Passover Issue
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch
Passover in the Modern World
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Pesach CELEBRATE
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The closeness of family and friends gathered together in thankful celebration. A special feeling. A special warmth. A time for sharing, when age-old traditions proudly grace the seder table. Wondrously alive and vital.
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SUSAN EDELSTEIN
Joy Is in the Air
It’s spring again, and with it comes the Jewish celebration of Passover. When written about, these two events share many of the same words, like joy, hope, life, celebration, renewal and resistance. Spring is the season of rebirth and new beginnings; it is a time of optimism. So, too, is Passover, the eight-day celebration of freedom. The story of the Exodus teaches us the power of hope and resilience, to celebrate liberty and life itself and to revel in this rich and miraculous history. We do this with humility through the traditions and rituals which strengthen the bonds and teach the children.
In this issue, Rabbi Eilfort explains that all leavened products are removed from our homes in preparation for Passover because chametz represents our egos and self-centeredness, and only by putting our egos aside can we achieve true closeness with G-d and our fellow human beings to celebrate the festival of our freedom.
Andrea Simantov says that as chametz represents the arrogance that can come between us and our better selves, matza, as the least pretentious food, humbles and connects us.
Galia Sprung writes about how common purpose unites people. She relates a story of necessary baby strollers withheld by airport security despite the demands of Galia’s daughter until a Muslim woman, who also needed her stroller for the long layover, joined Galia and her daughter until the strollers were released to their owners. They had fought and won as a team.
Trevor McNeil reminds us that playwright Arthur Miller fought for freedom and took a stand against ignorant government power in the 1950s and was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Today, he is remembered and revered for his body of work, which stemmed from his belief that liberty is worth the fight.
Micah Siva, in her delicious way, relates that matzo balls mean comfort, family and Passover, and that matzo ball soup may be the key to world peace.
As usual, Marnie Macauley puts the humor in Passover traditions with a look at Passover past, present and future. She finds that even as things change, we change, and the Jewish holiday customs and traditions stay the same.
Also, in this issue, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is excited about its very first Avant Garde Ball, which will bring people together with art, fashion and music to reflect what ‘contemporary’ looks like right now. Guests will be attired in their avant-garde best for a dazzling night at the museum through which MCASD hopes to build support for the arts and community among San Diegans. This is sure to be the first of many.
And there is no better evidence of the serene magic of spring than the riotously colorful Flower Fields at Carlsbad where Mother Nature puts it all in perspective.
Wishing a joyous Passover to all. A
Continue reading these stories at
Passover Requires Tons of Eggs. Amid the Avian Flu, What’s a Jew to Do?
by Rachel Ringler, JTA News
This year, Rachel Levine is glad her family is heading to a Passover program in Arizona, departing from their tradition of hosting dozens for seders at their Manhattan home.
It’s not the cooking, the cleanup, or the wear and tear on her home that Levine is most relieved to sidestep. It’s the eggs.
In a typical year, she would buy at least 12 dozen eggs just for the first two days of the holiday — a minimum
of 144 in total. This year, with avian flu decimating the egg supply, that feels like an impossible task.
Eggs are essential to Passover, as a symbolic food on the seder plate and an essential ingredient in cuisine limited by the holiday’s strict restrictions on leavened food.
“Making Pesach is always daunting, but the thought of having to do it with this egg shortage seems terrifying,” said Levine.
Children in Israel and Beyond are Dressing as Batman for Purim to Honor the Slain Bibas Brothers by
Philissa Cramer, JTA News
For a year and a half, a photograph of the Bibas family wearing Batman pajamas served as a symbol of the global vigil for their return from captivity in Gaza.
Batman was a passion for Ariel, who was 4 when he and his family were abducted from their home in southern Israeli on Oct. 7, 2023. He had dressed as the superhero for Purim that year, and his parents, Shiri and Yarden, were happy to buy matching gear for the entire family, including his new baby brother Kfir.
Jesse Eisenberg Receives Polish Citizenship After ‘A Real Pain,’ Set in Poland, Wins Oscar
by Shira Li Bartov, JTA News
An Oscar for “A Real Pain” wasn’t Jesse Eisenberg’s only win — he also received citizenship in Poland, where he filmed the movie about reckoning with one’s family’s Holocaust history. Polish president Andrzej Duda handed citizenship to Eisenberg at a ceremony in New York.
Eisenberg directed and starred in “A Real Pain,” which follows two American Jewish cousins who travel to Poland to learn more about their recently deceased grandmother, a Holocaust survivor. The story draws on his own family who fled Poland for the United States in 1938.
Illustration by Grace Yagel.
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LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE
by Andrea Simantov | andreasimantov@gmail.com
A Most Spiritual Cleanse
As I write this, my living room is still cluttered with Purim masks, clown wigs, baskets of candy and baked treats. There’s no sign that the holiday—or our emancipation, zman chiruteinu—is fast approaching. Am I feeling the freedom? Not so much. My work schedule is packed solid until the day before Passover. I haven’t cleared away the Purim mess nor started the task of ridding my home of chametz (leavened bread). To be brutally honest, I’m already exhausted. An attitude shift is certainly in order.
And then I remember.
I remember that I am part of a cherished 5,785-year-old chain that merited liberation from the iron-clad borders of Egypt. The words ‘narrow,’ ‘constricted’ and ‘impassable’ are embedded in the Hebrew name for Egypt. We could not escape except for Divine intervention. How special are we, mere remnants of liberated Hebrew slaves? Only 20% of the imprisoned nation made it through that terrible night, beginning a 40-year trek toward the Promised Land. 80% of the Hebrew slaves remained, dissolving into a maelstrom of humanity that lost all connection to those chosen (or who chose) to leave. Gone. Extinguished. We are a nation that remembers. We parse, question, study, argue and, in the end, accept that our fragile existence makes no sense except for the grace of G-d. Nebuchadnezzar exiled us. Hellenization was imposed upon us. The Romans outlawed Shabbat, circumcision
and Torah study. Add crushing taxation to the mix, along with inquisitions, forced conversions, pogroms, massacres and the Crusades. Moving swiftly through history, we buckled under the Islamic laws of dhimmi, the Ottoman conquest, and another period of slavery in Constantinople in the mid-to-late 1400s. Blood libels and expulsions followed.
Until the Hamas-driven massacre of October 7, 2023, the most recent and relatable example of Jew-loathing was the Nazi Holocaust. Such a ferocious expression of racism stood alone as a paradigm of man’s potential cruelty.
Surely, the gentile world would revisit this chapter with humility, shame and a renewed commitment to live in peace under their respective vines and fig trees with the world’s battered and maligned Jews. Right? Okay. You can stop laughing now.
Come to think of it, I’m starting to feel psyched about the Passover preparations. Chametz is so much more than merely leavened bread. It represents our inflated egos, the arrogance that cripples and distances us from the purpose of our existence. There is no food less pretentious than matzah. In fact, it’s so unassuming that it allows us to connect
with G-d without our egos taking center stage. Eating matzah on Pesach is fundamental. Figuratively, it humbles us.
