C o m e c e l e b r a t e w i t h y o u r l o c a l C
J O I N U S F O R A P U R I M C O S T U M E P A R T Y !
T H U R S D A Y & F R I D A Y M A R C H 1 3 & 1 4
PARTICIPATE IN THE FOUR MITZVOT OF PURIM:
1) HEAR THE MEGILLA (STORY OF PURIM) TWICE
2) GIVE CHARITY TO TWO PEOPLE
3) SEND FOOD BASKETS (MISHLO'ACH MANOT) TO ONE FRIEND
4 ) P A R T A K E I N A J O Y O U S F E A S T
Cover:
San Diego Museum of Art’s Bloom Bash 2024. Photo courtesy of SDMA.
PUBLISHERS
Mark Edelstein and Dr. Mark Moss
EDITOR
Susan Edelstein
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Makayla Hoppe
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Donna D’Angelo
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Eileen Sondak
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Emily Bartell, Linda Bennett, Andrea Simantov, Trevor James McNeil, Marnie Macauley, Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort, Galia Miller Sprung, Micah Siva Lisa McGuigan
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR
Pepe Fainberg
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Alan Moss | Palm Springs
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DINA FAINMAN,
SUSAN EDELSTEIN
won’t you celebrate with me what i have shaped into a kind of life?
BY LUCILLE CLIFTON
Celebrating Life!
This is our Simchas issue, and we hope you are celebrating all you possibly can. Whether it’s big or small, huge or intimate, public or private, in gatherings or in solitude, annual occasions or once-in-a-lifetime events, with mirth or with hope, engage in celebrations of life, nature, art and possibility.
Rabbi Eilfort calls on us to celebrate Purim with joy and fanfare; it is a holiday where we honor Jewish unity and friendship, where rejoicing is the point. We give to the poor, share what we have and partake of a feast. Micah Siva’s Purim feast will definitely include empanadas. She celebrates the universality of these delicious morsels, and you can, too, with her enticing recipe.
Andrea Simantov, after an arduous journey, celebrates the soft, lovely, ordinary moments spent visiting with her mother. Galia Sprung quietly celebrates the renewal of her beloved and devastated northern Israel. Trevor McNeil celebrates author Judy Blume, whose novels brought honesty and reality to young adult literature. And Marnie Macauley has some uplifting advice for HOA members: get a life!
Our stories this month feature huge celebrations. The San Diego Museum of Art’s 2025 Art Alive is a four-day event that exuberantly celebrates art, architecture, flowers and spring itself. It will be a lavish and colorful extravaganza. La Jolla Playhouse’s Without Walls (WOW) Festival is another four-day event filling the UCSD campus with breathtaking, immersive performance art experiences. These events highlight and showcase the vigorous and profuse art scene that is San Diego. And what could be a bigger cause célèbre than the publication of a first novel? We introduce you to Christopher Bensinger and his novel, “The Sooner You Forget,” which we hope is the first of many A
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From ‘Coffee Talk’ to ‘The Hanukkah Song,’ 36 standout Jewish moments from 50 years of ‘Saturday Night Live’
by Jackie Hajdenberg and Joseph Strauss, JTA News
Since its humble beginnings in 1975, when a Jewish writer and producer from Toronto named Lorne Michaels (born Abraham Lipowitz) launched a comedy variety series originally called “NBC’s Saturday Night,” “Saturday Night Live” has, of course, become a linchpin of comedy television.
Over the course of its five decades of broadcasting from NBC’s Studio
8H, “SNL” has spotlighted the work of numerous Jewish cast members and writers, including Gilda Radner, Laraine Newman, Andy Kaufman, Larry David, Billy Crystal, Maya Rudolph, Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, just to name a few.
“SNL” also, of course, gave us some legendary Jewish characters and pop-culture phenomena.
Kanye’s Swastika Shirt Inspires a Flurry of Defiant Jewish Spinoffs
by Philissa Cramer, JTA News
Kanye West’s swastika shirt is no longer for sale, after the e-commerce platform Shopify said earlier this week, amid an outcry, that he had violated its terms of service.
But a wide array of shirts responding to the musician’s antisemitic merchandise are now available — and being offered to Jews who want to wear a riff on West’s design as an act of defiance.
Influential Jewish Comics Legend Will Eisner Gets a Retrospective
in Chelsea
by Lisa Keys, JTA News
An exhibition spotlighting the 60-year career of Jewish cartoonist and writer Will Eisner, considered the father of the graphic novel, will be on view through March 8 at Chelsea’s Philippe Labaune Gallery in New York City.
The gallery claims to be “the first contemporary art gallery in the
United States specializing in high-end narrative art and illustration.”
Eisner, who showed an interest in and talent for drawing at a young age, was born in Brooklyn in 1917 to Jewish immigrant parents. The gallery show will spotlight 79 original works from Eisner’s prolific career.
