet 960 Turquoise St. thefrenchgourmet.com (858) 488-1725 Food cost/person: $25-35 Food style: French Terra Catering 11860 Carmel Creek Road terracatering.com (619) 985-8202 Food cost/person: $30-35 Food style: customized farm-totable Shalom Catering 11860 Carmel Creek Road shalomcatering.com (619) 985-8202 Food cost/person: $35-40 Food style: kosher Dippin’ Dots 2892 South Santa Fe Ave. St. 112 dippindots.com
(760) 801-2301 Food cost/person: starting at $2.50 per serving Food style: ice cream Sushi on a Roll 1620 National Ave. sushionarollsd.com (619) 702-1468 Food cost/person: call for quote Food style: Japanese EcoCaterers 4934 Voltaire St. ecocaterers.com (858) 246-6129 Food cost/person: call for quote Food style: seasonal farm-to-table Hanna’s Gourmet 2864 Adams Ave. hannasgourmetcatering.com (619) 280-5600 Food cost/person: starts at $18 for lunch and $35 for dinner
54 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
Food style: international eclectic Toast Catering 7000 Saranac St. Ste. 72 toastcatering.com (858) 208-9422 Food cost/person: call for quote Food style: themed or ethnic food options available Nosh 7734 Girard Ave. noshdelicatessen.com (858) 456-6674 Food cost/person: $10.99 Food style: New York deli Rotisserie Affair 7313 Carrol Road rotisserieaffair.com (858) 578-8891 Food cost/person: $20-25 Food style: Rotisserie D.Z. Akin's
6930 Alvarado Road dzakinsdeli.com (619) 265-0218 Food cost/person: $10.95 Food style: New York deli Catering by Charles Rubin of Shmoozers 10785 Pomerado Road shmooerz.com (619) 583-1636 or (619) 261-8856 Food cost/person: call for quote Food style: ethnic variety Outcast Grill 6104 Regents Road outcastgrillutc.com (858) 202-0097 Food cost/person: $8-13 Food style: Mediterranean Z Catering 17290 Newhope St., Suite A californiakoshercatering.com (855) 567-4371
CATERERS
Food cost/person: $30-45 Food style: kosher Pacifica Del Mar 1555 Camino Del Mar pacificadelmar.com (855) 792-0476 Food cost/person: $40-70 Food style: primarily seafood, with steak and chicken options available Villa Capri 8935 Town Center Drive villacapriristorante.com (858) 622-1202 Food cost/person: varies by option, call for quote Food style: Italian Festivities Catering 9558 Camino Ruiz festivitiescatering.com (858) 586-2121 Food cost/person: $30-120 Food style: California coastal/ fusion Dolce Donuts dolcedonuts.com (619) 985-9854 Food cost/person: call for quote Food style: donuts and treats Java Jive Expresso Catering javalive@cox.net (858) 876-5282 Food cost/person: call for quote Food style: coffee Sensational Treats sensationaltreats.com (858) 776-4999 Food cost/person: $5-15 Food style: interactive dessert stations Chocolate Haven chocolate-haven.com (619) 993-7785 Food cost/person: call for quote Food style: chocolate fountains and figurines (kosher options available)
5 PARTY PLANNING TIPS from BESA co-president and veteran party planner Lydia Krasner Whether you’re planning the party yourself or with the help of an event professional, here are some things to keep in mind throughout the process:
Find something meaningful to the child “When I find meaning with a family, or ways to bring in a child’s unique heritage, I always recommend we go with that. It’s something that is about him or her so that it is really personalized. Anyone can do a soccer theme, anyone can do a Broadway theme. I like to find something special and personalize it for the child.”
Pay attention and know your audience “That means having kid-friendly food and having adult-friendly food. It also means having a DJ that can balance adults and younger kids. I have a lot of people who say ‘my kid has a very extensive palate, he’ll eat gazpacho’ but not every kid does. It’s important to be aware of who’s coming to your party.”
Love is in the details “Walt Disney said: ‘If you want to get their attention, whisper’ so that’s been my motto for my business. For example, if I do a candy theme, I’ll have a candy bracelet as a napkin ring. I’ll decorate the restroom. Those little details are what people go home with.”
Be open to suggestions from the pros “We do this every week, so we’re current on what works and what doesn’t. It’s really important to hire the professionals and let them do their jobs. Remember that the party goes by in the blink of an eye.”
Have one point-person “This is key with any event. You never know what’s going to happen and it’s important that the parents are able to be emotionally present for their family.” Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 55
THE JACQUELYNE SILVER STUDIO PIANO & VOICE Scared to take lessons? Been a long time? Give the gift of music! JACQUELYNE SILVER Juilliard graduate & master teacher, will show you the way to enjoy learning as you never have before!
858-412-5858 • jsilver@san.rr.com Resume upon request
56 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
First time clients only. Expires 5/31/2014
Support our dog’s Hebrew education! Students Give the Gift of Sight to Israeli Blind Students are urged to help sponsor a puppy, either as a class Tzedakah Project, or as a Mitzvah Project for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, to assist blind Israeli veterans and civilians in regaining their lives.
For information call 215-343-9100 968 Easton Road, Ste. H Warrington, PA 18976
www.israelguidedog.org Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 57
THEATER
"HARMONY" ON AND OFF THE STAGE Longtime collaborators Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman talk about their new musical
L-R: Douglas Williams, Chris Dwan, Shayne Kennon, Will Taylor, Tony Yazbeck and Will Blum in the Alliance Theatre production of “Harmony,” a new musical with music by Barry Manilow, with book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman. 58 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
PHOTOS BY GREG MOONEY
BY PAT LAUNER
THEATER
O PH
H
e wrote the songs – for America and for “Harmony.” (Actually, he didn’t write “I Write the Songs,” but more on that
later.) Barry Manilow has sold 80 million albums worldwide. He’s had 35 consecutive Top 40 hits, and five albums on the charts at the same time (a record rivaled only by Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mathis). His “Fanilows,” as his devoted followers are called, have included Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra and more recently, LeBron James (the NBA superstar and pop culture trendsetter admitted to having “Mandy” and “Copacabana” on his iPod). During his five-decade career, Manilow earned only one Grammy Award, for “Copacabana (at the Copa),” with lyrics by Bruce Sussman. Manilow and Sussman have been writing partners for 42 years. Together, they’ve written nearly 200 songs; partly because they come from the same place – Manilow was born in Brooklyn; Sussman in Queens. They speak the same language. (“The way Bruce writes is the way I speak,” says Manilow.) And on a transatlantic conference call, they complement each other perfectly. Sussman is more voluble but he never dominates. On any given topic, they always seem to be on the same page (“Barry and I just click,” says Sussman). They both retain the New York accent and energy. And for the past two decades, while working on other projects, they’ve kept coming back to one that’s near and dear to their hearts: a musical called “Harmony,” which premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in 1997. Now, in a much-revised version, it’s running at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, a coproduction with the Alliance Theatre of Atlanta, where the show opened to positive reviews last fall. But how did they get here from the mean streets of New York?
THE EARLY YEARS Manilow was born Barry Alan Pincus. His mother’s family was Jewish; his father had a Jewish father and Irish-American mother. Barry adopted his mother’s maiden name, Manilow, at the time of his bar mitzvah. He grew up in the then tough neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and graduated from Eastern District High School in 1961. That year, he enrolled in the Juilliard School, while simultaneously writing songs, composing a musical (“The Drunkard,” which ran for eight years Off Broadway) and coming up with catchy
commercial jingles, which he produced and often sang. His most famous were for McDonald’s (“You deserve a break today”) and State Farm (“Like a good neighbor…”). His years as a jinglewriter still pop up in his innumerable concerts, in his “V.S.M.,” or Very Strange Medley. Among his other early projects was conducting and arranging for Ed Sullivan’s production company, and arranging a new theme for “The Late Show.” In 1971, he began his famous four-year association with Bette Midler, first accompanying her at the Continental Baths in New York, then arranging, conducting and/or producing her albums and tours. He would go on to produce and/or arrange albums for Dionne Warwick and Nancy Wilson. In 1974, he recorded his breakout hit, “Mandy.” Surprisingly, that wasn’t one of the songs he wrote. Penned by Scott English and Richard Kerr, it was originally titled “Brandy,” but there was already a song by that name. Other megahits (that he didn’t write) include “Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again,” “Weekend in New England,” “Looks Like We Made It,” and “Ready to take a Chance Again.” And also, his number one hit, “I Write the Songs,” composed by Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys. But he did write “Can’t Smile Without You,” “Even Now,” “It’s a Miracle” and “This One’s for You,” among scads of others. His hordes of diehard devotees, 37 million strong, rallied in 1977 to watch “The Barry Manilow Special,” which he starred in and executive produced. It was nominated for four Emmys, as was “The Second Barry Manilow Special” in 1978 (with Ray Charles as a guest). In 1984, his 10-night run at Radio City Music Hall set a box office sales record of nearly $2 million, making him the top draw in the then 52-year history of the venue. His numerous albums have ranged from his well-known pop and adult contemporary style to a jazz/blues collection of original barroom tunes, to techno jazz, country and international music (he has performed songs in French, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese. In 1985, Manilow played his only lead acting role, in a CBS film based on “Copacabana.” He composed all the songs, with most of the lyrics written by Bruce Sussman. Manilow published his autobiography, “Sweet Life: Adventures on the way to Paradise,” in 1986. But not much of his personal life is public record (“I’m a private man,” he said. “And a gentleman”). For seven years, starting in 2004, he had
TO
B Y CH
RISTOPHER O TTA UN I CK
Manilow and Sussman have been writing partners for 42 years. Together, they’ve written nearly 200 songs. “The way Bruce writes is the way I speak,” says Manilow. ongoing engagements in Las Vegas, first at the Las Vegas Hilton and then at the Paris Hotel and Casino. In 2006, he released “The Greatest Songs of the Fifties,” which went platinum and sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. The next year, he released the similarly well-received “The Greatest Songs of the Sixties.” In 2010, “The Greatest Love Songs of all Time” was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Album. The next year, his new album, “15 Minutes,” hit the U.S. Billboard Hot Singles Chart, becoming his 47th Top 40 hit. He continued to record his concerts for TV broadcast and DVD release, and to perform benefit concerts for many charities and causes, as well as honoring young up-andcoming composers. In 2013, he appeared on the west lawn of the U.S. capitol for “A Capitol Fourth,” and returned to the Great White Way with his concert series “Manilow on Broadway,” the same kind of show that won him a Special Tony Award in 1977. As recently as 2007, he was still able to pack ‘em in at Madison Square Garden. Manilow has never slowed down. Now 70, he’s still doing concerts, producing albums and performing on TV specials. During his third appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 2004, the host announced that Manilow was Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 59
THEATER
Shayne Kennon and Leigh Ann Larkin star in “Harmony.”
“What was easy for them was the musical harmony,” says Manilow. “The hard part was harmonizing in life. ... Their world turned black very fast.” one of the most-requested guests of all time on her show. Rolling Stone called him “the greatest showman of our generation.”