Any Jew alive today is not here by accident. Whether born to a Jewish mother or opting into the tribe according to Jewish law, it is our responsibility to recognize that the word ‘chosen’ is not a term of chutzpah but one of recognition and humility. As we gather around the seder table, we have an opportunity to acknowledge that we are merely fragile shards of a holy, mysteriously selected 20% of a beleaguered nation. We can remain aghast about the improbability of our existence while, at the same time, ask G-d, “What is expected of me?”
This is why I won’t complain, won’t bemoan, and won’t dread the preparations typically associated with Pesach. Instead, I will drape myself in gratitude, servitude and loving curiosity as, again, this year, I will do what Jews do best.
I’ll remember.
Chag kasher v’sameach from Jerusalem! A
New York-born Andrea Simantov moved to Israel 29 years ago. She is a small-business owner and both a print and media journalist. Her popular podcast, “Pull Up a Chair,” is produced by Israel News Talk Radio. She can be reached at andrea@israelnewstalkradio.com.
WRITTEN IN FIRE
by Trevor James McNeil tremcneil1980@gmail.com
It’s Miller Time
Few artistic things reflect life more than the theater. There is something in the live-action aspect of the stage that makes the story more palpable and immediate than any other medium. It was something that the American playwright Arthur Miller knew and used to the best of his considerable abilities.
Born in Manhattan in 1915, fortune smiled from the beginning, particularly in terms of American Jews. Miller’s father, Isidore, was a respected Polish-American entrepreneur and businessman who ran a successful women’s clothing company. At the height of his success, the elder Miller employed 400 people from the local area.
No stranger to work, Miller started his first job while he was still a teenager, getting up long before school every morning to deliver bread for a local bakery. A good student, despite the early mornings, Miller graduated from high school in 1932, going on to the University of Michigan.
Miller’s financial situation during university was similar to his high school years, and he had to work several different jobs to pay his tuition. Starting out studying journalism, one of his many jobs was writing for The Michigan Daily and Gargoyle Humor Magazine.
Despite showing promise as a journalist, Miller also wrote his first play, “No Villain,” around this time. Winning the Avery Hopwood Award, the play was
such a success that Miller changed his major from journalism to English. He further improved his career prospects by taking a seminar with Kenneth Rowe, a well-known drama professor who insisted that a play had to be built to achieve its intended effect. Miller joined the League of American Writers in 1935 before he even graduated with his bachelor’s degree.
Graduating in 1936, Miller continued with his somewhat erratic employment, working as a psychiatric aid and a copywriter. Eventually, he was offered faculty positions at New York University and the University of New Hampshire. While teaching, he started to write in earnest, producing seven plays between 1937 and 1947, including a rewrite of “No Villain” titled “They Too Arise” (1937) and “The Man Who Had All The Luck.”
More existential than much of his later work, “The Man Who Had All The Luck” explores the question of how will and fate interact and the results that can occur.
Branching out into radio plays in 1940, he helped supplement his teacher’s salary with works like “The Pussycat and the Expert Plumber Who Was A Man” and “I Was Married In Bataan” between 1940 and 1947.
His first major success as a professional playwright came with “All My Sons,” more than 10 years after his first attempt with “No Villain.” A similar family drama to his first effort, “All My Sons” was a hit on Broadway and got Miller his first Tony Award.
Going from strength to strength, Miller followed the rousing success of “All My Sons” with his most famous work even today, “Death of A Salesman.”
Reputedly written in only six weeks, it is an example of the benefits for an author to go with their first instincts. “Death of A Salesman” brought Miller a second Tony, a New York Drama Circle Critics’ Award and a Pulitzer, a hat trick Miller was the first writer to win, not to mention the play’s massive commercial success.
Miller’s next project was an adaptation of “An Enemy of the People” by Henrik Ibsen. A dangerous choice, considering it was 1950, during the opening salvos of the Cold War.
Miller would take an even bigger risk three years later when he produced “The Crucible,” set during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. Centered around paranoia and false accusations backed up by ignorant government power, Senator Joseph McCarthy soon got wind of the work, and Miller was called up in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee. They didn’t know it at the time, but the Republican government had made an enemy of Miller. No longer with much to lose, Miller’s next play, “A View From the Bridge,” featured ideas and simulated acts that could have gotten Miller arrested in 1955 when the play premiered.
Nearly a decade later, after some time to cool off and foray into screenwriting, including the adaptation of his short story “The Misfits” in 1961, Miller wrote “After the Fall,” a return to the domestic dramas that first made his name in the 1930s and 1940s. The play’s thinly disguised self-insert protagonist, especially in terms of his five-year marriage to Marilyn Monroe, despairs a time before the world went nuclear and the criticism turned on him.
Working consistently for the next several decades, with a few gaps in the 1990s, Miller’s final play, fittingly titled “Finishing the Picture,” premiered in 2004, only four months before Miller died of congestive heart failure at the age of 89 on February 10, 2005.
Growing up in the far north, Trevor James McNeil had little to do other than read when the temperature went below 40 Celsius, and he developed an affinity for stories of all sorts. Graduating from the University of Victoria in 2009, he has been reading and writing in a professional capacity since. He lives in a cabin in the woods with his dog, and firmly believes The Smiths would have been better as a trio.
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Passover
SUNDAY, APRIL 13
10:00 am Passover Festival Morning Services
Foster Family Chapel (YouTube)
5:30 pm Congregational Second Night of Passover Seder RSVP required
David & Dorothea Garfield Social Hall
FRIDAY, APRIL 18
6:15 pm Erev Shabbat Passover Services
Glickman-Galinson Sanctuary (YouTube)
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9:00 am Torah Study with Rabbi Marty Lawson Feuerstein Family Activity Center (diverse access)
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Foster Family Chapel (YouTube)
Don’t Miss the Annual BESA Expo — A Party in Itself!
Do you have a bar or bat mitzvah coming up soon? Then please mark your calendars for the annual BESA (Bar/Bat Mitzvah Event Services Association) Expo coming to the beautiful Hyatt La Jolla at Aventine on Sunday, April 27 from noon to 4 p.m.
The BESA Expo is filled with professionals specializing in bringing the fun and function to your party. You will be wowed as you explore over 60 exhibitors spread throughout the foyer and grand ballroom at the Hyatt. Picture a buzzing atmosphere brimming with families and kids, all eagerly discovering the perfect touches for their big day. We’ll have dazzling invitations that set the tone, stunning décor ideas, top-notch photography and videography services for capturing those precious moments, and amazing event planners to help you create the perfect day and stay organized. There will be DJs,
entertainers, backdrops, interactive games, photo booths and green screen magic. We will be offering mouthwatering food samples, delectable dessert options, a sushi station and a specialty coffee cart. If you’re on the hunt for a one-of-a-kind venue, you can explore over 15 San Diego hotspots all under one roof and chat with vendors to find the perfect venue and menu for your Simcha. You will see all the latest trends.