Screenshots via YouTube, NBC.com. Design by Jackie Hajdenberg
5:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception
7:00 p.m. Dinner, Dancing, & Entertainment Circus Inspired Attire Encouraged Master of Ceremonies ~ Mark Mathis, Meteorologist, KUSI News
Our Town
by Linda Bennett and Emily Bartell
This year’s 35th Annual International Jewish Film Festival was fantastic. The caliber of offerings gets better every year. Some of our favorites were “Bad Shabbos,” “Unbroken,” and “Troll Storm.” However, the absolute highlight of the whole film festival experience was keynote speaker Ben Mankiewicz. The longtime host of Turner Classic Movies told us many stories of his family’s history and their legacy in the film industry.
As usual, Program Chair Christina Fink, Founding Chair Joyce Axelrod, and their whole committee put together a fabulous event. Some of the other film buffs we ran into at the JCC were Fred and Judy Sheinbein, Mark and Elaine Smith, Jane Zeer, Marsha and Al Korobkin, Michael Willows, Bobbi Weitzen, Joy Heitzman and Jack Cohen, Ellen Rofman, Sarita and Sammy Zands, Linda and Larry Okmin, Olga and Oscar Worm, Sandy Sherman, Hilary and Jeff Liber, Bobbi Laufer, Maxine and Arthur Gellers, Michelle Kipnis, Kim Kipnis, Phyllis and Mark Strauss, Sharon and Nat Koren, Myron and Doreen Schonbrun, and Helene and Alan Ziman
We recently enjoyed attending some Jewish Men’s Choir performances and were excited to learn that they are scheduled to perform at Carnegie Hall in 2026. Some of those we ran into at their shows are Nanette Sable and Louis Green, Zella Kahn-Jeter and Gary Jeter, Shirley Weisman, Lena Shekhter, Guri Stark, and Hersh and Ellen Kagan
Mazel Tov to Gregg and Lisa Cantor on the birth of their first grandchild, Eleanor Flora Walker. Parents Rachel and Kyle Walker welcomed Eleanor into their family on September 21. Eleanor’s other grandparents, Karen Fleck and Tom Clark and Jeff and Tiffany Walker are
overjoyed. Ina and Sammy Cantor are ecstatic with the birth of their first great grandchild.
Mazel Tov to Linda Globerson and Paul Globerson (z”l), on the birth of their twin grandsons, Emile Shem and Jules Leon, born on November 27, in Los Angeles. Emile and Jules’ parents are Jeremy and Lindsay Globerson Older grandchild Raphael, age three, is overjoyed.
Mazel Tov to Jennifer and Adam Markman on their children, Chloe and Sloane, becoming a B’not Mitzvah at Temple Am Shalom in Glencoe, Illinois, on January 25. Proud grandparents, Andy and Beth Friedenberg and Shelley and Mike Markman looked on with pride.
Mazel Tov to Sophie Pearlman on becoming a Bat Mitzvah at Leo Baeck Temple in Los Angeles, on February 15. Sophie’s proud parents, Andrea and Matt Pearlman, along with grandparents, Francine and Phil Ginsberg of San Diego and Sol and Sara Pearlman of Sherman Oaks, were beaming with pride.
Yom Huledets Sameach to...
Bob Rubenstein celebrating his 91st birthday.
Eileen Silvers celebrating her 88th birthday. Michael Bennett celebrating his 83rd birthday. Norman Greene celebrating his 83rd birthday.
CELEBRATING Wedding Anniversaries with infinite love & happiness, Mazel Tov to…
Marcia and Donald Wolochow, 61 years.
LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE
by Andrea Simantov | andreasimantov@gmail.com
Silver Lining Moments
There were too few flights from Israel the week I needed to be in Maryland. The best I could do — within my budget — was two stops and more than 30 hours of travel. Not acceptable. Forced to expand the budget, I booked a flight with only one stop in Amsterdam before flying to Washington, D.C.
I made all of the arrangements from my side of the Atlantic, including pet boarding, client rescheduling and reserving a rental car at Dulles (a 2014 Dodge Dart with only 29 previous other renters). I received a call from the smarmy agent who explained that my flight was now, unavoidably, two stops with the option to stay 12 hours in either Frankfurt or Amsterdam unless I wanted to fly the following week. I sobbed, screamed and threatened,
and two days later, was awarded a onestop-over flight with “only” 15 hours in Frankfurt. Weary and wiped, I still noticed the irony of having sojourned this planet for 69 years and never once stepping foot on German soil — another family vow broken. I managed to secure the last of three “sleeping pods” in the airport, reserving it for 10 hours. The space was pristine, had unlimited WiFi and the nearby bathrooms were open all night. (For the record, I opted out of using the shower. History told me to skip it.)
Once I arrived in Dulles, I found the car in the mysterious spot it had been promised, the key surreptitiously hidden on the passenger-side rear tire. Ready to go, right? Not so fast. The expensive and foolproof WiFi package I’d ordered from Israel and had used many times
I had told her several times that I was coming, but would she remember? Would she be afraid or confused upon seeing me?
before did not kick in. Nothing. Nada. But I’m brave and have done this trip before. How hard could it be to get on the highway and just find Rockville, Maryland?