YOUNG BRUCE AND BARRY CONFRONT THE HOLOCAUST Sussman was born and raised in Jackson Heights, Queens. But then, his family joined the “great Jewish migration” to Long Island, N.Y. Later, he attended Franklin & Marshall College. Both he and Manilow, whose ancestors came from Russia, report that in their childhood homes, the Holocaust was never discussed. “It was a shonda” (shame). You just didn’t talk about it,” Manilow says. Sussman had his first introduction to the Holocaust at age 11, during the 1961 trial of Adolf Eichmann. “I was fascinated by it,” Sussman recalls, “and asked my parents lots of questions. I only got very short answers. But I’d hear them talking about it.” An upstairs neighbor, who was a survivor, became one of his sources when he started working on “Harmony.” “Our lead character,” says Sussman, “struggles with whether or not to tell his story.” 60 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
The narrator of the musical is one of the Comedian Harmonists, the one called “Rabbi” (he was actually a cantor), who was still alive, at age 98, when the show premiered in San Diego in 1997. Manilow and Sussman struggled with that question as well. They consulted Maria Rosenbloom, a Holocaust scholar, to ask if they had the right to tell this story. And, Sussman reports, “she said: ‘It’s been 50 years. The only moral imperative is to tell the story. Now we can begin to accept the enormity of it. The individual stories must be told.’” They agonized over this creation, by far the most Jewish project either of them has undertaken. As Manilow puts it, “you don’t want to trivialize the big story by telling a small story.” “Our story is about the approaching storm,” says Sussman. “The narration ends in 1936, two years before Kristallnacht.” But, says Manilow, “There’s an Epilogue, unprecedented in a musical, about what happened to each of them after the Nazis disbanded the group and destroyed all their work.” Still, Manilow is quick to add, “This is not a Holocaust musical.” And as touching and tragic
as this true story is, he’s right. The Harmonists were funny and lively, and many of their problems were interpersonal – and self-inflicted. “What was easy for them was the musical harmony,” says Manilow. “The hard part was harmonizing in life. One Gentile member of the group was in love with a Jew. One Jewish member fell in love with a Gentile. Their world turned black very fast.”
THE LONG ROAD TO "HARMONY" It all began with a German documentary. “I saw this four-hour movie and went immediately to a pay phone and called Barry,” Sussman recalls. “And Barry said, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, but go get it.’ I flew to Berlin a couple of months later.” Manilow and Sussman spent six years trying to retrieve the music, research the background and tell the story of The Comedian Harmonists. They were multi-talented: singers, dancers, comics, vaudevillians, a German tight-harmony male sextet whose rise to international fame (in albums, concerts and movie appearances) was cut short by the Nazis, because half their members were Jewish. They rose from starving street
THEATER
The cast of the Alliance Theatre production of “Harmony,” which plays March 4-April 13 at the CTG/ Ahmanson Theatre in a co-production with Center Theatre Group and the Alliance.
musicians to global entertainers, singing with Marlene Dietrich and Josephine Baker, meeting Albert Einstein and making a smashing U.S. debut at Carnegie Hall. In eight meteoric years (1928-1936), they appeared in a dozen movies and sold millions of records, with their eclectic repertoire of songs in multiple languages and styles. They have been described as “a cross between the Marx Brothers and Manhattan Transfer.” All they wanted to do was make beautiful music and make people laugh. But the Third Reich had other plans for them. “I love my story about meeting ‘Rabbi’,” (real name: Josef Roman Cykowski), says Manilow. “I’ve lived in Palm Springs for 18 years. We thought that, when the Comedian Harmonists split up, they would all flee. ‘Rabbi’ wound up moving to Palm Springs! I was walking my dogs past his house every day! He lived four blocks away from where I was writing songs for his character to sing. “When I finally met him, the door opened, his wife Mary [also a character in the musical] was standing next to him.” He chokes up. “I could just cry thinking about it. He was in a wheelchair.
He was old and weak, but still funny and bright. He said, ‘If they didn’t stop us, we would’ve been bigger than the Beatles!’ “He had been the lead cantor at Temple Isaiah in Palm Springs for 20 years, the oldest active cantor in the United States. I had no idea.” He also had no idea how much attention their musical would attract in La Jolla. “We thought we were far away from New York,” says Manilow. “So we’d just put everything out there and then edit it down later. We never dreamed the L.A. Times and Variety would show up.” At one point, Manilow and Sussman actually lost control of their project. A 2003 pre-Broadway production in Philadelphia was cancelled during rehearsals when the lead producer confessed to being millions of dollars short in capitalization. After a lengthy court battle, the creators finally regained the rights in 2005. The new version is leaner and tighter, two hours instead of the original three. “It tells the story very economically,” Manilow asserts. “What’s left is the best of ‘Harmony.’ We had 19 songs before; we had to drown some of our ‘babies.’ Four or five were cut, three were
replaced. “It was a great cast. They all became friends of ours. The six of them still get together every year and have dinner. It was a deep experience for everyone. Now we have a new cast, crew, designers and director. And the same thing is happening. This will change their lives forever.” “Thrillingly produced and performed!” crowed one reviewer after the September opening in Atlanta. “Striking and compelling,” said another. “Ambitious and epic, a paean to the real-life Harmonists,” wrote another critic. “It taps into us and our histories and our lives on so many levels,” says Sussman. “In creating the songs for ‘Harmony,’” Manilow adds, “we had to go to the deepest part of our souls.” “It’s so us,” Sussman agrees. “So what we are. It’s a mitzvah.” A “Harmony,” the new Barry Manilow/Bruce Sussman musical, plays at the Ahmanson Theatre, 601 W Temple St., Los Angeles, March 4-April 13. Tickets are $40-105. Info is at (213) 972-4400 or centertheatregroup.org.
Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 61
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PURIM 2014
From Ancient Texts to Modern Times: A Purimshpiel An Anonymous Writer Analyzes the Story of the Book Of Esther TRANSLATED FROM ANCIENT PERSIAN BY CURT LEVIANT
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ur community of Jews here in Shushan, Persia, has just happily read the newly written account of events of last year, 350 BCE, in our capital city and other towns Ahasuerus’s kingdom: How evil Haman rose up against us and with Mordecai and Queen Esther’s help we defeated him and all our enemies and now make merry on the great day we call Purim. This wonderful scroll, megilla in Hebrew, or the Book of Esther, has circulated widely and I now offer you my view of this wonderful narrative. The Book of Esther is an outstanding example of storytelling that will be found in every Jewish household. This tale contains all the timeless literary devices which we Persian Jews adore: a great story; conflict and suspense; believable characters; foreshadowing; and a harmonious structure. At the opening royal feast we meet Ahasuerus, the mighty king of Persia, and see how hastily he disposes of his wife, Queen Vashti, when she disobeys him, foreshadowing the haste with which he later orders the Jews condemned to death. Our king doesn’t enjoy being lonely, so he must have a queen. (At this point I must modestly say that I gave him the suggestion for a beauty contest.) Once it is announced, our lovely Esther – advised by her uncle, Mordecai, not to reveal her Jewishness – wins and marries the monarch. Soon Mordecai (end of chapter two), a minor court official, unearths an assassination plot against the king. Instead of informing Ahasuerus directly, Mordecai lets Esther bring the news. Thus both can win favor with the ruler.
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Mordecai’s discovery, inscribed in the king’s Book of Chronicles, is pertinent to the story’s development. The main protagonists – the foolish king, the lovely Esther, the wise Mordecai – have made their appearance. Now, for conflict and tension – enter the villain, Haman, in chapter three. Everyone must bow to him, but Mordecai refuses. When Haman realizes that Mordecai doesn’t bow because he is a Jew, he plans to destroy all the Jews. Lots – purim in Hebrew – are cast, and the pre-spring month of Adar is chosen. To vent his hatred against one recalcitrant Jew, why should Haman want to kill all Jews? But since one woman’s action (Vashti) prompted a law for all women, a precedent has been set for mass retaliation for an individual’s misdemeanor. Since the insubordinate Mordecai is Jewish, Haman infers that all Jews are disobedient and their “laws are diverse” (3:8). Haman persuades Ahasuerus by promising much silver to the royal treasury – booty from the slain Jews. The chapter concludes, “The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed…” (3:15) – a hint that people in our great city realize that a wrong had been committed against the Jews. In contrast to the opening revelry, chapter four begins with mourning and pathos. Mordecai tells Esther of the coming disaster and asks her to intercede. Fearing for her own life, she hesitates, for she knows no one may come before the king uninvited, on pain of death. Mordecai counters: “Your fate and that of the Jews are one.” If she remains silent now, salvation will come from elsewhere; and perhaps for this very reason you
The Book of Esther is an outstanding example of storytelling that will be found in every Jewish household.
have been made queen. Esther asks the Jews in Shushan to fast for three days; then she will go to the king. Here, at the mid point of the story (5:2), the reversal starts; the heroes rise, and the villain Haman’s fall commences. That evening she prepares a banquet for the king, Haman and herself and postpones her appeal until the following day, when all three will dine again. This artful delay adds suspense and permits the inclusion of yet another strand to the story. Good narrative demands that some strands that later intersect should at first be left dangling. Three appear at the beginning of chapter six: Can Esther save the Jews at the banquet? Will Haman hang Mordecai? Has Mordecai’s service to the king been forgotten? The writer picks up strand number three. After Esther’s dinner, the insomniac king calls for the Book of Chronicles and realizes that Mordecai hasn’t been rewarded for saving his life. The king asks who is in the court. Fortunately, Haman is about to request that Mordecai be hanged for
PURIM 2014
treason. The king asks Haman how to bestow honors upon a deserving man. The vain Haman, assuming he’s being considered, suggests that man should ride through Shushan royally clad on horseback while all praise him. Then do so to Mordecai, the king tells Haman. And Haman, so high-spirited the previous day, hastens home in mourning (6:12). At the second banquet, Esther petitions for her people. The king asks who is the perpetrator of the crime? Esther points to Haman. Ahasuerus, enraged, leaves. Haman falls on Esther’s couch to beg for mercy. When the king returns, he assumes Haman is attacking the queen. Ahasuerus orders Haman hanged on the gallows built for
Mordecai. At the close of the narrative, the villain has been destroyed, but the evil he has set into motion must be stopped. But Persian law states that a royal edict cannot be recalled. The most the king can do is give the Jews the right of selfdefense. Again, the couriers hasten to deliver the news. In chapter nine the story ends. The Jews defend themselves and are victorious. To the end of the tale an epilogue is appended. Purim is established as a holiday for all time, a day “of fasting and joy, and of sending portions to another, and gifts to the poor” (9:22). In our story all the characters act of their own volition. Inner human drives move them.
Unlike other biblical stories, there is no deus ex machina. Not only is God not mentioned in the Book of Esther – it is the only book in the Bible without the word “God” – there is no hint of any supernatural force. The book opens with feasting and joy in Sushan and in the palace; it concludes with feasting and joy for the Jews of the realm. Upon this artistically harmonious note concludes the Book of Esther, one of the most perfect narratives in the Bible. A As a child, Curt Leviant spoke ancient Persian fluently. Today he can barely say hello. His most recent book is the short story collection, “Zix Zexy Ztories.”