Get ready to soak up a wealth of information while having an absolute blast. Bring the whole family to this once-a-year event you won’t want to miss.
Take the first step and register for a ticket at www.BESASD.com. Click on EXPO to grab your tickets, and while you’re there, take a peek at our member directory to see all the fabulous exhibitors you’ll see at the BESA Expo on April 27. Remember, the party starts here!
BESA Expo 2025: April 27 | 12-4pm at Hyatt La Jolla at Avenine. BESASD.com.
Avant Garde for the Ages
by Makayla Hoppe
What began as the Art Center in La Jolla in 1941 eventually became the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. Overlooking the La Jolla coast, MCASD has undergone many metamorphoses over the last 84 years, constantly evolving and changing what contemporary means. This May, the museum will hold the inaugural Avant Garde Ball, a dazzling event filled with fashion, food, music and more.
Avant-garde is the pinnacle of contemporary art, but it also refers to MCASD’s premiere membership group. The membership offers “unparalleled, behind-the-scenes access to contemporary art, connecting you with artists, curators, collectors, and likeminded peers.”
“The Avant Garde Ball is designed to reflect the spirit of the Avant Garde group — celebrating contemporary art, music, and fashion in a playful, creative atmosphere,” said Director of Special Events Lesley Emery. “The event itself embraces the concept of being avantgarde in its programming and aesthetic, but it’s also a direct extension of the membership’s dynamic energy.”
This year will be the very first Avant Garde Ball, with the hopes that the event will become an annual tradition. “We envision it becoming a signature event for the museum,” Lesley said, “creating a space where art, fashion, and music intersect each year in a way that reflects the evolving cultural landscape.”
The museum encourages event guests to “let the works of contemporary art
Art, music and fashion intersect at the museum’s first ever Avant Garde Ball.
inspire their avant-garde attire — fashion as bold, captivating, and expressive as the pieces on display.”
The evening will include a fully hosted bar featuring crafted cocktails, beer, wine and a selection of non-alcoholic options. According to Lesley, small bites and elevated snacks will be served throughout the night. “Expect a playful twist on classic party favorites from some amazing brands!” she said.
In addition to carefully curated food and drinks, the event will feature music all evening long. It will open with an atmospheric set from musician Ben Parks and eventually lead into high-energy headliners like We the Commas. “The goal is to create a dynamic, immersive soundtrack that reflects the creative, expressive spirit of the event,” Lesley said. “Plus, artist activations will be happening throughout the party, giving guests the chance to experience these creative moments in real time.”
The museum is hosting the ball to help with fundraising. “Proceeds from the event will support MCASD’s exhibitions, educational programs, and efforts to engage the next generation of art lovers,”
said Lesley. “A portion of the funds will also help expand access to contemporary art through community partnerships and public programming.”
Although event organizers hope to use the ball to fund the museum’s future, Avant Garde members see it as so much more. By celebrating contemporary art and fashion, members are given an opportunity to enjoy it in many different forms.
“I’m especially interested in building community through the arts in ways that foster connections between people who might not otherwise meet,” said Avant Garde member Alex High. “In a city like San Diego, which can sometimes feel isolating, events like this help bring people together and potentially reshape the city’s future through these relationships — you never know what meeting someone new
might spark — while supporting a great organization that serves as San Diego’s cultural center.”
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego Trustee and Avant Garde Ball Chair Anna Haudenschild Meier states: “Contemporary art brings insight into ourselves, culture and community, enriching our lives. The Avant Garde Ball is a sensational way to creatively engage people in the transformative world of art that MCASD invites us into.”
The event is open to anyone interested in attending, not just Avant Garde members. If you are looking to expand your horizons and take in some fun, fashion and food while doing so, the Avant Garde Ball will be an evening to remember. A
Visit mcasd.org/events/the-avant-garde-ball for ticket and event information.
The Flower Fields Are Abloom!
In Southern California, there is no visual more spectacular and representative of the arrival of springtime than The Flower Fields at Carlsbad. If you haven’t been in a while, the visuals here will make you want to see these vivid fields in person. The Flower Fields consists of 55 acres of ranunculus in a breathtaking array of colors that bloom each year from March through early May, showcasing nature’s artistry.
The fields today are the result of nearly 100 years of floral cultivation that began with Luther Gage, a horticulturist who settled in the area in the early 1920s. Mr. Gage brought ranunculus seeds to the area and began growing them in
his fields next to Frank Frazee’s small vegetable farm in south Oceanside. In 1933, Frank Frazee also started growing ranunculus and introduced his son Edwin to the art of seeding, cultivating and irrigating the pretty flower.
The ranunculus is native to Asia Minor and is a member of the buttercup family. Originally, the flowers were a single petal and ranged in shades of red and yellow. The beautiful colors and the fullness of the flowers you see now are due to the careful selection done by Edwin Frazee over many years.
In 1965, Edwin moved his ranunculus growing operation to the current site, land owned by the Ecke Family of Encinitas. Paul Ecke Jr. and Edwin, both
flower farmers, formed a strong bond, and in 1993, they brought in Mellano and Company, another long-time flower-growing family that originated in Los Angeles in 1925, to take over the growing of the beautiful ranunculus. Together, they looked at tourism as an important way to keep the fields financially viable. Thus, the stage was set for the enduring preservation of this enchanting cultural emblem of Carlsbad, The Flower Fields.
Each spring, The Flower Fields opens its gates to all to wander amongst the colorful acres of giant tecolote ranunculus, a flower renowned for its large, double-petaled blooms that sit atop tall, straight stems. The Fields’
Butterfly Encounter holds hundreds of vibrant butterflies fluttering gracefully and landing gently on guests. Nectar sticks attract the butterflies, creating a magical and serene experience that offers a unique connection with nature’s beauty.
And this year, for the first time, The Flower Fields is hosting a traveling exhibit for artist Alex Heveri’s “Glass in Flight,” an outdoor installation that features dozens of glittering glass and steel sculptures of butterflies, dragonflies, bees, birds and insects scattered around the fields like giant jewels.
“The kaleidoscope of color that the Flower Fields bring each year is a stunning contrast for the individual sculptures that make up my ‘Glass in Flight’ exhibit,” says Artist Alex Heveri. “I’m thrilled to bring my largest exhibit to date to Carlsbad.”
Heveri employs the use of light and color in her work and fittingly draws inspiration from nature, in particular, the fluid and ethereal movement of butterflies, fireflies, birds and beetles in flight. Sunlight dances through colorful wings, bringing each piece to life with a dazzling display of movement and light. Heveri’s love of nature is apparent in every sculpture, as is her command of two notoriously dangerous and unforgiving mediums: steel and glass.
“This is going to be the most colorful season at The Flower Fields to date,” says Fred Clarke, General Manager of The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. “We can’t wait to see the faces of our guests as they take in the sight of Alex Heveri’s lifelike, giant sculptures set against the natural beauty of The Flower Fields.” A
WHAT IGNITES YOUR CREATIVE SPARK?