Apparently, it’s very hard. Nothing made sense. A heavy dusk had fallen, and my vision was not the best when the sun was shining. And no one is walking in the streets! I’m used to Israel, where everyone is outside, day and night. I finally pulled off on an obscure exit and found myself in a desolate parking lot that served patrons of a large Chinese restaurant. After explaining that, no, I did not want a table for one, I begged for written instructions on getting to Rockville.
Once I got off the proper exit, things looked a little familiar. It was quite late
continues on page 22 >>
LITERATURE WRITTEN IN FIRE
by Trevor James McNeil tremcneil1980@gmail.com
Nothing But the Truth
From a young age, we are all told to tell the truth. It is one of those social standards that most try to live up to, but it also has some unexpected challenges to it, especially in adulthood. It is around that time that most discover that while the truth is the moral ideal, it can also be harsh and hurtful, so a balance between blunt truth and tact is eventually learned by most. Others don’t do this and want their own version of reality upheld, no matter what the truth might be — something Judy Blume learned unexpectedly.
Born Judith Sussman in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1938, Judy Blume grew up in comfortable suburban obscurity. Her father, Rudolph, worked as a dentist, while her mother, Esther, was a homemaker. Always interested in creative activities, she studied piano and dance throughout her childhood, but never really thought about being a writer at the time.
She thought it might be a good idea to become a teacher and completed a degree in education at New York University in 1961, during which she met and married a lawyer named John M. Blume. Their first child came soon after, and Blume never really got to be a teacher, instead becoming a homemaker for their new family.
Going against established stereotypes, which became a theme in her career, Blume would start to write children’s stories beginning in her 20s, literary experiments that would eventually lead
Unflinchingly direct and utterly honest, ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.’ pulls few punches in terms of the issue of religion...
to her first children’s book, “The One In the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo,” in 1969. The somewhat odd title does not refer to a fantasy animal but an eight-year-old boy named Freddy Dissel, a middle child who, feeling a bit suffocated by his place in the birth order, takes to dressing up like a green kangaroo: a rebellious act of assertion of identity that foreshadowed what would come later.
Only a year later in 1970, Blume published her first work of young adult fiction. Unflinchingly direct and utterly honest, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” pulls few punches in terms of the issue of religion, and lack thereof, following 12-year-old Margaret Simon as
she grows up with no religious affiliation due to her parents’ interfaith marriage. Reinforced by the first-person narrative, making the story seem even more immediate, the book marked Blume as one of the first young adult authors to address real-world issues in a genre that had historically avoided them.
1970 also saw the publication of “Iggie’s House.” Following the approach of unflinching honesty set in “Are You There God?” the book directly takes on racism at a time when integration was still a controversial topic by following the events that occur when a historically White suburban street gets its first Black family.
An extremely prolific author, Blume published another 10 titles between 1970 and 1980, coming down to essentially a book a year between her children’s and young adult writing, covering such topics as sibling rivalry, insecurities, puberty, divorce, physical disability, fat shaming and teenage sexuality. All of them were handled with frankness as well as sensitivity, largely with the intention of letting the young target audience know that they are normal and reflecting on their lives.
In addition to her writing for young audiences, which made her famous, the last, “Friend or Fiend? With the Pain and the Great One” in 2008, one of three published that year, Blume also published four adult novels over the course of her four-decade career.
Literature continued
An early second-wave feminist, Blume brought this sensibility to much of her work, particularly in her adult novels, which gave a lot more leeway in terms of subject matter. Her first novel for the adult market, titled “Wifey,” published in 1978, follows the adventures of Sally Pressman, an unsatisfied middle-aged housewife who carries on a long-term extramarital affair. The novel was much less controversial than her more famous books would prove to be.
Pacing herself more than with her other work, it would be five years before Blume’s next adult novel, “Smart Women,” in 1983. By utilizing the sense of humor often seen in her children’s books for a different audience, the novel is both funny and dramatic, following divorced best friends, one of whom falls in love with her friend’s ex, in a plot similar to British dramatist Tom Stoppard’s 1982 play “The Real Thing.”
Taking her sweet time, it would be another fifteen years before the world got to read “Summer Sisters” in 1998. The novel is an unflinching meditation on female friendship and sexuality, similar to her young adult books but aimed directly at an adult audience.
Fans wanting more of Blume’s adult work would have a long wait, 17 years, in fact. Blume’s final adult novel, and last book before retirement, was 2015’s “In the Unlikely Event.” Taking a darker view of the world than most of her work, the book is based on the three plane crashes that occurred in Blume’s hometown between 1951 and 1952, killing a total of 121 people.
Generally loved by generations of readers, Blume’s reception, at least in terms of her works for young people, was not without controversy. While there was little censorship early on, by the 1980s, the rise of the Moral Majority
saw much more push-back on her books, particularly from conservative political groups. Blume’s 1975 young adult novel “Forever” took the number seven spot on the American Library Association’s list of the 100 most banned books of the 1990s. A
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.
Israeli Lifestyle continued
at night now, and I pulled into a Trader Joe’s to stock up on enough fruit, vegetables and yogurt to get me through the next day.