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PURIM 2014
The Carnivalesque Quality of Purim A new take on this year's celebration
BY RABBI MICHAEL LEO SAMUEL, BETH SHALOM, CHULA VISTA
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urim has a “carnivalesque” quality both in terms of its original narrative as well as how the holiday is celebrated. Despite its joyous display of festivities and mardi gras, the holiday masks a very serious reality – the precarious nature of Jewish survival. One of my favorite literary critics, the 20th century Russian Mikhail Bakhtin, defined “carnivalesque” as a literary mode that subverts and liberates the assumptions of the dominant style or atmosphere through humor, chaos, and paradox. The experience of the carnival – with all the social niceties, hierarchies within a given social order, perceptions of truth, the concepts of reverence or piety and etiquette – are profane and
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overturned by normally suppressed voices and energies. A fool may suddenly appear wise, kings may transform into beggars, worlds of opposites co-mingle as if reality itself has turned upon its head. Truthfully, many of Bakhtin’s ideas can be seen in the story of how Esther and Mordechai thwarted a genocide that was being planned against the Jewish people. In the book of Esther, the King’s penchant for partying immediately displays to the reader a surreal world where the beautiful Queen Vashti is suddenly treated as though she were a common stripper at a bachelor party. Vashti’s transformation as a well-respected woman to someone who is banished from the kingdom is
contrasted by an equally far-fetched scenario – Esther’s ascent to the royal throne. No sooner does Esther become queen than a deadly threat emerges that threatens the people of Esther – Haman. Haman’s rise to power is mysterious and rapid. As soon as the Jews started to feel comfortable in their new Persian home, they are about to be annihilated by a foe who hates them for merely being religiously different. As with Vashti and Esther, Haman’s ending is as equally unpredictable as it is topsy-turvy. The man who obviously aspires to become King ends up getting hung or impaled because of his hubris. Normalcy returns to the kingdom and the Jews live to see another day – and then some. Even God undergoes a carnivalesque transformation in Esther. Far from being the revealed Deity of the Exodus, God is invisible throughout the Esther narrative. Yet, it is when God is most hidden, His presence can still be felt through the downfall of the Jews’ archetypal enemy – Haman. The biblical writer of Esther wished to convey the precariousness of Jewish survival; the fact that the Jewish people survive their enemies is providential; ultimately, the villains of history get their just desserts. People often ask: What is the common message behind the Jewish holidays of Passover, Hanukkah, and Purim? According to proverbial Jewish wisdom, the theme of all Jewish holidays is: “They tried to kill us. We survived. Now let’s eat!” Being the perennial scapegoat of the world is nervous-making, but don’t let anxiety rain on your holiday! Have a Happy Purim! A
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Rick and Carol Kornfeld and Karen Foster Silberman will be honored for their charitable work with JFS this month. INSET: Alice Cohn, z"l, will also be honored in a special tribute at the Gala.
PHOTOS COURTESY JFS
FEATURE STORY
“Believe in Love”
JFS’s annual Heart and Soul Gala BY ALANNA BERMAN
Jewish Family Service’s annual Heart and Soul Gala will take place this month at the Hyatt Regency in La Jolla. A major fundraiser for the more than 50 community programs of JFS, the Gala is also an annual celebration of the accomplishments of some of JFS’s greatest supporters across these programs. On Sunday, March 9 community members will gather for dinner at 5 p.m. to honor Carol 68 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
and Rick Kornfeld for their commitment to providing opportunities to children through mentoring and caring support through the Jewish BIGPals program; and Karen Foster Silberman for her unrelenting passion for women and teens living in a safe environment free of unhealthy relationships and abuse through Project SARAH. The evening will also feature a special tribute to Alice Cohn, z”l, for her passionate support of JFS
programs and services, including the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry. “The Gala is a major fundraiser, but it's multipronged,” Marie Raftery, a Gala underwriter, says. “It gives the community the opportunity to see these individuals who don’t just contribute financially, but with the development of programs that benefit the entire community, and through an organization like JFS that is so well run and that reaches out in so many areas and continues a legacy that was formed so many years ago.” More than 500 people are expected to attend this year’s Gala, which will also feature a special acoustic set by Grammy-nominated Jewish recording artist Matisyahu. “Matisyahu is really special, mostly because of the Jewish themes in his music,” Gala Co-Chair Jen Kagnoff says. “And being able to work with him on the tails of his releasing an acoustic album that really spoke to a lot of people involved with JFS ... It’s beautiful and it’s really personal.” In addition to drawing attention to Silberman and the Kornfelds for their work with JFS programs and services, this is the first time that the organization will honor someone in memoriam. Alice Cohn was supposed to be honored at this year’s Gala along with her husband for her dedication to the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry, but she fell ill and passed away prior to the event. Raftery, who was a close, personal friend of Cohn, said the decision to honor Alice in memoriam was as natural as the decision to honor her at the Gala in the first place. “As far as the food pantry, Alice just felt that no one should go hungry, and if she could do something about it, she would,” Raftery says. “And she would do it quietly, and as generously as she could and she was just the whole package. She was a Jew, she was a wife, she was a mother, and she was a wonderfully dear friend.” For people who wish to give generously to JFS, the evening will also feature a live and silent auction, with items including box seats for Billy Joel at the Hollywood Bowl with a limo ride, diamond and sapphire chandelier earrings, or two VIP tickets to the Ellen DeGeneres Show. “Each year, it’s an incredibly warm and elegant event,” Kagnoff says of the Gala, “And it really is all about supporting the more than 50 service programs JFS is a part of, so [even though the honorees are chosen for their work with three programs,] there are many more. When you give to JFS, you can support JFS in its entirety.” A Tickets for the Gala are on sale now and sell out quickly. You can bid on auction items before the event online at jfssd.org/gala. Tickets are also available by calling (858) 636-3057.
THIS IS THE SCHOOL YOU WISH YOU’D GONE TO
THE RVA DIFFERENCE
You’re looking for something different for your child. RVA’s classes are flexible; they don’t look like what you’re used to. They’re different. What happens when we work with children? When one of them has an insight, the room crackles with energy. We laugh and learn together. One example: Miss Nancy was teaching math, reminding everyone about prime numbers. “Come on,” she said, “I know you’ve played with prime numbers before, haven’t you?” A girl answered: “We learned prime numbers last year, but we never played with them.” Renaissance Village Academy is a private non-religious full-time school serving GIFTED, PROFOUNDLY GIFTED, AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED children in grades K-8. Each student learns at his/her own level, based on ability, not age. Subjects include: English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, Logic, Music, Drama, and Karate.
Renaissance Village Academy 9988 Hibert St., #301 • San Diego, CA 92131 858.564.9622 • info@rva.us.com • rva.us.com
PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, COLLEGE PARK, MD
LEFT: A U.S. soldier views art stolen by the Nazi regime and stored in a church at Ellingen, Germany on April 24, 1945. RIGHT: The location of the Van Gogh painting “Vase with Oleanders,” remains a mystery.
OF LOST ART AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY A missing painting is the subject of a new book and a landmark case involving the Jewish Federation BY NIKKI SALVO “STARRY NIGHT,” “IRISES,” AND “CAFÉ Terrace at Night.” Many know these famous Vincent van Gogh paintings, but “Vase with Oleanders” is a lesser-known, smaller work created by the Dutch post-impressionist artist. The piece is at the center of a real-life conundrum brought to attention by San Diego author Lynne Kennedy in her new book “Deadly Provenance.” In it, Kennedy provides a fictional resolution to 70 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
an “almost impossible mystery.” Painted in 1888 by Van Gogh in Arles, Provence, and missing since 1944, the piece was believed to have been looted by the Nazis during World War II, stolen from a French-Jewish family, the Bernheim-Jeune clan, who owned a gallery in Paris and had the work on display there. In 1941, the Bernheim-Jeune family had reason to believe they would be targeted
by Nazis, and moved all of their art to the Chateau de Rastignac, located near Bordeaux, for safekeeping. Indeed, three years later, Nazi thieves raided the chateau before burning it to the ground. Yet the question remains, what happened to “Vase with Oleanders”? Was it destroyed in the fire, or is it still in existence? Kennedy, mystery author and former education and exhibits director of the Reuben H. Fleet
FEATURE STORY
Science Center, hopes her book will help re-ignite the search for the still unaccounted for painting. “I write mysteries that are centered around historical events and are solved today by modern technology,” Kennedy says. In her novel, her main character, a digital photographer, is asked to authenticate a painting from a photograph in connection with a friend’s murder, applying methods for authenticating art that are currently being developed in today’s
art world. The character is led to the missing 1888 Van Gogh piece, and does find a fictional resolution to this perplexing case, although the real-life mystery has yet to be solved. Her work at the Fleet is what got Kennedy interested in the modern part of her story. She has a fascination with science, history, research and fiction, and these worlds collided perfectly with her idea for the story. “In my research, I started looking around for paintings that were still missing from World War
II, from the Nazi confiscation of art, and there are many that are still missing,” she says. “I had a particular interest in Van Gogh, so I was kind of looking around for a Van Gogh painting that might be missing, and, in fact, I found one.” She spoke to experts about how her character would go about finding the painting, which sparked an interest in hunting for the painting herself. Kennedy points to “The Lost Museum,” a book by Hector Feliciano, in which she first spotted the Van Gogh painting, and “The Rape of Europa,” a book and documentary film by Lynn Nicholas, in which she discovered the work had belonged to the BernheimJeune family, as go-to sources on the subject. Witnesses say they saw myriad art pieces taken from the chateau and loaded onto Nazi trucks. In speaking with Nicholas, Kennedy found out it was inconclusive whether this particular piece wound up on the truck and was shipped somewhere outside of France; whether a peasant came along, found some of the treasures and picked it up; or if it perished. The mystery “fired [her] imagination” and she decided to try and find it. Kennedy has publicized her “adventure” and interest in the case on social media, and has reached out to contacts at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the Van Gogh Gallery and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. She has acquired leads from the Holocaust Art Restitution Project in Washington, D.C., on which she is currently following up. According to her website, she will also be “tracing records from the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg, the Nazi agency tasked with the confiscation of art from ‘undesirables.’” She even strikes up conversations with ordinary people she meets, and enlists them in her search. One man offered to check with his aunt in Pennsylvania to see if the painting was in her attic, and a French waitress she met at a restaurant near San Diego said she would mention the story to her family, who lives in the area where the Chateau de Rastignac is located, for any possible connections to the piece. Kennedy says that there is “constantly something in the newspaper these days” about lost or stolen art or art that has been restored to Holocaust victims. On the subject of these millions of pieces looted by the Nazis, Kennedy states: “Many works have been found, but many are still missing.” A San Diego family also suffered a decadesAdar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 71
FEATURE STORY
she saw it in a book. “Rue St.-Honore, Aprés-Midi, Effet de Pliue,” painted in 1897, is currently displayed in Madrid’s ThyssenBornemisza Museum and Claude sued to recapture it in 2005. The court dismissed the lawsuit by striking down a new state law allowing the recovery of lost art, and a federal appeals court has now reversed the decision, resulting in the approval of a civil trial. Claude has since passed away, but before his death he appointed the Jewish Federation of San Diego County as an heir, hoping to keep the piece rightfully within the family and the hands of the Jewish public. His widow, Beverly, 93, resides in La Jolla. She is still in possession of a photograph of the piece hanging in Lilly’s parlor, as well as some of the objects depicted in that photo, proving the painting did indeed belong to the Cassirer family, according to attorney Stuart Dunwoody. Dunwoody, attorney for the Federation, a co-plaintiff, along with David and Ava Cassirer, Claude’s children, says they still haven’t won their case. He says that “this is just one step along the way,” but the recent legal victory is “gratifying,” and they are happy to be back in trial court and have the opportunity to prove their claim. He estimates it may take up to a year before the case goes to trial. Now, more than ever, the subject of lost art confiscated by the Nazis is especially relevant. More cases are coming to light, and even Hollywood is getting in on the action. George Clooney’s latest film, “The Monuments Men,” in which he stars and directs, reviewed by critic Owen Gleiberman in a February issue of Entertainment Weekly, “... tells the unlikely story
The Jewish Federation is working to get “Rue St.-Honore, Aprés-Midi, Effet de Pliue,” shown here, back to the original owners. The Cassirer family sold the painting to facilitate their escape from Nazi Germany.