New Children’s Books for Passover
The springtime holiday inspires stories of family gatherings, from Mt. Everest to an Israeli roadside.
by Penny Schwartz, JTA
n endless Passover seder takes center stage in “One Little Goat: A Passover Catastrophe,” by writer Dara Horn and illustrator Theo Ellsworth, award-winners who teamed up for a humorfilled, time-travel graphic novel for young people.
The tale of an epic seder — it drags on for six months — joins a new crop of children’s books with Passover themes, from a based-on-a-true-story retelling of a Pesach celebration on Mt. Everest to a look inside President Barack Obama’s White House seder, a first in American history.
This year, the eight-day holiday, also known as the Festival of Freedom, begins at sundown on Saturday, April 12.
My Matzah
By Ann Diament Koffsky
Apples & Honey Press
Baby to 2
Young kids will be delighted to share a young koala’s excitement as the toddler searches its house for the afikomen — the piece of matzah that Papa Koala hid as part of the seder. The eager joey searches everywhere — and even turns upsidedown — but needs a little help from Papa to find the missing matzah. The colorful board book brims with Ann Diament Koffsky’s buoyant illustrations.
By Marissa Moss Creston Books
Ages 5-10
After being sent to her room for misbehaving, a 7-year-old girl is not in the mood to celebrate Passover. But when her favorite uncle walks in the door, he spirits away her sadness as he recounts his childhood immigrant story to America when he spent a very unusual week at Ellis Island. His inspiring story deepens the girl’s appreciation of Passover and she happily joins her family for their seder.
Ellis Island Passover
Next Year in the White House: Barack Obama’s First Presidential Seder
By Richard Michelson
Illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Crown Books
Ages 4-8
In the spring of 2009, President Barack Obama became the first sitting president to attend a Passover seder at the White House, bringing together the American-Jewish community and the country’s first Black president. In addition to First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters, Malia and Sasha, other guests included a trio of Jewish White House staffers who threw together an impromptu seder the year before while campaigning with Obama. The award-winning team of Michelson — who’s Jewish — and Lewis, an African American, bring to life this fascinating story of how that seder inspired a president.
One Little Goat: A Passover Catastrophe
By Dara Horn
Illustrated by Theo Ellsworth Norton Books for Young Readers
Ages 8 and up
In this wildly imagined, time-travel graphic novel, a family’s seder drags on for six long months, a plight recalled by the teenage son, the story’s protagonist. The weary family is stuck in time because the teen’s toddler sister tossed aside the afikomen — the hidden piece of matzah that must be eaten before the seder can end. The action takes off when a talking goat appears at the door — a nod to “Chad Gadya,” the traditional song sung at the end of the seder. The wise-cracking goat escorts the teen on a journey to search for the afikomen, traveling back through layers of seders past, to the original biblical Exodus night. The teen returns to his family’s seder — afikomen in hand — with renewed appreciation for the endurance of the Jewish people.
Passover on Everest
By Rachelle Burk Illustrated by Craig Orback Intergalactic Afikomen
Ages 5-10
When Nikki Bart was a young girl on a family vacation in Israel, she and her mother hiked to the top of Masada, the ancient hilltop fortress overlooking the Dead Sea. A few years later, the mother-daughter team set out on a more challenging climb, to reach the summit of Mount Everest. It is just before the start of Passover and along the way, Nikki tells their Tibetan Buddhist guides that she would miss being with her family for the holiday. In this beautifully illustrated story, inspired by the Barts’ actual hike, readers enjoy Nikki’s journey and the surprise seder that the Sherpas prepare for her and her multicultural climbing companions. A
Penny Schwartz is a contributing writer for JTA and SDJJ.
CHABAD
Chabad Jewish Center of Rancho Santa Fe
14906 Via De La Valle
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 (858) 756-7571
jewishrsf.com
Call (858) 756-7571 for date and time
Cost: Adults $75 ($90 after April 4), Children 3-12 $50 ($65 after April 4)
RSVP required
Chabad of Downtown 275 Island Ave. San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 289-8770
chabaddowntown.com
April 12 and 13, 8:00 p.m. RSVP at chabaddowntown.com/pesach2025
compiled by Makayla Hoppe
Chabad of East County 7290 Navajo Rd. #207 San Diego, CA 92119 (619) 387-8770 jewishec.com
April 12, 6:30 pm
Cost: Adults $54, children $23 No affiliation or membership required To RSVP: jewishec.com/seder
Chabad of Poway 16934 Chabad Way Poway, CA 92064 (858) 451-0455 chabadpoway.com
April 12, 7:00 p.m.
Adults $59, children $45 RSVP at chabadpoway.com/seder
CONSERVATIVE
Ohr Shalom Synagogue 2512 Third Ave. San Diego, CA 92103 ohrshalom.org (619) 231-1456
April 13, 5:30 p.m.
Cost:
Ohr Shalom members $65, children 13 and under $40, Community members $85, children 13 and under $45
Call or email office@ohrshalom.com to RSVP
Temple Isaiah at the Hilton Palm Springs 400 E Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 (760) 325-2281
templeisaiahps.com
April 12, 5:30 p.m.
Cost: Adults $95, Children under 10 $45 RSVP required by April 4
Congregation Beth Am 5050 Del Mar Heights Rd. San Diego, CA 92130 (858) 481-8454 betham.com
April 12: 1st night Seder; candle lighting at 7:59 p.m. April 13: 2nd night Seder; candle lighting at 8:00 p.m.
HUMANISTIC
Kahal Am: The Humanistic Jewish Community of San Diego Escala Clubhouse: 2840 Clubhouse Ln. San Diego, CA 92108 (858) 549-3088 kahalam.org
April 12, 1:00 p.m.
Cost: Members $25, nonmembers $35, 16 and younger are free RSVP at kahalam.org/seder
REFORM
Congregation Beth Israel 9001 Towne Center Dr. San Diego, CA 92122 (858) 535-1111 cbisd.org
April 13, 5:30 p.m.
Cost: Members and guests $60, nonmembers $65, children 6-12 $25, children 5 and under $10 RSVP required
OTHER
Jewish Together Temecula Valley 36522 Via Verde Temecula, CA 92592 (805) 796-6307
April 14, 5:30 p.m.
Cost: Adults $49-$99, Children 6-12 $20, Children 5 and under are free Email info@jewishtogethertemeculavalley.org for RSVP information
Passover HAPPY
The Time of Our Freedom: Passover in the Modern World
by Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort
Pesach/Passover is almost here.
Jews the world over are deeply engaged in their preparation for this unique and consequential holiday. Our sleeves are rolled up, and our mops are in motion as we expunge every last crumb of leavened products, called chametz in Hebrew, from our homes, businesses, and even cars.
Why are we so obsessed with the removal of innocent crumbs? Well, when we learn what chametz represents, we quickly realize that it is not so innocent. In fact, as we take a deeper dive into understanding this interesting Jewish law, we will find that it is the very key to achieving true freedom.
Allow me to explain.