Pulling my small suitcase in one hand and cradling the Trader Joe’s goodies in the other, I entered the warm lobby of my mother’s assisted living center. I had told her several times that I was coming, but would she remember? Would she be afraid or confused upon seeing me? Would she even be awake?
She was washed and in her nightgown, reclining in her favorite chair. The television was silent, and I found this unusual until I realized that she only occasionally remembers how to turn it on or off. She seems content with quiet. Sensing my entrance, she turned toward
me and, with laughter in her voice, exclaimed, “It’s you!” I covered her with a woolen blanket and collapsed on the sofa beside her. She only sometimes sleeps in her bed these days, preferring her well-worn chair.
For the following six days, I culled her closet of passé clothing, tossed out 60 years of collected recipes, supermarket coupons and invitations to every bar mitzvah and wedding since Eisenhower was president. I wept upon finding every report card and elementary school essay that her children had written. She waited in the car each time I popped into Target or CVS to get her another pair of slacks or compression hose. One morning, I treated her to a pedicure, and when done, we drove to
a kosher Chinese restaurant for veggie egg rolls and fortune cookies. We ate in the car and laughed the entire way back home.
On the morning I left, I programmed her Amazon Alexa to play selections from her favorite show, “Jersey Boys.” In addition to reminders for her to use the bathroom, it warms my heart to imagine mommy humming along with Frankie Valli while she sits in her chair and waits for me, again, to walk through her door. 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.
San Diego Museum of Art Is in Bloom
by Makayla Hoppe
Spring and all its glorious flowers are on the way, and the San Diego Museum of Art celebrates the seasonal grandeur once again. The annual Art Alive fundraising event kicks off in April, and the museum has dinners, parties and exhibits galore. The theme of this year’s Art Alive is architecture and the work of Lord Norman Foster.
“We do currently have the exhibition of Norman Foster and his work of the studio Foster + Partners, but the main reason [we chose the theme] was because Foster + Partners is going to be implementing our west wing expansion coming up in a few years,” said SDMA Associate Director of Special Events Sarah Grossman. “[Art Alive] is still a celebration of art and flowers...but we just want more people knowing what we’re going to be doing in the future and what the institution is going to look like.”
The four-day event formally begins on April 24 with the Premiere Dinner. The black-tie affair serves local food and drink and takes place throughout the museum galleries. The dinner is held adjacent to the museum rotunda, arguably the centerpiece of Art Alive. Each year, the rotunda features an intricate and delicately designed floral piece that is elevated throughout multiple floors of the museum.
This year’s rotunda art piece will be designed by Waterlily Pond, a floral
design firm from San Francisco. The company is owned and run by husbandand-wife team Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz. Waterlily Pond is a returning artist, having previously designed the rotunda in 2018.
“They’re really known for sculptural, hardscaped work mixed with florals,” Sarah explained. “So, for an architecture
year, it’s just a really great fit. He has some engineering skills, and she’s the floral [artist]. So, between the two of them, it’s really, really amazing... [The design] is inspired by both the building—the Spanish architecture of the rotunda—and the work of Norman Foster. So, it’s sort of a blend of two different architectural types.”
On April 25, SDMA’s big party will overtake the museum grounds—Bloom Bash. The 21+ event is filled with fun food and drink, a Ferris wheel, dance floors, music and brilliant lighting.
“It’s going to be the 10th edition of Bloom Bash,” Sarah said. “We have a little bit of an anniversary year. It’s got its own theme of metamorphosis—the
physical theme of butterflies. It’s also about change in the future, as well as focusing on how much the event has grown in 10 years; it’ll look and feel like what you’ve seen before, just with extras.”
A major component of Bloom Bash is the featured artists. Often, murals and live art displays will take place during the event for guests to see. German Corrales and Christopher Schardt will be the Bloom Bash artists for 2025.
“[German] is going to be doing a temporary mural that will actually live in the plaza for the full month leading up to Art Alive,” Sarah said. “So, that’s something you’ll be able to see ahead of time, which is really cool. He calls himself The Butterfly Man. Butterflies have a lot of significance where he’s from in Mexico, so it’s part of his motif a lot.
[Christopher] shows these giant LED sculptures all over the world—Burning Man, every festival, lots of museums. So, he does these amazing installations. He’s showing one in the plaza called ‘Mariposa.’ It’s a giant butterfly that swings, and when you swing it, the wings flap; it’s like a 32-foot span butterfly.”
Outside the museum grounds, SDMA will be promoting Art Alive with their Petal Pop-ups. Special floral installations will be held at four secret locations throughout San Diego. The Petal
At left: Returning artists Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz of Waterlily Pond.
Pop-ups begin March 21 and run four consecutive weekends through April 13. Museum partners Native Poppy and Cali Wholesale Flowers will design the floral artwork at the unknown locations, only to be disclosed each weekend on SDMA’s social media. The Petal Pop-ups are free and make great photo opportunities.
“This is the fourth year we are bringing them back,” Sarah said. “[The locations] are selected based on new audiences we’re trying to reach. It’s something really unique at a location where there are a lot of people.”