old struggle to recover a piece of art stolen from them by the Nazis in World War II, a painting by French-Impressionist Camille Pissarro. In 1939, right before World War II began, Lilly Cassirer’s Jewish family was forced to flee Germany and give up the Pissarro painting to a Nazi appraiser in order to survive. Cassirer was able to escape, but members of her family stayed behind, and her sister perished in a concentration camp. After the war, she attempted to find the painting, to no avail, and the family ended up accepting approximately $13,000 in restitution from the German government, although this by no means implied they gave up rights to ownership. Cassirer died in 1962, and many years later, in 2000, San Diego resident Claude Cassirer, her sole heir, discovered that the painting was still in existence. The first time Claude saw the painting, he was a boy in Germany. It hung in his grandmother Lilly’s parlor. As an adult, Claude, a portrait photographer in Cleveland, spoke to one of his clients about the painting, and she mentioned 72 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
of a team of museum curators and art historians who were sent behind enemy lines during World War II to recover hundreds of pieces of art that had been pilfered by Nazi thieves.” “Art is the message of the culture,” Kris Etter, graduate of San Diego State University’s Art, Art History and Design program, asserts, “and after Adolf Hitler, a former painter, attempted to overtake Europe and failed, he ordered the Nazis to destroy so much of this art in an attempt to leave no proof connecting them to the plundering and stealing.” “The Jews were smart,” Etter says. “They bought art and gold, because they knew it would be valuable in the long run.” Sadly, most of these valuables were destroyed during the tyrant’s reign. As for Kennedy’s next step? Meeting with a woman affiliated with the White Rose Society, an organization of young people in the 1940s who fought against Hitler, distributing leaflets about how his propaganda was filled with lies. All the members ended up being murdered, Kennedy says, but the Society still exists to commemorate these people’s work. “It all has to do with equality, justice and, simply, fairness,” she says. Although the whereabouts of the Van Gogh painting have so far proven to be elusive, when asked where she believes it resides today, Kennedy says she tends to agree with Nicholas in the theory that “Vase with Oleanders” likely wound up in the hands of an art collector, and may someday turn up at an auction or estate sale. If it is found, Kennedy points out that because many Jewish people were forced to sell their paintings to the Nazis, oftentimes for a mere dollar to save their families, the circumstances behind the sale of the piece will be “tricky” to sort out; who is the rightful owner? Kennedy may not get to the bottom of this perplexing mystery like her character in “Deadly Provenance” did, but she sure is having fun trying. “Keep your eyes open for that painting at your next garage sale!” she says. A “Deadly Provenance” is available for purchase where books are sold. To learn more, visit lynnekennedymysteries.com. For more information about Federation’s efforts to uncover art stolen during World War II, visit jewishinsandiego.org.
BOOK REVIEW
THE WORLD OF OUR GRANDMOTHERS JUDITH FEIN’S “THE SPOON FROM MINKOWITZ” IS A JOURNEY THROUGH SHARED ANCESTRY BY SHARON ROSEN LEIB
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ave you ever felt your ancestors beckoning you back to the Old Country? To visit the shtetls which they, with a blessed combination of Yiddish sechel and good fortune, fled to live the American dream? Judith Fein’s new book “The Spoon From Minkowitz: A Bittersweet Roots Journey to Ancestral Lands” serves as both a practical and spiritual guide to help you heed the ancestral call and embrace the past. The San Diego Jewish Journal’s senior travel correspondent, Fein is an award-winning journalist who has contributed to more than 100 international publications. Her husband Paul Ross, SDJJ’s senior travel photographer, accompanied Fein on this journey into their shared family history. His photos document the people and places they encountered with affecting, stark simplicity. Reading Fein’s evocative account of her travels through the Ukraine reminded me of author Jonathan Safran Foer’s words about his journey to his grandfather’s Ukrainian shtetl: “It has shown me that everything is illuminated in the light of the past. It is always along the side of us ... on the inside, looking out.” Our forebears had the courage to cut and run, thus escaping the sequential horrors of the Holocaust and a repressive Soviet regime. Do we all have a shred of survivors’ guilt rooted in our souls? Maybe. Do we owe our shtetl ancestors a tremendous debt of gratitude? Definitely. Fein’s book covers the emotional terrain of searching for that lost past to honor our relatives and better ground our lives with empathy and appreciation for those who preceded us. As a
young girl, the author peppered her bubbe with questions about the past, but her grandmother didn’t want to talk much about her shtetl or childhood in Russia. Undeterred, Fein extracted six “clues” from her bubbe: Her family bought their food at the Jewish market on Tuesdays; she worked drying tobacco leaves; she lived at the bottom of the hill and envied the Russian girls who attended school on top of the hill; the floor of the family home was made of goat dung; and the biggest nearby town was Kamenetz Podolsk. Fein clung to her grandmother’s clues and pursued them with a vengeance on her quest through the Ukraine. She proves an able detective aided by a mystical sixth sense for impeccable timing. The stars (or ancestral hands) align to put her in contact with the right people to breathe meaning and life into her grandmother’s clues. She interviews several Ukrainian elders along her journey and reports, “Their memories were fading. ... It added even more urgency to my trip ... to meet anyone who could connect me to the reality of life in the shtetls before it was all gone.” Fein’s book packs the power to enrich family narratives, as many readers will immediately want to inquire into their own family history after finishing a few pages. But traveling to the Old Country is not just a benign, sepia-tinged nostalgia ride. Malignant Holocaust memories haunt every city and shtetl Fein visits. She struggles to overcome her anxiety about delving into this dark side. Yet she courageously confronts Minkowitz’s tragic past when interviewing an elderly village woman. This woman describes Minkowitz’s Jews (including a dear childhood friend) being rounded up,
“ ”
Fein clung to her grandmother's clues and pursued them with a vengeance on her quest through the Ukraine.
marched to the top of a hill and systematically shot by singing Nazi gendarmes. As American Jews, our lives are more carefree when we tamp down the painful, uncomfortable truths of our Old Country histories. But Fein reminds us how crucial these truths are to remember. To help our children understand and appreciate the blessedness of their present lives, we have a cultural imperative to preserve the fading memories of our grandparents’ shtetls. Only then can we pass a torch from generation to generation and illuminate our world in the light of the past. A “The Spoon From Minkowitz” can be ordered from Amazon in both paperback and e-book forms. For more information about the author and her travels, visit globaladventure.us.
Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 73
FEATURE STORY
POSITIVELY ISRAEL:
JNF hosts Ido Aharoni to highlight the international accomplishments of the Jewish State BY NATALIE HOLTZ
PHOTO COURTESY JNF
Consul General Ido Aharoni at a previous speaking engagement.
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n January of 2002, Jewish National Fund created Caravan for Democracy to fill a major void on college campuses in the face of rising anti-Israel activities. Since its inception, the program has provided events on more than 90 high school and college campuses reaching more than 75,000 students, faculty and community members. CFD brings in different speakers from Israel to discuss the positive contributions, commitments and issues relating to Israel; and facilitates a constructive dialogue about and provides students with the tools to take action and support a Jewish state. The next lecture in the series, “Positively Israel: How Israel is Changing the World” is being sponsored by Dr. Sol and Lauren Lizerbram this month. A special night not just for students, but for the entire community, this talk will be given by Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York and 22-year veteran of Israel’s foreign service.
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Ambassador Aharoni assumed the post of Consul General of Israel in New York in February 2011 after serving as Acting Consul General since August 2010. He has held various positions with the Israeli government and in 2007, he was appointed to serve as the Head of Israel’s Brand Management Team. Today, he continues to work to change how Israel is viewed in the eyes of the world. He said one of his top priorities is to improve the prominence of Israeli companies in the global markets, and to achieve brand association like that of Nike, Apple, or CocaCola. “The idea is to make sure that Israel is recognized not only by its problems, but also by its added value,” Aharoni says. “The working assumption is that when people value something, they tend to appreciate it. They tend to work with it, they’re curious about it, they want to develop a normal relationship with it, and this is exactly what Israel is lacking.
“A very long list of innovations and ideas - new ideas that changed the world - came out of Israel. The most important thing for Americans to know about Israel is that Israel is a vibrant society, and that it is making a positive contribution to American lives every day. The only problem that we have is that we’re not stressing Israel’s attractive factors enough.” Between 2001-2005, Aharoni served as Consul for Media and Public Affairs at the Consulate General of Israel in New York. He also served as Policy Advisor to the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem. He is a sought after speaker on all topics related to Israel. “Ambassador Aharoni can convey to the audience how Israel is and will be branding itself as a leader in the worlds of technology and medicine,” Dr. Sol Lizerbram, longtime JNF Board member and event sponsor, explains. “Israel is developing products we use every day in the U.S. and around the world, and a lot of students don’t know this. As a brand management expert, Ambassador Aharoni can really convey to the students the reason why Israel is a leader in the world. Let’s not focus on conflict. Let’s focus on what Israel brings. Ambassador Aharoni is just a great person for that message.” JNF’s hope for Caravan for Democracy is that it will engage and educate students across the country and provide them with the tools to take action and support Israel. For Ambassador Aharoni, who rarely travels to the West Coast, this will be a special night with an important message. “Someone can always argue about the borders and politics, but the technology and medicine that Israel has developed and shared cannot be challenged,” Lauren says. “Israel is making the world a better place every single day. We need to arm our students so that they know that – and have them be advocates for Israel.” A “Positively Israel: How Israel is Changing the World” is on Monday, March 10 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth Am in Del Mar. The event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend. A dessert reception will follow. For more information, visit jnf.org/sdpositivelyisrael.
B business
YOU'RE FABULOUS, DARLING The Fabulous Rag in Pacific Beach has dresses for every occasion and body type By Natalie Jacobs
Iris Loebenstein sells her personal creations, fashioned after runway looks for a fraction of the price.