Our Rabbis tell us that chametz represents our egos, which cause a person to be arrogant and angry, judgmental and stand-offish. Our ego stands in the way of achieving true closeness with our Creator and with our fellow human beings. An egotistical person is utterly self-centered. He is a
The arduous process of removing the chametz physically from our possession, is meant to spur us on to removing the self‑consuming ego from our characters.
narcissist, for he feels himself to be the be-all and end-all of the created universe.
The arduous process of removing the chametz physically from our possession is meant to spur us on to remove the selfconsuming ego from our characters.
Think about it: when one is completely egotistical, he views everyone as being inferior to him and that, ultimately, he is owed everything. Well, what happens when he doesn’t get everything or when everyone doesn’t
bow to him giving him his due? He becomes angrier and less happy. He cannot possibly be satisfied with his life. In short, he has become a miserable wretch, all due to his outsized ego.
The Torah, the depository of divine wisdom, commands us (as opposed to suggesting to us) to make sure we don’t own even a crumb of chametz during Pesach. But if we have removed the leavened foods, most prominently bread, what then will serve as the staple of our dietary existence? Enters the matzah, the flatbread, known as poor man’s bread and as the bread of faith.
Once a year, for a bit longer than a week, we radically adjust our diets, which helps us internalize this message. We scour our homes, but also ourselves, and rid ourselves of every vestige of chametz.
Then, and only then, are we ready to celebrate the festival of our freedom. We have been freed of our inner Pharoah, that jaundiced ego that had us convinced of our own infallibility, of our superiority,
of our entitlement. Since it has been muted, there is room for our inner G-dly voice to be heard. It is this G-dly voice that tells us to be grateful for everything we have, to treasure our fellow human beings and to celebrate our loving G-d who embraces us, enlightens us and leads us to the Promised Land.
“Wait one minute!” you may demand. If chametz is so terrible, then why are we able to resume eating it after Passover? Isn’t chametz Treif (non-kosher)? If chametz represents the ego, and we know that it is kosher to eat it, other than on Passover itself, we must drill down into the Jewish view of the ego.
Ironically, the ego is not considered completely evil all the time. In fact, we strongly believe that the ego has an essential purpose in our universe. It is the ego that helps us behave in an appropriate way, even when we don’t feel ourselves to be in the presence of the Almighty. One is walking along and
sees someone drop a wallet filled with money. He may be tempted to keep the ‘found money.’ But his ego will pipe up and say, “It is beneath your dignity to keep something that belongs to someone else.” Perhaps one is with friends, and they begin badmouthing a colleague; his ego is quick to respond and to say to him, “You are not an innuendo-peddling do-nothing who sits in the corner of the market selling junk!” “Lashon Harah — evil gossip — is beneath you!”
We are not meant to view ourselves as worthless beings who are only worthy of being stomped upon. No indeed. We are meant to view ourselves as children of the King of Kings, and as such, we must behave appropriately.
We see that a healthy, balanced ego is actually an essential part of a healthy psyche. It is the holiday of Passover that reminds us to reign in those egos. Cleanse them. Refine them. Then, we are ready to redeploy them in a positive way.
Now, we are truly free. Now, we are truly happy. We are ready, willing and able to share the story of our national redemption with our friends, family, and, most especially, our precious children. They will see our faces shine as we join ourselves with our ancestors and community in the holy rituals of this singular holiday. They will remember, and they will emulate this when they have houses and families of their own.
Wishing everyone a kosher, sweet and joyous holiday! A
Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort co-directs, with his wife Rebbetzin Nechama Eilfort, Coastal Chabads, Chabad at La Costa, Encinitas, and Carlsbad North. The Eilforts founded Coastal Chabads in 1989, and pride themselves on the welcoming and inclusive environment they have built where everyone, regardless of level of knowledge or observance, feels cherished and loved. Rabbi Eilfort welcomes and encourages readers’ comments and questions sent to his personal email: rabbie@chabadatlacosta.com.
Broadway Divas Headline North Coast Rep’s
Sparkling Spotlight Gala on May 17th
Get ready for an unforgettable evening at the Spotlight Gala: All That Glitters — a dazzling celebration of North Coast Repertory Theatre’s 43rd Anniversary Season! On Saturday, May 17, 2025, join us for a night full of sparkle, Broadway glamour, and community spirit, all in support of North Coast Rep, North County San Diego’s premier performing arts organization.
The festivities begin at 5:00 p.m. at the luxurious Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, where you’ll enjoy live jazz music, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while browsing our exciting silent auction offerings. Then, it’s time for the main event as we move into the grand ballroom for a fabulous seated 3-course dinner, live auction, paddle raise, and an exclusive performance by Broadway veterans Ashley Blanchet (“Frozen,” “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”), Sara Jean Ford (“The Phantom of the Opera,” “Wicked”) and Angela Ingersoll (“Get Happy,” “End of the Rainbow”). These three Broadway divas are sure to bring the house down with their unforgettable voices and electrifying energy!
With all proceeds benefiting North Coast Rep’s artists and educational programming, the night promises to be as exciting as it is uplifting. Dress to impress in sparkling cocktail attire and come ready to support the arts in our community while enjoying a night of amazing entertainment, delicious food, and unforgettable memories. For more information and to buy tickets or become a sponsor, please visit www.auctria.events/allthatglitters.
North Coast Rep’s Spotlight Gala: All That Glitters May 17, 5-9 p.m. | Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Carlsbad
Contact Kristen Van Hoesen: 858-481-2155, ext. 225 kristen@northcoastrep.org | northcoastrep.org
The Things I Should Have Said
by Galia Sprung Miller
The saying “the more things change, the more they stay the same” came to mind while waiting for a flight to Tel Aviv recently. Seeing a woman with a young child, I realized that despite advances in airline security, my unease remains. This unease reminded me of a trip fifteen years ago and a missed opportunity.
I was traveling with my daughter, Karen, and her three children to the United States for a family visit. While I have always felt more secure when flying El Al, this time, the price difference led us to choose Alitalia. When leaving Israel, all airlines are subject to the scrutiny of Ben Gurion Airport security. I am calm.
Flying home on a foreign airline is another story. The Alitalia terminal was second to last at this international
airport. The last one is El Al. Always at the end, just in case.
We saw six tough- looking security officers standing outside the El Al doors, no doubt gathering for an expected El Al flight. Oh, how we wanted to be on that secure flight.
While we impatiently waited for the men in front of us to be checked in, a Muslim woman with a little boy got in line behind us. My daughter and I gave each other a look that said: “Do you see that? And there was no security when we came in.”
I interact with Arabs daily in Israel, from work colleagues to salesgirls in the malls. This, however, was an airplane, and I was concerned. Maybe this mother was unwittingly carrying a bomb. It’s happened before. I wasn’t happy with the thoughts, but there they were.