If you’re not looking for a formal dinner or late-night party, the weekendlong festivities also offer what museums do best—a chance to simply take in the art. The Art Alive Floral Exhibition is a collection of pieces interpreting the work of Lord Norman Foster with beautiful flowers. The exhibition includes a view of the stunning museum rotunda along with the more minor works of art. In addition to viewing the gallery, a ticket to the exhibition features a visit to the Garden of Activities—an array of arts and crafts for kids. They can create their own paper flowers or design a book based on architecture.
The San Diego Museum of Art takes fundraising to another level. The events and floral designs transform the museum into a springtime feast for the eyes. Give back to one of Balboa Park’s most significant institutions and enjoy all the museum has to offer. A
Art Alive runs April 24-27, 2025. Visit sdmart.org/artalive for ticket information.
Photos courtesy of the San Diego Museum of Art.
The Playhouse’s WOW series has become one of the region’s most popular and acclaimed performance programs.
Get Ready for Four Days of WOW!
Without Walls (WOW) is La Jolla Playhouse’s signature annual four-day free event that brings art and entertainment outside the traditional theater and onto and throughout the campus of the University of California San Diego. This year’s festival will be held April 24 through 27 and will feature more than 20 immersive experiences, including theater, dance, music, puppetry and spectacle events by local, national and international artists. It is a breathtaking and unique experience for the whole family.
Founded in 1947, La Jolla Playhouse is a place where “artists and audiences come together to create what’s new and next in American theater, from Tony Award-winning productions, to imaginative programs for young audiences, to interactive experiences outside our theatre walls” as exemplified by the WOW Festival.
The Playhouse’s WOW series has become one of the region’s most popular and acclaimed performance programs. Since its inception in 2011, the Playhouse has been commissioning and presenting this series of immersive, site-inspired and virtual productions throughout the San Diego community.
Begun by Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, this innovative partnership between the Playhouse and the University “invites audiences of all ages to interact with artists and art in unexpected ways, bringing people together and reimagining what storytelling can be” and highlighting the creative energy of our city.
UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla says, “The festival exemplifies the uniqueness of our campus community as it celebrates innovation, pushes boundaries and stretches our thinking. As our campus continues to transform
into a regional destination, we look forward to using immersive art as a way to introduce guests to new spaces like the Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood and the Epstein Family Amphitheater.”
According to “No Proscenium,” the authoritative guide to the world of immersive art and entertainment, San Diego’s WOW Festival is “The most significant performing arts festival in the United States to focus on work that takes place outside of traditional theatrical venues.” (Interestingly, proscenium means the ‘fourth wall’ separating the stage from the audience.) A
Most projects at the WOW Festival will be offered free of charge, with some performances requiring paid entry. The full WOW Festival schedule and reservations are available at wowfestival.org.
Lamenting Northern Israel
by Galia Sprung
It can be uncomfortable, even awkward, to take a bus tour to Northern Israel to view the tragedies and ruination of 16 months of war. But sometimes it’s needed. I wanted to support the people in our beloved North, who endured endless rocket and drone attacks from Lebanon until the recent ceasefire agreement.
I love the North, and each devasting news report mentioned places where I’d made memories.
I hiked that ridge, stayed in that kibbutz guest house and visited that village overlooking Lebanon.
I feel a deep connection to the North and its residents. Like a worried relative, I needed to see those familiar areas personally to share the loss with the residents, not that I could compare my feelings with theirs. But I could show my solidarity with them and contribute to the renewal of much-needed tourism.
The tour I joined was organized by an NGO and included discussions with military experts and residents and entry to places that are still off-limits to most civilians. The 60-day ceasefire with Lebanon was scheduled to end that same day. Would it hold? No one seemed concerned that we might be in danger.
We met our guide, Duli, at her moshav in the Galilee and experienced one of those amazing “Only-in-Israel” events. Duli invited our busload of around 40 people to her bustan (orchard) for coffee and cake — and to hear her harrowing story. A rocket exploded only a block away — a direct hit on a neighbor’s house. The force of the blast caused massive damage in the area, including blowing out the windows of Duli’s house. Hit and miss. Only a block away. Duli had hoped to take us to the destroyed home, but unfortunately, it was a day when the neighbor wasn’t allowing visitors. I assume every visit must be a reminder of the horror she went through.
As our bus driver maneuvered the streets in this Galilee moshav, Duli pointed out more homes that had been damaged during the months of attacks. We saw signs with arrows indicating the roads to use for “Evacuation of Wounded.” I’ve seen many signs in Israel directing citizens to protected spaces, but I’ve never seen designated streets for getting the wounded to hospitals. I suppose directional signs are critical in small villages with their narrow, unmarked roads, things we don’t usually think about.
Back on the main road, Duli told us to look to the right. “The trees you see between Yesod HaMa’ala and Kiryat Shimona were burned from fires started by exploding rockets or shrapnel. But their roots survived,” she said proudly. “What we see is all new growth from those same roots.” She pointed to crops waving in the wind. “Farmers plowed and sowed throughout the war. They didn’t give in,” she added. We were inspired.
On the road to Metzudat
Koah, we saw more burned trees; branches curved down like sad, bent heads on black torsos. A burned road sign sagged nearby. “The trees stand crying,” Duli said, “but they stand.”