“Your boyfriend is going to love it!” The Fabulous Rag store manager Adriana Guss says to a customer at the register. “He better,” the smiling young lady says. It’s the week before Valentine’s Day and this Pacific Beach store, which specializes in dresses, is bustling. My eyes are stuck on a red flower-print spaghetti strap mini dress with a bustier bodice and an empire waist that spills out into a full skirt. But I’m trying to keep my attention on the task at hand, so I turn back to Iris Loebenstein, store owner. “Everything in here is a knock-off,” she says. “I take an existing style and then I choose a different fabric, maybe change a sleeve or add a skater skirt. Eva Longoria wore that one,” she says, pointing to a strapless, floor-length pink silk evening gown with a knot at the bust. These slight changes make the season’s runway looks available to the general public for about half the price they would be at major retailers or designer showrooms. The store caters to a vast demographic – women ranging from 20 to 50 years old come to find styles for a dinner date, a Vegas vacation, a backyard barbeque or even a bridal party.
Loebenstein’s parents owned clothing stores while she was growing up, so when she returned from a year’s sabbatical in Israel in 2008, she leased the space on Garnet Ave. near Mission Blvd. and returned to her roots. It’s clear that she has a deep appreciation for fashion and the ways it can change a woman’s body and outlook on life. “The hardest part is seeing how unsatisfied women can be with their bodies,” she says. “Clothing can help. There are so many ways to hide the things you don’t like about your body.” For example, she says, if you’re tall, wear prints on top with a solid on the bottom. If you have a small butt, try a dress with lots of ruching. Older ladies, cover the arms but show off the cleavage with a classic tunic in a color that flatters your skin tone. For petite women, stick with solids and show a little skin to make you appear taller. Overwhelmed? Not to worry, Guss and Loebenstein are available in-store to help pick out styles or provide any feedback in the dressing room. “The number one dress mistake women make is not featuring their own bodies. Attribute your own features and be age appropriate,” Loebenstein says. From there, have fun. For the upcoming Spring/Summer season, Loebenstein, who lists Michael Kors and Roberto Cavalli among her design icons, is ushering in lots of skater skirts (a mini that’s tight to the waist with a flouncy bottom half ), orchid hues and lace fabrics. Maxi dresses will always be in style, she says, so there will still be plenty of those in the store. The Fabulous Rag currently features about 8,000-10,000 pieces, so when you go, be sure to leave plenty of time for getting lost. ______________________
THE FABULOUS RAG 829 Garnet Ave. San Diego, CA 92109 (858) 270-1993 thefabulousrag.com Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 75
D
WHAT’S
GOIN’
ON?
March Madness
by eileen sondak • nsondak@gmail.com
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pring is on the horizon – and the entertainment scene is in full bloom. Theater buffs, opera aficionados, music lovers, and dance enthusiasts can enjoy an array of events around the county, so take your pick. Cygnet Theatre takes audiences on an adventurous theatrical journey with “Spring Awakening” – an electrifying rock musical that earned eight Tony Awards, and an NC-17 rating for its provocative theme. “Spring Awakening,” which bows in on March 6, focuses on a group of rebellious 19th century teenagers as they move on to adulthood in oppressive times. The musical will be ensconced at Cygnet’s Old Town Theatre through April 27, and it promises to awaken passions in mature
audiences. The Lamb’s will bring “Quilters,” a celebration of America’s West, to Coronado on March 21, following the closing of “The Foreigner” – which ends its run on March 2. “Quilters,” directed by the Lamb’s own Robert Smyth, will salute the pioneer women who helped settle the Old West, until April 27. The Horton Grand Theatre is now offering “The 39 Steps” (a big success during its Coronado run). If you haven’t seen this delightful spoof, here’s your chance. The Old Globe’s staging of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” continues to weave its spell on the Main Stage, under the direction of Barry Edelstein. This powerful play is the artistic director’s inaugural work for
Cygnet Theatre takes audiences on an adventurous theatrical journey with “Spring Awakening” – an electrifying rock musical that earned eight Tony Awards.
Jefferson Mays as Lord Adalbert D’Ysquith and Heather Ayers as Lady Eugenia in the world premiere of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” March 8-April 14 at The Old Globe.
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PHOTO BY HENRY DIROCCO
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PHOTO BY AARON RUMLEY
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the Globe, and the first Shakespeare classic to be performed indoors in a decade. The Bard’s masterpiece – with Billy Campbell heading a crackerjack cast – will play on through March 16. Edelstein describes the production as featuring “an embarassment of riches,” so don’t miss it. The Globe will bring its “re-imagined” production of the period classic “Time and The Conways” to life on March 29. Set in Yorkshire in 1919, the beginning of the play revolves around a birthday celebration for the six Conway siblings – full of hope with the Great War behind them. The next time they meet in this same place, the year is 1937 and the world is a lot darker. Playwright J.B. Priestley bends time and space in this potent family drama, directed by Rebecca Tatchman. This fascinating production will continue through May 4. The La Jolla Playhouse’s world premiere, “The Who & The What,” by Pulitzer PrizeRichard Baird and Jessica John star in North Coast Rep’s production of “The School for Lies,” a winning playwright Ayad Akhtar, is winding comedic take on Moliere's “The Misanthrope,” now through March 16. down for a March 9th closing. The play examines life in a conservative Muslim family in Atlanta, and has been described as both funny Mehta hosting. The Cirque Mechanics will fill 30. “Scripps on Prospect 2014” will illustrate the and ferocious. The Playhouse’s play development Symphony Hall with acrobats, jugglers, and cultural legacy of Ellen and Virginia Scripps until April 6. This is a collaborative effort between initiative (a mixture of workshops and readings) trapeze artists on March 15. On March 21-23, the Jacobs Masterworks the Museum and the La Jolla Historical Society. will pack up on March 2. Series will feature “Mozart, Haydn, and More,” The downtown facility of the Contemporary The San Diego Opera will deliver the dangerous and romantic “A Masked Ball” to a concert led by guest conductor Gilbert Museum is featuring acquisition highlights from local audiences March 8-16. This thrilling opera Varga. Sarah Skuster is guest artist for Mozart’s 2003-13. The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is – inspired by the real-life assassination of King Concerto for Oboe, K. 314. The Scharoun Ensemble, one of Germany’s leading chamber showcasing “Mysteries of the Unseen World,” Gustav III of Sweden – was directed by Lesley Koenig and features music by Verdi. The all-star music organizations, is poised to make its debut an exhibition that demonstrates how cuttingcast is headed by Piotr Beczala as Gustav, Aris with members of the Symphony on March 25. edge technology has given us an amazing look at Argirs as the doomed Count Anckarstrom, and “Peter Nero Plays Gershwin” – with Nero on the the microscopic world. A film of the same name Krassimira Stoyanova as Amelia. The Opera’s podium and the keyboard – is set for March 28- (narrated by Morgan Freeman) will be shown in conjunction with this show. The Fleet recently “Verdi Requiem” is coming to the Civic Theatre 29. J*Company is taking audiences down the unveled the West Coast premiere of “Guitar: on March 20, with an all-star cast and Maestro yellow brick road to revisit “The Wizard of Oz.” The Instrument that Rocked the World.” The Massimo Zanetti conducting. This classic tale – a treat for young and old – will exhibition – which celebrates music from classical San Diego Musical Theatre is headed back to North Park with a home-grown production of continue at the JCC in La Jolla through March to heavy metal – will stay put through April 6. The Oceanside Museum of Art is featuring two the beloved musical, “Cats.” You can take the 16. San Diego Junior Theatre is showcasing “James solo shows – works by San Diego-based sculptors whole family to this dance-packed show March and the Giant Peach,” a classic children’s story Jean Wells and Kenneth Capps. An “Artist 21-April 6 at the Birch. North Coast Repertory Theatre’s “The School by Roald Dahl (adapted for the stage by David Alliance Exhibition” is also on display. The Natural History Museum is focusing for Lies,” a madcap comedy adapted from Wood). The show – performed at the Casa del Prado in Balboa Park through March 16 – is a on the “National Geographic’s Real Pirates Moliere’s “The Misanthrope,” continues its offspritely adventure for kids eight and older. You Exhibition.” This interactive show explores 18th color homage to Moliere through March 16. The can support Junior Theatre at its “Spring Swing” century piracy with more than 200 artifacts Baroque-style production, directed with licketysplit precision, packs the 17th century tale with – a fundraiser that includes dancing and guest recovered from a sunken ship off the coast of contemporary slang, and the results are side- performances – on March 8 at the Casa del Prado. Cape Cod, Mass. The Museum continues to The young thesbians will take on Shakespeare’s feature “Fossil Mysteries,” “Water: A California splittingly funny. The San Diego Symphony’s “Wagner’s The “The Tempest” March 28-April 6 at Roosevelt Story,” and “Skulls.” The San Diego Air and Space Museum Ring Without Words” concert runs through Middle School. The Contemporary Museum of Art is extended its “Ripley’s Believe it Or Not” March 2. “Martina Filjak Plays Brahms” is highlighting works from the bequest of David exhibition, so you can oogle at this bizarre show headed for Symphony Hall March 3, with Filjak on the piano, joined by members of the San Copley. The exhibition includes artworks by until the end of 2014. In fact, the museum has Christo and Jeanne Claude and consists of more recently “re-imagined” the show with updated Diego Symphony. “Beethoven’s Choice: Beauty and the Search than 50 pieces. The Museum will showcase art oddities and additional kid-friendly activities. A for Meaning” is slated for March 13, with Nuvi being considered for acquisition through April
Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 77
SAN DIEGO NCSYers GO FISHING FOR PHILANTHROPY IN THE ‘SHARK TANK’ Teams Now Being Assembled for Second Annual Program BY STEPHEN STEINER
There were more shark sightings on San Diego beaches in 2013 than in recent years, particularly in La Jolla, and a marine from Camp Pendleton even reeled one in while fishing. But for 15 San Diego teenagers, the big shark news took place at the inaugural “Philanthropy Shark Tank,” where they took a “bite of philanthropy.” They also learned that through the practice of philanthropic giving, idealistic teenagers can truly make a difference According to Adam Simon, San Diego Director of NCSY and one of the program facilitators, Philanthropy Shark Tank is a program in which five local non-profit organizations make an appeal to local teens, who have attended a Jewish Values Fair as part of the program. At this Fair, Adam explains, the young men and women “discuss Jewish values, prioritize these values, meet local organizations and learn about philanthropy.” Previously, they had been taught the basics of fund-raising, for example, how to raise $100 apiece. The teens then proceed to the Shark Tank, at which the 78 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
local organizations make their pitch. As Adam explains, “The teens question, discuss, debate and then decide as a group where they want to grant their money. At the end of the day they give a check for $1,000 to one organization that they all decide on together based on the values they have learned and the pitches the organizations have made. They also commit to volunteer at least one day at the organization they chose as a group to learn more and to help out.” The Values Fair and Shark Tank are a partnership between San Diego NCSY and the Jewish Community Foundation. The inaugural event took place as part of the Lawrence Family JCC’s J-Serve 2013 program. J-Serve is the International Day of Jewish Youth Service. At the Philanthropy Shark Tank held last April, the teens awarded a $1,000 grant from the San Diego Jewish Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Fund to Friendship Circle, an organization which provides support
I feel like teenagers make great ‘analyzers’ of social issues and can really be great ‘philanthropic investors’ for all the amazing community service projects that are so vital to our community. “I was really motivated today by the whole program and its emphasis on teaching teenagers about social entrepreneurship, a very hot as well as important facet of our innovative society,” Jose continues. “Programs like the Philanthropy Shark Tank are an amazing way to fuel the extremely important community service projects of San Diego and to give teenagers many different tools that can be applied to countless areas in their lives. “ No matter how many shark sightings there may be off the beaches of San Diego this year, the second Shark Tank program on April 6, as well as the four additional half-day workshops, will build on 2013’s inaugural effort to prove that indeed, San Diego’s teenagers can make a difference. for children with special needs. Now San Diego NCSY is looking for teens to form their own Philanthropy Tanks and get involved. In addition to this year’s Philanthropy Shark Tank, which will be held as part of JServe on Sunday, April 6 at the Lawrence Family JCC, NCSY plans to launch four additional Philanthropy Shark Tank half-day workshops, modeled after the original, to allow teens to “learn about philanthropy, get involved in the community, and be inspired to make a difference.” “We created Philanthropy Shark Tank as an extension of NCSY’s mission -- instilling our teens with Jewish values and empowering them to be active participants in the Jewish community,” Adam Simon explains. “The Shark Tank gives teens the opportunity to take an active role in guiding our community and gives them the skills they need to be philanthropists, leaders, and future givers in our community.”