Like many modern Arabs, this woman was wearing pants, but her hair was completely covered with a hijab, the traditional head scarf, which was wrapped around under her chin and tied at the back of her neck. Her son was sitting in a stroller, and she had two small carry-ons. Well, she is traveling with a child, so that should be okay—if she packed her own bags. But this was not El Al. This time, there was no one to ask any of us the questions security agents rely on to gauge reactions: “Did you pack your bags by yourself? Were they always in your possession? Did anyone give you anything to take...” Illogical thoughts? Maybe. I wasn’t happy with them, but there they were, uninvited.
My thoughts turned to our check-in problems. Our main concern was the
continues on next page
Things I Should Have Said
baby’s stroller. The Alitalia supervisor assured us it would be waiting for us when we got off the plane in Rome. We had been promised the same thing on the flight from Israel to Rome, but we only received it when we landed in Chicago. That layover in Rome had been short, and we managed. Going home, however, the Rome layover was four hours. The stroller was a necessity.
Thoughts of terror attacks gave way to finding ways to entertain three kids. The flight to Rome was long, boring and uncomfortable, but we made it.
We stopped at the circular area where the jetway meets the plane’s door. The Alitalia customer relations lady was standing there.
“We need to get our stroller, please,” Karen said.
“You will get it at your final destination,” the woman replied, her tone dismissive.
“No, we need it now. We were told by Alitalia that it would be waiting here in Rome,” Karen insisted.
The representative shook her head. “Oh no. I can’t do that. If it has a tag on it, I can’t bring it to you due to security reasons.”
Before we could argue further, the Muslim woman with her son joined us. She turned to Karen.
“Are you waiting for your stroller too? You’re going to Israel, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” Karen responded, nodding, “but she won’t give it to us.”
“I can’t. The Policia will come,” the lady said, hoping to scare us.
“I need my stroller!” The woman’s voice was strong and determined. “I can’t wait four hours without it. I can’t carry these bags, and my son is too tired to walk.”
That’s when Muslim and Jew joined forces to fight Alitalia. The “I” became “We.”
That’s when a Muslim and Jew joined forces... the “I” became “We.”
“We need our strollers! We’re not leaving without them,” Karen and the woman said in unison.
The representative hesitated, glancing at the baggage claim ticket the Muslim woman held.
“Maybe I can get hers, but not the other one.”
“That’s not good enough,” Karen said, her voice rising. “We need both!”
It could be the beginning of a joke: “A Muslim and a Jew were...” But we weren’t laughing. And we were not moving.
The plane was empty, the cleaning crew was moving in, and we just stood there with exhausted children.
The representative sighed deeply and muttered something into her radio. I glanced out the window at the luggage trolley below. “Look! The strollers are right there. Can’t you just bring them up to us?” I pleaded.
The representative hesitated again, then finally relented. She disappeared through the jetway door, and I held my breath. Moments later, a worker emerged, carrying both strollers up the stairs. Victory! The Muslims and Jews had defeated the Italians!
Children in strollers, we walked together, chatting and looking for signs to transit. She was on her way to visit her family in Israel. “Where does your
family live?” I wanted to ask her. But I didn’t. I didn’t want our conversation to possibly turn political. I didn’t want to jeopardize our newfound sense of camaraderie.
It was a very long walk to the end of the terminal where they had bunched together all the flights to exotic destinations: Tunis, Morocco, Turkey, Algeria... We separated as there were no seats together. As boarding time approached, we all gathered up kids, carry-on bags and strollers and stood at the door leading outside to the buses (no jetway this time), waiting for our preboarding announcement. We continued from our earlier small talk.
“Where did you live in the States?” the Muslim lady asked me.
“California.”
“Oh, I want to go there so badly. My husband’s been twice.”
“I hope you get there someday. It is beautiful.”
Then, without warning or a prompt from me, she added: “My family lives in what some people call Palestine, but it’s really not.”
What is she saying? What does she mean by that? WE don’t call it “Palestine,” but for her to say it’s not?
“What city do they live in?” I asked instead of asking her what she meant by her statement.
“Jerusalem,” she said, not specifying East or West.
“Which part? I know Jerusalem well,” I should have asked. But I didn’t. Here
she was opening up a dialog, and I froze. What a lost opportunity. I don’t know why I didn’t use the moment to share, to find out more about each other. Her four-year-old son had a very American name—Roger. He liked us and kept coming over to smile at us while we were waiting to board.
I was left with unanswered questions. Did she feel she was Jordanian? A Palestinian?
No, she said she didn’t live in Palestine. Maybe she was an Israeli Arab from the time of Israel’s independence in 1948. She said she had left 10 years ago — around 2000, during the Second Intifada. Did she leave out of safety concerns? Had she met and married an American Muslim? Was she fed up with the political situation?
Now, I inspected her more carefully, wondering if she always wore the hijab head covering or if this was for her return to her family and Jerusalem. She did seem comfortable wearing it, though, never touching or adjusting it.
As promised, strollers were waiting for us not far from the end of the jetway when we landed in Israel. Karen carried the baby, and we put the sleepwalking three-year-old in the stroller. I couldn’t wait to see how the kids and their father would reunite. Such an exciting moment.
We hired a porter for our eight pieces of luggage and headed toward the green “Nothing to Declare” lane. Almost there! Tal will be waiting. The doors opened, and I turned around to see where sixyear-old Ofri was so I could see her joy when spotting her father. Instead, I saw little Roger about to fall off the piled-up luggage he was sitting on as his mother was trying to push the overloaded cart. I sprinted and grabbed his arm, pulling
him to me before he fell. Then, I helped his mother balance the luggage.
“Are you okay? Do you need help?” I asked her.
“No, it’s fine. Thanks.”
I left them and pushed my way into the arrivals hall, only to see that Ofri was already in her father’s arms. I had missed that moment of father and daughter. I also missed saying goodbye to Roger and his mother. They had disappeared in the crowd. I had wanted to say, “Enjoy your visit.” I had wanted to say, “Good luck with the stroller when you go back to Chicago!” But most of all, I had wanted to say, “What a great team we made!” A
Galia Miller Sprung moved to Israel from Palm Springs, California in 1970 to become a pioneer farmer and was a founding member of a moshav in the Jordan Rift Valley. Today she is a retired high school teacher, a writer and editor. She lives with her husband in Tzufim.
Local Arts
BY EILEEN SONDAK
NEW VILLAGE ARTS
newvillagearts.org
New Village Arts is taking on a Latin beat with the San Diego premiere of “La Havana Madrid,” a musical inspired by real stories of Cuban and Hispanic immigrants. The show will continue through April 27
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SAN DIEGO
mcasd.org
The Museum of Contemporary Art is featuring “An Artful Life: A Tribute to Matthew C. Strauss” through Aug. 3 The exhibition offers a glimpse at the expansive holdings that comprise the Strauss Family’s Contemporary Art Collection.
The museum also added “Celestial and Terrestial Worlds” and “Land and Sea” to its current offerings. These selections from the collections feature the use of landscapes to examine local and global concerns.
Opening on April 17 is “Yan Pei-Ming: A Burial in Shanghai,” slated to stay on through Jan. 4.