There was symbolism in everything we saw. “These are burned, but look to the green in the distance.”
View from Benaya Outlook. At left, 2016. Below, 2024. Photos courtesy Galia Sprung.
Lamenting
surrounded by luscious gardens on the other side, I don’t see this as crazy or precarious at all. That’s Israel. Protect the border with communities. For better or for worse. That’s what we do.
In Kiryat Shmona, we were invited to visit a destroyed home whose owner still resides there. We all hesitated. Not everyone got off the bus to stand so close to someone who almost lost his life on that day. But those of us who did became silent for a moment as we absorbed the scene of destruction.
The owner is probably younger than he looks. It was hard to tell. His wild white hair was straight up. His face showed long, deep lines. He motioned us to get closer, to enter his yard so he could tell his story.
My eyes, however, were drawn to the hills around us. “I hiked here,” I tell my husband. “We didn’t drive up this road. My hiking group navigated the terrain by finding paths through the bushes and trees and by climbing over boulders until we reached the top.” The hike that day continued to Ramim Ridge, which also suffered devastating fires. I tried to imagine the scene — the flames consuming the rope ladders we struggled to climb up, thick, black smoke rising as the fires destroyed the lush vegetation and the pine trees that had shaded us as we snacked on sandwiches. I tried not to let the scent of past smoke choke off the sweet aroma of the pines that lingered in me.
Just as on that hike in 2016, we visited the Benaya Lookout at the entrance to Kibbutz Misgav Am. The scenic lookout commemorates Major Benaya Rhein, who was killed in the Second Lebanon War in 2006. While writing this, I looked for a picture from that previous trip. There it was, the exact same view taken
on both trips: The Lebanese village right across from us along the border that overlooks kibbutzim, moshavim and Kiryat Shmona, among other towns. Same village with a significant difference. The 2016 photo showed three or fourstory homes where extended Lebanese families lived surrounded by shrubbery and olive trees. Idyllic. The current picture showed only the rubble from these once-picturesque stone homes. Residents had long fled, leaving their homes to Hezbollah terrorists.
We received permission to enter Moshav Ramot Naftali. We drove along its perimeter road, which also serves as the barrier between them and Lebanon. As a Los Angeles native, I often wonder why people still insist on building homes on stilts in places like Mulholland Drive with all the earthquakes and mudslides. They’ve gotta be crazy. Why build a house in such a precarious place?
Yet, when driving along this perimeter road in Northern Israel with Lebanon on one side and charming moshav homes
While standing in an open doorway of his home facing the yard, a rocket shrieked across the border. “What can you do in three seconds?” he asked, more a statement than a question. We knew the answer: Not much. Pieces of the rocket had crashed into his street, tore through his home and collapsed his pergola roof, which hit him on the arm, throwing him into the living room. “But I was okay,” he assured us. His burnedout car, trunk open, sits rusting in his yard not far from a brand-new car. A new refrigerator and washing machine sit protected under a patio roof.
Some people were moving closer to the house, trying to look inside, but also unsure of the ethics of trampling through someone’s ruins. I kept my phone in my pocket. I couldn’t get myself to take pictures.
“Come in, and I’ll show you around,” he said. Inside, we saw where large pieces of the rocket smashed straight through the frame of the house. We saw how the destructive force of one rocket
Above: burned car in Kiryat Shmona. Photo courtesy Eileen Goldstein. Inset: fragments from a Hezbollah missile found at Kiryat Bialik.
detached a room from its foundation. Bags of groceries sat on the floor of the living room, along with the debris that had not been cleared. Perhaps he has left it all as a memorial to his home. Perhaps he just can’t face the task. His family has temporarily relocated to the Tel Aviv area, but he remains in this onestory structure in ruins that was once his home. “I want to be here,” he says. “Why should I leave the house where I was born?” The house will be razed and rebuilt in another year. In the meantime, he has Shabbat meals with friends.
He is lucky to have friends nearby. According to Duli, so far, only about 3,000 of the estimated 23,000 Kiryat Shmona residents have returned after being evacuated during the war. In nearby Kibbutz Menara, there is nothing to return to. Yet.
I’ve listened to many guides over the years but never had a guide cry while relating information about a site.
Lunch was in Kiryat Shmona. Duli had arranged a little falafel place to be ready for us. They’re not used to so many people at once anymore. Our group waited patiently in line to order. My falafel balls wrapped in laffa — Iraqi pita with salads and thina — were worth the wait. However, they didn’t have coffee, which I desperately needed. Surely, I would find coffee or chocolate if I strolled along the main street. Instead of the caffeine I craved, I discovered the grim reality of Northern Israel: shuttered storefronts, deserted businesses, overturned chairs, papers and products scattered around. Everyday life was abandoned. The metal door to an office building banged open and closed, emphasizing the eerie sensation of a ghost town.
Our falafel place and a pet store were the only working businesses I found. No tourism, no work, no income. It was my turn to cry.
This region, once so vibrant and full of tourists enjoying outdoor concerts, hiking, rafting adventures, horseback riding and the serene views of Israel’s North, is still hauntingly empty.