To get involved in the Philanthropy Shark Tank, form a team, bring a workshop to your school or community, or get more details, email Adam Simon at Adam@NCSY.org or by phone at 619-663-8672.
Stephen Steiner is Director of Public Relations of the Orthodox Union, previously of the American Jewish Congress and Council of Jewish Federation. He is based in New York, his home town, but loves San Diego and knows its beaches well.
The teens are enthusiastic about the experience. “Philanthropy Shark Tank gave me the opportunity to lead those who are less connected with their Jewish identity,” said Channa Loebenstein, a senior at Torah High Schools of San Diego. “The organizations which came to participate opened up a whole new world of volunteer opportunities.” Declared Dylan Rodin, a junior at Scripps Ranch High School, “I thought it was a really cool and informative program! I’d love to participate again!” Dylan Saffer , a senior at Canyon Crest Academy, added, “I enjoyed it. It was helpful because money was given to a well-deserving organization and the other organizations were also put into the spotlight.” Jose Chayet , a senior at La Jolla High School, said, “I had a great time and I thought the program was a great idea. Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 79
in the kitchen WITH
TORI AVEY
ERIKA'S UNORTHODOX RUGELACH
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Tori Avey is an awardwinning food writer, recipe developer and creator of two cooking websites: The Shiksa in the Kitchen theshiksa.com and The History Kitchen thehistorykitchen.com She writes about food history for Parade.com and PBS Food. Follow Tori on Facebook by searching “Tori Avey" and on Twitter @theshiksa.
hat makes a rugelach recipe “traditional”? Is it the dough or the filling? Is it how the rugelach is rolled and shaped? Which rugelach is the “right” rugelach? Every family’s answer will be slightly different, and they will all be right. Any recipe passed down through the generations can be considered traditional, no matter how different it might seem. Case in point – my friend Erika’s “Unorthodox” Rugelach. They’re made with a pareve, delicate, dairyfree dough unlike many other recipes. They’re rolled the opposite way that rugelach is usually rolled. The filling is a loose combination of nuts, sugar, and raisins instead of the more common spreadable fillings. But none of that really matters. Erika Kerekes writes a fabulous cooking blog called “In Erika’s Kitchen.” A few months ago, I visited Erika and her mother, Susan Penzer, for an afternoon of baking and kibitzing around the kitchen table. That afternoon, Erika shared her grandmother’s rugelach recipe with me. They aren’t like any rugelach I’ve ever made, but that’s what makes them special. Erika’s maternal grandmother, Rose Chankin Sharron, made these rugelach once or twice a year in her little kitchen in Queens. She would make several batches, wrap them up and hand deliver them to family members. Erika remembers her mom sticking them in the freezer to keep the family from eating them all at once. They soon discovered that the rugelach tasted really good frozen, too, which meant the cookies never lasted very long in their home. “The interesting thing is that I don’t think we know where this recipe came from,” Erika said. “My grandmother’s grandparents – my greatgreat-grandparents – had a bakery in Russia. My grandmother’s side of the family was from Smolensk, in Russia. My great-grandmother, who was not much of a home keeper in general, did not like to care for the family, but she did like to bake. So we assume that the recipes she had were from her parents who had the bakery, although we don’t know that for a fact.” She told me that her great-grandmother came to the U.S. in the early 1900’s. Her grandmother, Rose, was born in America in 1912. Though Rose’s mother was not very domestic, Rose enjoyed cooking and baking. Nobody is quite sure where or when Rose learned the
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rugelach recipe, though it likely came from her mother’s side of the family (the Russian bakery owners). At some point, She began to substitute orange juice for sour cream in the rugelach dough. According to Susan, this was likely done for health reasons. On Erika’s blog, she calls these cookies “Rose Sharron’s Unorthodox Rugelach.” I’ve renamed them “Erika’s Unorthodox Rugelach,” because Erika is clearly carrying on Rose’s baking tradition with her own family. On my visit, I watched as she rolled the dough with care, gently pressing the loose filling into the center, then carefully slicing and shaping the cookies. While the cookies were baking, filling the air with sweetness, Erika took out a folder of photocopied handwritten recipes. She received the recipes when Rose passed away in 1996; she keeps them on a shelf in her kitchen. The famous rugelach recipe (spelled “Rogelach” on the recipe card) has only a list of ingredients, with no directions or even hints for the cooking process. Erika only made these rugelach once with Rose while she was alive. After she passed, Erika struggled to recapture the method that would produce her grandma’s famous cookies. As we sipped coffee and nibbled on freshly baked rugelach, we flipped through the precious pile of photocopied recipes – kasha, meatloaf, blintzes. There is even a card labeled “How to Clean Your House.” “I don’t take these out much,” Erika admitted. “My grandmother’s handwriting makes me cry.” Grandma Rose’s spirit is alive and well in these unorthodox little cookies. Thank you to Erika for generously sharing the recipe, and her kitchen memories, with us.
ERIKA’S UNORTHODOX RUGELACH Dough Ingredients 6 cups all purpose flour 1 cup sugar 3 heaping tsp baking powder Pinch of salt ½ lb vegetable shortening 3 eggs 2 tbsp vanilla extract 1 cup orange juice
PHOTOS BY TORI AVEY
Filling Ingredients 1 cup walnuts 1 cup raisins ¼ cup sugar 1 tsp ground cinnamon You will also need: Food processor, pizza cutter or sharp knife, baking sheets Servings: About 8 dozen cookies Total Time: 2 hours To Make Dough: Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Reserve. Cream the shortening and sugar together with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat the eggs into the sugar and shortening, one at a time, until well incorporated. Mix in the vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and orange juice alternately, mixing after each addition, till the dough is uniform. It should be soft, not stiff. Refrigerate the dough for a few hours, up to overnight. To Make Filling: Toast the walnuts in a nonstick pan over medium high. When they start browning and becoming fragrant (don’t let them burn!), remove them immediately from the pan and place in a food processor. Add the remaining filling ingredients to the processor. Pulse a few times till the nuts and raisins are chopped smaller. Stop long before they turn into a paste – you still want the filling to be loose with texture, without any overly-large nuts or chunks.
To Make Rugelach: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously flour a rolling surface. The dough will be very sticky and soft, even after refrigeration, and will require a lot of flour to keep it from sticking as you roll. Take a dough ball the size of a lemon and coat it with flour. Roll it out with a floured rolling pin as thin as you can to form a rough circle. You want the dough thick enough to roll into cookies and hold the filling, but no thicker than that. Sprinkle 2-3 tbsp of filling into the center of the dough circle, forming a large circle of filling in the center with a rough 1-inch border of dough around the edge. Use the rolling pin to lightly press the filling into the dough (don’t press too hard or you’ll tear the dough). Using a pastry scraper, pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the circle into eight wedges. Roll up each wedge from the center point to the outer edge (seems backwards, I know, but with this type of filling, rolling them the other way won’t work). Use your fingers to gently shape the rolled-up dough and create a crescent shape. Don’t worry if some of the filling falls out as you roll – this is normal. Place the rolled rugelach onto a baking sheet, evenly spaced (the cookies will spread a little, but not much). Repeat the process in batches with the remaining dough till it’s gone. The dough is quite delicate and somewhat tough to work with, so be patient; it will take some time to get a feel for it. Bake each batch of rugelach for 15-20 minutes, till the edges and bottoms start to turn golden and cookies are baked through. Cool the cookies on a wire rack. This recipe will make several cookies, so Erika recommends freezing the ones you don’t eat up right away. Remember, they are also great straight from the freezer! A
IKWTA
Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 81
OP-ED
Acknowledgement and Apology Followed by Reform A history of persecution, denied BY MICHAEL HAYUTIN Michael Hayutin
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isdirection is the most common method used by those seeking to mitigate Islamic intolerance and violence. An uninformed public may be led astray. Some apologists may employ this tactic out of ignorance. Some may be suffering in a state of denial. They just can’t come to grips with the problematic nature of major sectors of the faith they have been raised to love. Unfortunately, some apologists utilize misdirection with a full knowledge of 1,400 years of violent and coercive Islamic expansion. They feel no need to apologize for what they believe is Allah’s command. That same sad legacy can be witnessed worldwide today. Most of us have seen or heard the interviews. An Imam, academic or representative of one of the alphabet soup of “mainstream” Islamic organizations is asked about Islamic terror, intolerance, misogyny, homophobia, hatred, honor killings, etc. (a general rejection of western values) as practiced by hundreds of millions of Muslims. With complete sincerity and total 82 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
irrelevance, the interviewee responds something as follows: “All faiths have their extremists or radicals.” A kind of immoral equivalence is suggested as having some contemporary relevance. There exists no such immoral equivalence among the other major faiths today. Of course, the excuse-makers fail to say that the Crusades were roughly 800 years ago and the Inquisition 700 years ago. Those examples of widespread Christian butchery and intolerance are virtually non-existent today. In the year 2014 the globe is not filled with ten’s of millions of Christians or any other religious group outside of Islam trying to violently impose their faith on society or institute a theocracy. Hence, the immoral equivalency argument is meaningless as a practical matter. It is only a tool used to somehow mitigate the untreated cancer within Islam. Catholic and Christian leadership have acknowledged, apologized and made efforts to reformed with reference to their history of intolerance and persecution. The Catholic
Church has acknowledged its anti-Semitic history and taken steps to repair the damage. Pope John Paul II denounced anti-Semitism as a “sin against God and humanity,” normalized relations with the Jewish people and the Jewish State of Israel, and paid homage to the victims of the Holocaust in the Vatican and at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Israel. Pastor John Hagee is among thousands of Christian leaders (particularly within the evangelical movement) who denounce replacement theology (replacing the Jews with the church). He has dedicated his ministry, with ten’s of millions of followers to the preservation of Israel as a Jewish state and in support of the Jewish people. In his speeches he gives a detailed account of 2,000 years of Christian antiSemitism concluding with the crescendo, “never again.” His Christian audiences leap to their feet in approbation and Jews in attendance tear up with gratitude. Nothing remotely similar has ever been done by any major Islamic group. Indeed, the vast majority of Muslims deny their history of imposed persecution and coercive expansion directed at non-believers, Christians, Jews, secular people, and non-compliant Muslims. Please note, this does not constitute an indictment of 1.2 billion Muslims, most of whom are not actively involved in persecution, hatred and violence. Indeed, it is the failure of those non-participants to take hold of their faith, reform it and purge it of the haters that have rendered their faith an outlier in terms of tolerance and inclusion. To date, nothing resembling an Islamic reformation has emerged. Thus we see the ridiculousness of the deflection approach used by Muslim apologists. So next time you are watching or listening to an apologist/ deflector trying to minimize the dimension of worldwide Islamic intolerance you will have been immunized from internalizing the lies. A Michael Hayutin holds a BA in Political Science/ Communications from the University of Southern California, and a JD from South Texas College of Law. He is the San Diego Chapter Leader for Act! For America. In addition to being a freelance writer, he is the author of “Character Immunization: How to Raise Children Strong Enough to Resist Popular Culture.”