THE OLD GLOBE THEATRE
theoldglobe.org
The Old Globe’s Shiley Stage is showing off its world premiere musical, “Regency Girls.” This new musical is about the plight of a young girl facing ruin in 19th century England. Her solution — to take a road trip with her best friends — turns out to be the perfect transformation for each of them. This journey of discovery is hilarious and deeply moving, with raucous choreography and lively music to propel the plot. The girls will be on the move from April 2 through May 4
LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY
theconrad.org
La Jolla Music Society continues its eclectic season on April 3 with Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, followed on April 5 by Sona Jobarteh. Violin virtuoso Gil Shaham and pianist Orli Shaham will perform on April 6, and on April 11, the Paramount Quartet delivers its exciting jazz sound to local audiences. Pianist Lucas Debargue is slated for April 17, and Jess Cramp: The Untold Story of Sharks will lecture on April 24 American Patchwork Quartet will perform two concerts on April 25, and there’s a free Community Arts Open House scheduled to round out the month on April 26
LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY: Shark researcher and National Geographic explorer Dr. Jess Cramp.
CYGNET THEATRE
cygnettheatre.org
Cygnet Theatre is about to unveil the San Diego premiere of “The Hot Wing King” at its Old Town location. The plot revolves around a cooking competition that becomes a battleground for identity and belonging. This scorchingly funny dramatic work offers insights into the challenges and rewards of being true to yourself and your loved ones. It will hold court April 9 through May 2
NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE
northcoastrep.org
North Coast Repertory Theatre is taking on “Peril in the Alps,” based in part on an Agatha Christie mystery. This world premiere is a comic mystery spotlighting the iconic Hercule Poirot in a sequel to the popular “Murder on the Links,” produced at NCRT. This time, it would seem the wily detective has met his match as he attempts to unravel a mystery with eccentric characters and diabolical suspects against a backdrop of the snow-capped mountains. If you’d like to go along for the thrilling ride, the show runs April 16 through May 11
SAN DIEGO OPERA
sdopera.org
The San Diego Opera is ready to unveil the final production of the season –and what a strong finish it promises to be. Verdi’s masterpiece, “La Traviata,” is headed to the Civic Theatre April 25‑27. The beloved opera is renowned for its magnificent emotionpacked music and passionate story of heartbreak and love. Opera buffs will not want to miss this timeless work.
LAMB’S PLAYERS
THEATRE
lambsplayers.org
The Lamb’s Players’ production of the multi-award-winning musical “Once” was a sensation in 2018, when the troupe gave the Irish musical its regional premiere. Now, it’s back in Coronado – with most of the original cast intact – and the show is such a big hit they extended it to April 26 That should give you an opportunity to catch the magic, if you haven’t yet seen this lively musical.
SAN DIEGO JUNIOR THEATRE
juniortheatre.com
San Diego Junior Theatre is presenting “James and the Giant Peach,” a musical adaptation of the popular children’s tale by Roald Dahl. The story is about a whimsical and adventurous journey of a young boy. The delightful show will entertain audiences of all ages from April 25 through May 11
LEFT NORTH COAST REP: Omri Shein as Hercule Poirot. Photo by Aaron Rumley.
If chicken soup is Jewish penicillin, then matzo ball soup is the key to world peace. Matzo balls are synonymous with comfort, family, and of course, Passover. My favorite thing to eat during Passover was a matzo ball...no soup, no garnish, simply a matzo ball. Whenever I go to a Jewish deli, no matter what I order, I order a matzo ball as a side. This golden soup is my modern take on my grandmother’s famed chicken soup. Seasoned with ginger, turmeric and a pinch of red chili flakes, it is a warming soup that is full of nutritious ingredients and is a soup for the soul!
Freezing instructions
Freeze the soup in airtight containers for up to six months. Matzo balls can be frozen! Let them come to room temperature. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper, place the matzo balls on the pan, and freeze for 2 to 3 hours, or until firm. Transfer the matzo balls to a freezer bag and freeze. Matzo balls can be reheated directly in your soup.
FOOD
One Hour Turmeric Vegetable Matzo Ball Soup
by Micah Siva
Soup
Serves 6
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium white onion, cut into ½-inch pieces
• 5 medium carrots, cut into ¼-inch slices
• 3 stalks celery, cut into ½-inch pieces
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp. freshly grated ginger
• 1 tsp. ground turmeric
• ½ tsp. ground cumin
• ½ tsp. sweet paprika
• ½ tsp. sea salt, plus more as needed
• ¼ tsp. black pepper, plus more as needed
• ¼ tsp. red chili flakes
• 9 to 10 cups vegetable broth, low-sodium if preferred
• Juice of 1 lemon
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
PREPARATION:
1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it begins to soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the carrots, celery, and garlic and cook until they begin to soften, 4 to 5 minutes.
2. Add the ginger, turmeric, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and chili flakes and stir until combined.
3. Pour in 9 cups of the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Decrease the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 25 minutes.
4. Remove from the heat. Taste the soup; if it is too salty or spicy, add the remaining 1 cup of vegetable broth, as needed. Add the lemon juice and mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Serve with chopped cilantro and matzo balls.
Variation: If making this soup outside of Passover, add a (12-oz) can of light beer or cider in place of some of the broth for a richer flavor.
Floater Herbed Matzo Balls
Makes 15-18 Matzo Balls
• 1 cup matzo meal
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• ½ tsp. onion powder
• 4 large eggs, whisked
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup soda water or seltzer
• 1 tbsp. chopped fresh chives
• 1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh dill
• 2 tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
• ½ tsp lemon zest
• 10 to 12 cups water or vegetable broth, for cooking
PREPARATION:
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the matzo meal, baking powder, salt, garlic powder and onion powder. Add the whisked eggs, olive oil, soda water, chives, dill, parsley and lemon zest and mix until just combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
2. When ready to cook, roll 1 heaping tablespoon of the mixture into a ball, approximately the size of a golf ball, and place on a plate. Repeat with the rest of the mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes while you prepare the cooking water.
3. Bring a large pot of water or vegetable broth to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, decrease the heat to medium-low and add the matzo balls. Cover with a lid and simmer until they are fluffy and fully cooked, 30 to 40 minutes. Do not lift the lid to peek before 30 minutes.
4. Serve in your favorite soup.
Variation: Add your favorite herbs to the matzo ball recipes. I use a mixture of parsley, dill and chives, but get creative and use tarragon, cilantro, or even basil.
ASK MARNIE
by Marnie Macauley marniemacauley@gmail.com
Pesach: Past, Present, Future?
Caution: May Not Be For Orthodox and Sensitive Jews
My lovely San Diegans, Biblically, Jewish holiday prayers, customs and traditions stay the same, but as we reach a certain age, they may accumulate a little more “character.” We change. To us, getting on, they seem to hold new significance (“this could be my last”— we mention in a Yiddish stage whisper) as we admire our progeny and theirs (the ones that actually turn up). Today, I thought we’d have a little ironic fun and, like Christmas, look at Pesach past, present and future.