But Israelis will return to the North. I know that we, and especially the residents in the North, are like the strong roots that brought new life to the burned trees. We have suffered profound losses, but our roots, too, are strong and resilient. Life in the North will blossom again. 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.
Meet Author Christopher Bensinger
by Susan Edelstein
Christopher Bensinger has written his first novel, “The Sooner You Forget,” published February 2025. This story begins in 1944 when Charlie Buckley joins the US Air Force; his plane is shot down during its first mission, and Charlie is taken prisoner of war by the German Army. Charlie is mistaken for being Jewish and along with all the other Jewish American prisoners of war, is sent to a secret labor death camp. The survivors of this death camp, called Berga, are forced by the US military to sign secrecy contracts, meaning that they are never able to speak about their experiences and overcome their trauma.
A riveting story, yes, but so is the real story of how this novel began. This was
“Discovering I had relatives who were murdered at Auschwitz was unsettling, to say the least.”
originally a quite different plot; however, during his research on the historical time period of his novel, Chris came across an old Life magazine that told the story of
the secret death camp and its survivors. Chris, who was not raised in the Jewish faith, continued his research and located a distant cousin on his father’s side, another Bensinger, who had many family members murdered in the Holocaust. Chris’ father’s family history, like Charlie’s, was never spoken of. Chris was floored, and the trajectory of his novel changed.
When asked to describe how it felt to make this discovery, Chris said, “Discovering I had relatives who were murdered at Auschwitz was unsettling, to say the least, and confirmed for me the hint of denial and shame that existed within my paternal family, an undercurrent that something was missing. I grew up without any familial
reference to Judaism. I learned some about the faith in elementary and junior high school, where I had lots of Jewish friends. I recall being invited to my best friend’s house for Shabbat. It awakened in me a distant connection to a faith that felt both familiar and foreign, yet I immediately felt at home.
So, to discover many years later, at the age of 59, while writing this book that I seemed mystically compelled to write, the horrific murders of Bensingers at the hands of the Nazis took my breath away. But it motivated me to dive into my novel and carry the themes of secrecy, denial and shame forward, and to add to the Holocaust story and to honor my own ancestors in a way. I’ve learned much about our past and take with me each day the gift of life, the gift that we can repent without judgment or shame, that we must help others who have and are being
persecuted because they are Jewish, or an immigrant, or trans. To have lost generations in the Holocaust teaches me every day to hold on to those I love and to never forget.”
It’s been said that San Diego is one of Chris’ favorite cities, to which he replied, “When one grows up in Chicago, as I did, you marvel at a climate like San Diego. The Mediterranean environment, proximity to the sea and the vibrant arts life were all so attractive to me.
Many years later, I chose the San Diego Repertory Theatre to co-produce a musical I was shepherding toward Broadway called, ‘The Princess and the Black-eyed Pea,’ primarily because of San Diego’s rich and diverse theater community. San Diego became a second home for a couple of months. I loved walking the streets of ebullient Balboa Park and Old Town. It’s urban yet
feels like a lazy beach town filled with Hispanic and Spanish culture, history and architecture. San Diego is one of the country’s most treasured cities as it seamlessly honors its past with an eye on the future.”
Chris’ professional story is an interesting one as well. He truly is a Renaissance man: an avid athlete, a former real estate executive and a theatrical producer of great success, winning Tony Awards for “The Book of Mormon,” “American Idiot,” and “La Cage aux Folles.” And now, he is a novelist. Congratulations, Chris. A
We’re off To See the Wizard
(Who’s really pulling the strings?)
PURIM! PURIM!
PURIM!
by Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort
In the famous story “The Wizard of Oz,” the hero of the story, Dorothy, tries desperately to find her way back home. To do so, she thinks that she needs the help of the Wizard of Oz and, therefore, goes on a long adventure seeking him out. When she finally gets to his palace, she learns that his public persona is but a façade. He reveals that she had the power to return home the whole time. After she returns, she discovers that she had never left.
Now for some Jewish trivia. Question: Which book of TaNaCh (Five Books of Moses, Prophets, and Writings) does not have G-d’s name appear in it even once? Answer: The Book of Esther (the Megillah is the story of Purim).
Interestingly, even though G-d’s name does not explicitly appear, His
presence is alluded to continually. In many Megillot, each column begins with the word “HaMelech,” the King, which is referring to Achashvairosh, King of the Persian Empire, but is hinting at G-d’s (the King of Kings) presence throughout the narrative.
The full presence of the Almighty is only truly appreciated when the entire story unfolds. Seemingly random events are unveiled to be an intricate revelation of the Holy One.
Events as disconnected as Esther becoming queen, Mordechai overhearing
the plot to assassinate the king, the king not being able to sleep and hearing the story of how Mordechai saved him, and Haman (booooo!) falling on the queen’s couch just as the king angrily returns from a walk in the garden, all led to the full redemption of the Jewish people. In the blink of an eye, a people who had been facing utter destruction were rescued, and their positions were made secure.