WEST SIDE STORY is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) *All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI
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March 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 & 8 @ 7:00 pm March 1, 2, 8 & 9 @ 2:00 pm Advance Prices: Adults $18* Students/Seniors/Military $15 At Door $25 (Ticketing Fees Apply) Tickets available through www.lyceumevents.org Lyceum Box Office: 619-544-1000 This Program is funded in part by the Horton Plaza Theatre Foundation, and organization funded by the city of San Diego Special Promotion Programs.
Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 83
N news
"Aqua Marine" Guitar for sale
Speakers Series Continues at JCC
As part of their Distinguished Speaker Series, the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture will host Professor Jacob Goldberg on March 17, 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. Goldberg is a former Senior Advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and the author of “The Foreign Policy of Saudi Arabia,” published by Harvard University Press. Each day features a different lecture. Price per lecture is $12 for members, $15 for nonmembers. For more information on the series, visit sdcjc.org/jewishlearning/dss. aspx.
PHOTO COURTESY CYBERSPARK INITIATIVE
Galeria JAN in La Jolla, an art gallery specializing in international contemporary art, is displaying string instruments by German master instrument designer Jens Ritter. This display features “The Aqua Marine” guitar, covered in 7,000 Swarovski aquamarine crystals and platinum rings and is a silver Porsche color, from the artist's Princess Isabella collection. This one-of-akind piece will be on display until sold. Contact Bilyana Beran at jbb1307@aol.com or (858) 5512053 for details.
One of 15 buildings in the new BGU Advanced Technology Park.
PHOTO COURTESY GALERIA JAN
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently announced the creation of CyberSpark, a national cyber complex adjacent to the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev campus. “Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,” BGU President Rivka Carmi said, “is a leading center of innovation in information security in partnership with industry, security agencies and the government in a variety of tasks to protect Israel’s digital borders. We are at the forefront of cyber security research and are training the security researchers of tomorrow in our master’s program in Cyberspace Security, the first of its kind in Israel.” The 15-building complex will bring Fortune 500 companies and cyberincubators together with academic researchers and educational facilities along with national government and security agencies. International companies IBM and Lockheed Martin will establish cyber research facilities at the new CyberSpark complex, with specific investment allotted for the research and development facilities in the complex. Other funders include Deutsche Telekom, EMC, RSA and start-ups located in the new Advanted Technology Park at the University. For more information on the facility, visit aabgu.org.
PHOTO COURTESY JCC
Cyber Security Complex opens in Beer-Sheva
PHOTO COURTESY RUTH WEBER
Calling all Male Singers The San Diego Jewish Men’s Choir is holding auditions for its 2014 performance season. In January, the Choir released their first CD “Heritage” (available on Amazon and iTunes) and in 2014 they are booked at various festivals and synagogues around town and in Los Angeles. The group is looking to expand from 28 to 40 members in order to support this concert season and they are interested in auditioning for all voice parts. Auditions are open and can be scheduled individually by calling Ruth Weber at (760) 747-7237. If you would like to be involved in the upcoming performances, it is recommended that you complete the audition by the end of this month.
84 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
N news
SD Brandeis Chapter to Host Book and Author Luncheon
The San Dieguito Chapter of the Brandeis National Committee will host its annual Book and Author Luncheon at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe on April 4 at 11:30 a.m. Awardwinning authors Caroline Leavitt and Janice Seinberg will discuss their latest books. Lunch will be prepared by Morada Restaurant’s Chef Allison who focuses on locally sourced and creative cuisine. To register, contact Ellyn Clark at (760) 453-2248 or Gayle Wise at bncfnp@aol.com.
Janice Seinberg
Local Author's Latest Work
Local Student in American Hebrew Academy Honor Society
Tunisian-born and current San Diego resident Jacqueline Semha Gmach chronicles her life “between two worlds” in a new book, co-written with Hillary Selese Liber, available for pre-order now through Gefen Publishing House. “From Bomboloni to Bagel: A Story of Two Worlds” follows Gmach’s journey through five countries, as she adjusts to cultural differences and language barriers from adolescence to adulthood. Pre-orders are $4 off and shipping to the U.S. and Israel is free. Books pre-ordered now will ship in May, 2014. For more information visit gefenpublishing.com and search by book title.
The international Jewish college-prep boarding school, American Hebrew Academy, recently announced that Jason Kesler of Encinitas, Calif., has been accepted into its Honor Society. Kessler was honored for his demonstrated excellence in academics, the arts, leadership and service to his community. As a Boy Scout, a counselor in training, an assistant Hebrew school teacher and a baker, Kessler exemplifies the type of young Jewish student the Academy has honored during the five years it has hosted this award. He will receive an award certificate designed by artist Mordecai Rosenstein as well as an opportunity to compete for the annual merit-based scholarship to attend the American Hebrew Academy. “To be named a member of the American Hebrew Academy Honor Society is a great achievement,” said Mark Spielman, the Society’s director. “We look forward to meeting each of the honors and following their successes as they make great contributions to our society.” To learn more about the American Hebrew Academy Honor Society, visit ahahonorsociety.org.
Beth Am Pre-School Wishing for Mommy Event In January, Beth Am pre-school students and parents attended an award ceremony for school guard Debora Gibson. Presented by Wishing for Mommy, a martial arts foundation, together with H.U. Lee Foundation and the American Taekwondo Association, the $500 award is given to mothers with breast cancer to spend a special day with their children. After Gibson left her job at the synagogue in order to undergo cancer treatment, the pre-school rallied together to nominate her, marking the first time a group rather than an individual has made a nomination in the history of the award. For more information on the award or to nominate a mother battling breast cancer, visit wishingformommy.org/nominate. Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 85
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PHOTO COURTESY JCF
The Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego in February selected three teens to receive the Peter Chortek Leadership Award for their service, philanthropy and leadership. Jacob Gardenswartz, 12th grade at Francis Parker School; Ari Krasner, 12th grade at University City High School; and Jenna Lizerbram, 12th grade at La Costa Canyon High School each received $3,600 and an additional $1,800 in a donor advised fund at the Jewish Community Foundation. The annual award is supported by the Peter Chortek Youth Philanthropy Leadership Fund at JCF, to honor high school students who demonstrate tikkun olam. For more information, visit jcfsandiego. org.
L-R: Ari Krasner, Jenna Lizerbram, Jacob Gardenswartz
Ner Tamid Sponsors Teen Leadership Seminar
L-R: Eliezer Gershonov, Dasha Levitan and Alexander Cherkov.
PHOTO COURTESY NAALE ACADEMY
Leadership Award Recognizes Local Teens
Inspired by her experience at the Camp Mountain Chai Women’s Retreat, Director of Education for Ner Tamid Synagogue, Liat Levit has founded the Kulam Teen Leadership Seminar, taking place at Alpine Meadows April 18-20. The event, for sixth-12th graders, will provide Jewish teens with real world skills while nurturing their Jewish identity and creating friendships to connect them throughout the San Diego community. Informational meetings for interested parties are on March 5 and March 12 at 7 p.m. at Ner Tamid Synagogue. Register at kulam.org.
Nurturing Engineers in Israel
Naale Elite Academy, World ORT’s Anieres Elite Academy and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa have partnered to launch a science and technology scholarship program for international and Israeli students. The program runs for seven years starting in the 10th grade for Israeli students, and begins in 9th grade for foreign students to have an extra year to get comfortable with Hebrew. During the first stage of the program, students will live and study at the WIZO Nahalal Youth Village in Northern Israel. After high school, study continues at Technion. The program started in Sept. 2013 with 21 students. This year, the partnership is hoping for 30-60 Israelis and 30 foreign students with a goal of 600 total students by 2020. For more information about the scholarship program, visit elite-academy.org.
Scott Peters
Beth Israel Men's Club Hosts Local Politicians
The Men’s Club of Beth Israel will continue its monthly forum with U.S. Congressman Scott Peters and local businessman Carl DeMaio coming to the Reform synagogue in March and April, respectively. The two men, who will be running against each other for the 52nd Congressional District seat in the upcoming November election, will speak briefly and address audience questions at these consecutive events. Peters will be attending on March 19 and DeMaio will be present on April 23. Both dinners start at 6:30 p.m. Forums are open to the public and cost is $14 in advance or $17 at the door. For more information, visit cbisd.org or call Judi Schwartz at (858) 900-2598.
86 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
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TAKE NOTE MARCH 1-31 by natalie jacobs
NOTEWORTHY Mark your calendar.
S
pring is in the air and this month’s events will have you outside enjoying (another) beautiful day, getting nostalgic for the 1950s and thinking about the biblical story of Eve. First up, celebrate the season with the Spring Fair in Carmel Valley at 11943 El Camino Real on Saturday, March 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be food trucks and bounce houses, face painting and balloon artists, live music and plenty of local vendors to get to know. This year will also feature an elementary- and middle-school talent show. This is serious business, with a $10,000 Continued Education Grant, a two-page spread in Seventeen Magazine and the opportunity to open for a celebrity entertainer on the line. To learn more, visit sandiegoseasonalfairs.com. Keep the party going the following weekend at Temple Solel’s annual Purim Carnival. In honor of the Purim tradition of costume-wearing and public celebration, anyone wearing a costume to the carnival will receive one free game or ride ticket. Rides will include Ferris wheels, a climbing wall, a bungee run, a dunk tank (YES!), a 22-foot slide and pony rides. There will also be tons of food including the Purim classic hamantaschen. This really sounds like way too much fun to miss so put this on your calendar immediately. Tickets are $1 if purchased at the Carnival. Wristbands, which offer unlimited access to all rides and games, are available for $25 the day of, or $22 if purchased in advance from the Temple Solel School during daytime hours. Find details at templesolel.net. Break up the partying this month with some contemporary art photographs at the Jennifer Greenburg: Revising History exhibit at jdc Fine Art. This exhibition features photos from the 1950s in which the Chicago-based artist has inserted herself, effectively “hijacking the memory” that these images conjure. The work ranges from humorous to serious and brings up interesting ideas about the sometimes small distinction between truth and lie. The exhibit is open March 7 through May 31 but an artist reception will be held Friday, March 14 from 6-8 p.m. Find more information at jdcfineart.com. Finally, consider joining this Adult Education class through the Center for Jewish Culture. “All About Eve” will explore the biblical account of Eve in the Garden of Eden and its afterlife in post-biblical, early Jewish and Christian sources. The class will review various texts to open up discussions about women’s roles and worth in contemporary Western civilizations and throughout history. Dr. Risa Levitt Kohn, professor of Hebrew Bible and Judaism at San Diego State University, and Rebecca Moore, Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Marquette University, will conduct the classes, available on Tuesdays in morning or evening sessions. Classes run March 25 through May 27. Cost is $120 for members and $150 for nonmembers. For more information and to register, visit sdcjc.org/eve.