PESACH PAST
The entire mishpochah was in attendance who lived within 50 miles. A few even flew in from Boca, with Uncle Myron, as usual, wondering aloud, punctuating the words during the dipping of the wine. “What, the weather is so much better here than Boca? We needed to shlep?” But every Pesach, Tante Tillie takes pride in her role as Pesach matriarch which we all better attend or “you-know-what.” We first exchange happy family news, then, Great Tante Ruchel rolls her eyes as she’s sitting next to nephew Avram. All mention is avoided of secular Avram’s ribboned earlocks. (Hey, it was the fifties.) Cousin Myra delights in telling us she cut handiwipes into glasses to keep her eyeballs warm, thereby
preventing arthritis. Young Marvin, 10, cracks up under his chair to the sounds of “shhh.” My mother solemnly suggests she doesn’t tell anybody else lest they steal her idea. At this, Marvin falls apart. The rest bite their tongue and the conversation continues. Health, good and could-not-be-good, are upfront. Ah, but all applaud after Duvid asks the four questions with gusto and passion. Uncle Giddy, who suffers from pathological cheapery, negotiates the children down from 50 cents for the afikomen to 25. Many mazel tovs and congrats are exchanged as they leave while Uncle Joe takes the leftovers — everyone’s, and the wine.
They’re all gone now — except for me and my son. Yeah, I get it. You get it. But I also remember the intimacy, the noise, and even the majesty of these rip-roaring...life-thumping...chaotic... convoluted...intimate...Jews who made up pieces of a 5,000-year-old crazy quilt and belonged to something called “my family.” Now, I can only tell anecdotes about them.
PESACH PRESENT
We view with pride our progeny and theirs (the ones that show up in person) as we tell the ancient story, with a few mishpochah joining with Zoom. It takes a while, as Uncle Haim is still learning to
work it from Rosh Hashanah a year ago. Six-year-old Mala is instructing him by phone, which makes it longer.
Finally, we may be telling the Biblical story to new relations like our son-inlaw, a sort of Baptist from Arkansas, the one married to our brilliant daughter we sent to the best day school so she’d get into Yale. In fact, the assorted few may have married converts or those considering. They are doing fairly well, although their tsimmis could maybe use some practice.
Then there’s our granddaughter at Harvard who is still deciding between Zen Buddhism, Hindu Advaita Vedanta, Jews for Jesus, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Hesychasm, Modern Jewish Orthodoxy, and atheism. She is teaching these to her three little brothers so they’ll have “options,” while they’re home-schooling them and debating the relevance of the bar mitzvah.
Our son-in-law is eager to show he’s open to anything: “Y’all, as my mama says, I’m just fixin’ to get me a huge side of HAIR-o-sit.” Good job, Garth, says our encouraging daughter, his wife. The few of us actually not in virtual something who aren’t terrified of catching Covid by the sharing of the tsimmis, are now two. The others are wearing masks, making the drinking of the wine a feat only David Copperfield can conjure.
During the plagues, our granddaughter, Sofia Ashley, the Zoomer, however, has hid her Samsung Galaxy near her hip under the table, managing to eat while fast-flinging her fingers over Chawzi. When Aunt Becky catches her, she replies emotionlessly, “You are so boomer. Vibe with the times.” Oh yes, and The Haggadah has been markedly shortened to the “good parts” (plagues) before everyone has to leave or their zoom ends, disappearing into the ether.
Our new cousin Jengo, Shayna’s second husband, says this calls for a toast as all use their phones to capture these magic moments. “May your matzah always break even, your maror always bring tears, and your bitcoins always yield high returns.”
PESACH FUTURE
It is the year 2095, a cutting-edge AI named Haggdex 10,000 has been asked by The Trillionaire Jewish Circle to
rewrite the Haggadah, but make it entertaining for the young people and AIs. Equipped with a digital smirk and an impeccable sense of humor, Haggadex transformed the ancient tradition into an amusing event which is data-driven. As I’m not a psychic, especially these days never mind 20 years from now, here are a few examples from my mulching imagination:
1. The plagues will shorten as each will bombard the senses to profoundly magnify their horror.
2. To represent the bitter taste of famine, we’ll drink a speciallyengineered sip of harsh liquid nutrition, a worm-based treat with undertones of gasoline and the now extinct odor of skunk spew.
3. A genetically-engineered plague shows mutated DNA wreaking havoc with both biological and machine properties. For example, a political AI that is forced to tell the truth despite
what the VIP has told the universe, that the human form fails to have reproductive organs and goes through unpredictable periods of cell-death.
4. Extinctions. Holograms of extinct creatures evanescing before participants’ eyes every 30 seconds, then reappearing and streaming. These creatures include, among others, mama, papa, bubbe and Taylor Swift.
5. The final calamity. 2095 Stops: All power resources existing, being researched or developed — hydrogen, nuclear fusion, ocean thermal energy conversion, and tidal and wave energy — fail to work for a full minute. The event closes with the AI Universal Overlord, using common language to establish a long-dismantled connection with all things, sighs and says: “It’s always something!” (Thanks, Gilda.) A
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Empire State Building, Brandenburg Gate, Eiffel Tower Lit in Orange to Honor Slain Bibas Family
by Philissa Cramer (JTA)
Landmarks around the world were illuminated in orange on Feb. 26, to honor Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, the Israeli mother and sons killed in captivity in Gaza.
The three were buried on Feb. 26, several days after their bodies were returned to Israel. Their husband and father, Yarden Bibas, was taken captive separately and freed this month. Their plight had been a symbol of national trauma since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking 250 hostages.
Among the landmarks illuminated in orange, the color that came to symbolize the family because of Ariel and Kfir’s bright red hair, were the Empire State Building in New York City, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the Chain Bridge in Budapest and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The displays were reminiscent of what happened in the immediate aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack, when world landmarks were illuminated in blue and white to show solidarity with Israel.
In Argentina, where Shiri Bibas’ father grew up, tributes to the family have included a mass demonstration, two days of official national mourning and a vote by lawmakers to rename Buenos Aires’ Palestine Street as Bibas Family Street. Shiri Bibas’ parents, Margit and Yossi Silberman, were murdered on Oct. 7. A
L R: Budapest’s Chain Bridge; Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate; and New York City’s Empire State Building were illuminated in orange to honor the slain Bibas family, Feb. 26, 2025. (Courtesy Kidma; Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Images; Craig T Fruchtman/Getty Images)
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A New Hercule Poirot Comic Mystery!
The twin sister of Captain Hasting’s wife, Dulcie, has been kidnapped — and Hercule Poirot rightly expects not only extortion to follow, but murder! Using elements of Agatha Christie’s “Poirot Investigates,” Steven Dietz takes us on a thrilling and dangerous trip to the snowcapped Alps where the famed Belgian detective may finally meet his match. Six actors bring to life dozens of eccentric characters and clever suspects in this diabolically funny comic mystery romp. Don’t miss it!
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Wishing you and those you love a joyous Passover.