88 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
SPRING FAIR Saturday, March 8 11a.m.-3p.m. 11943 El Camino Real San Diego 92130
JENNIFER GREENBURG: REVISING HISTORY Exhibition opens March 7-May 31 Artist's opening reception March 14 6 p.m. jdc Fine Art 2400 Kettner Boulevard San Diego 92101 ANNUAL PURIM CARNIVAL Sunday, March 16 11a.m-2p.m. Temple Solel 3575 Manchester Avenue Cardiff by the Sea 92007
ALL ABOUT EVE Tuesday, March 25-May 27 10-11:30a.m. or 7-8:30p.m. Lawrence Family JCC 4126 Executive Drive La Jolla 92037
SAN DIEGO JEWISH
SENIOR EVENTS MARCH 1-31
Lawrence Family JCC 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla Contact Melanie Rubin for details or to R.S.V.P. (858) 362-1141. A Masked Ball at the San Diego Opera Tuesday, March 11, bus leaves at 5:45 p.m. Purchase opera tickets at sdopera. com, then reserve a seat on the bus by calling Melanie Rubin. Cost for the bus is $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers. GOOGLE: More Than a Search Bar Tuesday, March 25, 1:30 p.m. Find out how to shop, translate and get news, mail, blogs, YouTube, street maps and more. Cost is $8 for members, $10 for nonmembers. Senior Model Seder Thursday, April 3, noon Celebrate Passover a little early with your friends and the JCC family. Rabbi Scott Meltzer leads this annual event with a light lunch served. Cost is $11 for members, $15 for nonmembers. Reservation due by March 25. Oceanside Senior Center 455 Country Club Lane, Oceanside Call Josephine at (760) 2952564 North County Jewish Seniors Club Third Thursday of each month, 12:30 p.m. Join us to hear speakers and/ or entertainment at our monthly meetings. Light refreshments served. Visitors welcome. Joslyn Senior Center 210 Park Ave./Broadway, Escondido Call (760) 436-4005 Jewish War Veterans meetings Second Sunday of each month, 11 a.m. Preceded by a bagel/lox breakfast at 10:45 a.m. San Diego North County Post 385. Congregation Beth El 8660 Gilman Dr., La Jolla Call (858) 452-1734 for details
or to R.S.V.P. Movie with Laurie Baron: Arranged Tuesday, March 11, 11:30 a.m. JFS University City Older Adult Center 9001 Towne Centre Drive, La Jolla Call Aviva Saad for details or to R.S.V.P. (858) 550-5998. This Month in History Wednesday, March 5, 10 a.m. Learn some of the major events that happened in March in the past years, exercise, have a hot kosher meal and enjoy the music of pianist Karen Giorgio. Reservation required. PURIM Celebration Thursday, March 13, 10 a.m. Put on your costume, eat hamentaschen, hear the Megillah, eat a kosher lunch and enjoy the music of Musicstation. Lunch availbale at noon with reservation. Spring Celebrations Around the World Tuesday, March 25, 10 a.m. Learn about the different Spring holidays that are celebrated around the world and enjoy the music of pianist Joan Kurland. Lunch available at noon with reservation. On the Go excursions A program of Jewish Family Service, On the Go provides transportation to events throughout the county for homebound seniors. For information on any of these excursions, please call (858) 637-7320. 39th Annual Senior Talent Show, San Diego’s Got Talent! Thursday, March 20, bus leaves at 11 a.m. Cost is $20 due by March 10 You are in for a very entertaining day with a wide variety of talent. Refreshments served at intermission. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Sunday, March 30, bus leaves at 12:15 p.m. Cost is $70 due by March 14 Watch this Tony Award-winning musical at the Welk Theater in
JFS COASTAL CLUB AT TEMPLE SOLEL: 3575 MANCHESTER AVENUE, CARDIFF BY THE SEA
Tuesday, March 1, 11 a.m. Jewish Wisdom: Aging with Meaning and Joy Join Waters of Eden in welcoming Rabbi Rachel Cohen for this thoughtful discussion. Advance reservations are $10 or $12 at the door. For additional information, contact Rabbi Lenore Bohm at director@watersofedensd.org
Escondido. JFS No. County Inland Center 15905 Pomerado Road, Poway Call (858) 674-1123 for details or to R.S.V.P. American Beauty Monday, March 3, 11 a.m. Explore 19th century art with Mary Kay Gardner. Healthier Living with Chrnoic Conditions Workshop Begins March 5, 1 p.m. This six-week workshop will explore ways to better manage your health challenges and lessen their impact on your life. This is a free class offered by San Diego Health and Human Services. Contact Judy Joffe at (858) 495-5710 for more information. JFS Coastal Club at Temple Solel 3575 Manchester Ave., Cardiff by the Sea Call Melinda Wynar at (858) 674-1123 for details. R.S.V.P. for lunch by Monday at 12:30 p.m. The Art of Face Reading Tuesday, March 4, 11 a.m. Barbara Roberts will discuss her system of identifying personality
patterns based on facial expressions which she developed at UCSD. Animal Express Tuesday, March 25, 11 a.m. Meet some interesting live creatures from San Diego’s Animal Safari’s Animal Express. JFS College Avenue Center 4855 College Ave., San Diego Call (858) 637-3270 for details or to R.S.V.P. Purism Celebration Monday, March 17, 11:30 a.m. Join us for an energizing and fun day to celebrate Purim with a short play and lunch as well as music by pianist Joan Kurland. Come dressed in costume. Pacific Crest Trail Travel Thursday, March 20, 12:45 p.m. Dana Law has been hiking sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, which spans 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada. She will share some of her stories about the trips here. Tony DeTorre Entertains Friday, March 28, 12:30 p.m. Vocalist Tony DeTorre returns with his smooth voice and larger-than-life show.
WANT MORE CALENDAR? The full version of San Diego’s most complete Jewish events calendar is now online at sdjewishjournal.com.
Send submissions to calendar@sdjewishjournal.com. Adar I•Adar II 5774 l www.SDJewishJournal.com 89
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SAN DIEGO JEWISH COMMUNITY OBITUARIES Arrangements by Am Israel Mortuary
ALL SERVICES ALREADY HELD Dora Galperin – San Diego 1/1/1930-11/4/2013 Survivors: husband, David Galperin; daughter, Alla Artamonov; son, Alexander Galperin; and four grandchildren
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Jim Silvera – San Diego 10/25/1940-11/8/2013 Survivors: wife, Rosita Silvera; daughters, Deborah Silvera and Yonnana Binder; son, David Silvera; and three grandchildren Stuart Hollander -- Temecula 5/26/1929-11/11/2013 Survivors: wife, Sharon Hollander
Kenneth Smargon – La Jolla 4/11/1927-11/12/13 Survivors: wife, Edith Smargon; son, Daniel Smargon; and two grandchildren Myra Lankford – Visa 11/24/1950-11/13/2013 Survivors: husband, Roger Lankford Alan Goldbarg – El Cajon 1/3/1953-11/14/2013 Survivors: wife, Cheryl Goldbarg; daughters, Lisa Harris and Ilana Goldbarg; brothers, Mike and Barry Goldbarg; and six grandchildren Sally Dragon – San Diego 6/12/1923-11/15/2013 Survivors: son, Barry Dragon Charles Casper – Encinitas 7/15/1933-11/15/2013 Survivors: son, Larry Casper Helen Kanfer – San Diego 5/12/1943-11/17/2013 Survivors: daughter, Susan Kanfer Amie Greenfield – Poway 7/27/1920-11/18/2013 Survivors: son, Ken Greenfield Ted Abel – Poway 8/8/1950-11/18/2013 Survivors: parents, Own and Ruth Abel; and wife, Debbie Abel Evgeniya Patlis – San Diego 11/15/1926-11/18/2013 Survivors: sons, Simon and Yakov Patlis Graciela Grezemkovsky Wilk – La Jolla 7/8/1938-11/19/2013 Survivors: daughters, Rebecca Lubezky and Monica Efter; son, Yrui Grezemkovsky; and seven grandchildren George Ziman – La Mesa 9/9/1980-11/18/2013 Survivors: friend, Natasha Ryapusov
desert life
PALM SPRINGS by Pamela Price
pamprice57@gmail.com
Music and More Mitch Gershenfeld has a lot to offer at the McCallum Theatre Mitch Gershenfeld conducts at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, Calif.
W
hen Mitch Gershenfeld arrived at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert in 2000, it marked the beginning of a new era of success on several levels. An ambitious Winter-Spring season in 2014 features diverse entertainment from Catskills on Broadway (with three Catskills comedians) to Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel. Michael Feinstein stars in “The Gershwins and Me,” March 7-8, followed by The Desert Symphony’s “Celebrate the Best of Broadway,” March 20. This reveals a mere fraction of the McCallum’s diverse entertainment. Appealing to even the fussiest theatregoer, the McCallum continues to be the Valley’s top venue for live performances.
“The Coachella Valley is a haven for cultural tourism,” Gershenfeld says of the wide range of attractions at the McCallum this season. Prior to taking over as the President and CEO of the McCallum Theatre, Gershenfeld served in the same capacity at the East County Performing Arts Center in El Cajon, Calif. Going back even further, he began his career as a musician performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony and Minnesota Orchestra, eventually moving on to Broadway companies. After investing a year in law school at the University of Wisconsin, his law professor advised him to go into music! It was a turning point for him. He took that suggestion to heart and moved on, a decision he never regretted. Music had always been a part of Gershenfeld’s life. Growing up in Philadelphia, he played the tuba and sousaphone, ultimately graduating from the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts with a Bachelor of Music degree (Cum Laude) and later a Master of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin. Combining his passion for music, his organizational skills and expertise in community outreach eventually brought him to California. These combined experiences laid a solid foundation for further achievements once he got into the swing of desert culture – without an intermission! Under his guidance, The McCallum Theatre now serves more than 40,000 people annually, including the desert’s schoolchildren. “We work with three school districts – Palm Springs Unified, Desert Sands and Coachella Valley Unified – developing our aesthetic education programs,” he says. “The McCallum Theatre accommodates an audience of 1,127 with our Founder’s Room on the second floor and a Concierge box office for Founders.” Recognized as one of the “Top 50 Theatres in the World” for ticket sales, The McCallum is truly a gem. “The sightlines are wonderful, the acoustics are great and renovations that contineously take place have resulted in comfotable seating and state-ofthe-art technology,” Mitch says. Jewish Family Service of the Desert once again puts the McCallum Theatre in the limelight with Michael Childres' production of One Night Only, April 23. This year’s theme is “Tradition: The Jewish Legacy of Broadway,” which explores the influence of Jewish composers and performers, hosted by Fran Drescher. A For more information, visit mccallumtheatre.com or call (760) 340-ARTS.
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94 www.SDJewishJournal.com l March 2014
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