After taking a step back and carefully analyzing a long and adventure-filled story, the fact that G-d was always in control becomes apparent. Indeed, we learn that the Jewish people being saved was due to the collective Teshuva (heartfelt return to the ways of the Torah), and led to the redemption. At that time, the Jewish people revealed
who they really were: G-d’s children who, in essence, never really left Him. When the Jews came out from ‘behind the curtain,’ so did G-d.
And now, we can appreciate why we celebrate Purim and why we do so with such joy and fanfare. To properly celebrate the happiest of holidays, we are commanded to listen to the Megillah reading twice (once at night and once during the day), give charity generously to at least two poor people, share food gifts with our friends, and partake in a celebratory feast.
Many have the custom of wearing a costume on Purim. We wear a disguise to remind ourselves that the Creator remained ‘disguised’ throughout the story. G-d’s disguise notwithstanding, we come to understand and appreciate that He was right there the whole time.
He is right here, with us, all the time.
The beauty of a Jewish holiday is that it not only commemorates a past event, but that it ushers in a new divine energy and blessing each year.
A new ‘Purim flavored’ G-dly revelation is headed our way on Thursday, March 13 through Friday, March 14. To maximize one’s experience, one needs to prepare. Plan on where you will attend the synagogue to hear the Megillah, prepare plenty of money to distribute to charity, plan and pack food gifts for your friends, and put together a joyous Purim feast. After all, these things won’t happen
You will find that the more you invest in the process, the greater your experience will be and the more you will enjoy it.
Chag Same’ach! 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’ for you on their own. Most importantly, invest some brain power into making Purim fun and meaningful for the children.
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Comradeship
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In “Midas Man,” a New Biopic of Jewish Beatles Manager Brian Epstein, a Synagogue Sets the Scene
Epstein, sometimes referred to as the “Fifth Beatle,” came from an Orthodox family in Liverpool.
by Stephen Silver, JTA News
In “Midas Man,” the new film out this month in the United States about the late Beatles manager Brian Epstein, an early, pivotal scene is set in a synagogue. In it, Brian (Jacob Fortune-Lloyd) sits with his parents, Harry and Malka (Eddie Marsan and Emily Watson), as they sit in the pews together as the only people in a Liverpool synagogue after services are over, each man wearing a kippah and tallit. Malka, who was called Queenie, says to her son, “It seems like only yesterday you and your brother were up there.”
They discuss Brian’s future and his desire to be in the music business, leading an initially skeptical Harry to allow Brian to sell rock and pop records as an annex to the family’s furniture and retail business. The success of this side venture ultimately propelled him to become the manager of an exciting new band — The Beatles — and the Jew most associated with Beatlemania.
Over the years, Epstein — sometimes considered the “Fifth Beatle” — has been the subject of multiple books and, more recently, a statue in Liverpool. “Midas
Man” represents the first film that makes him the center of attention.
While the movie spent the last several months on the Jewish film festival circuit, including a spot at the New York Jewish Film Festival earlier this month, Epstein’s Jewishness is not its focus. It deals more with Epstein being a closeted gay man, his music career and his relationships with the Beatles and his family. A
Jacob Fortune-Lloyd stars as “Fifth Beatle” Brian Epstein in “Midas Man.”
(Photo: Kerry Spicer)
Local Arts
BY EILEEN SONDAK
SAN DIEGO JUNIOR THEATRE
juniortheatre.com
San Diego Junior Theatre is presenting “Sideways Stories from Wayside School” through March 16. The zany assortment of tales is chock full of adventures and cockeyed humor at the titular Wayside School. Based on a series of children’s books, this show is a great choice for youngsters of all ages.
LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
lajollaplayhouse.org
La Jolla Playhouse launched the world premiere of “3 Summers of Lincoln,” a new musical about one of the most inspirational friendships in our nation’s history. During the dark days of the Civil War, President Lincoln had three fateful meetings with abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Those encounters shaped the course of history by providing a vision for the future without slavery and formed the framework for this fascinating new musical. Sounds like an important addition to the San Diego theater scene. The show will play at the Weiss Theatre through March 23.
NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE
northcoastrep.org
North Coast Repertory Theatre is featuring “What the Constitution Means to Me,” a tour de force that uses humor and pathos to reflect on the way our Constitution impacts society. This deeply personal work, penned by Heidi Schreck, will call NCRT home through March 23
LAMB’S
lambsplayers.org
The Lamb’s Players Theatre’s production of the multi-awardwinning musical “Once” will play on through March 30. The Coronadobased troupe gave “Once” its regional premiere in 2018, and now the lively Irish musical returns with most of the original cast intact.
NORTH COAST REP: Jacque Wilke & Andrew Oslwald in “What the Constitution Means to Me.”
Photo: Aaron Rumley
CORONADO PLAYHOUSE
coronadoplayhouse.org
The Coronado Playhouse is poised to revive “Curtains,” a musical about (what else?) putting on a musical. Of course, things go terribly wrong, and that’s what makes this old chestnut so hilarious. The show will entertain audiences in Coronado March 7-30
LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY
theconrad.org
La Jolla Music Society continues its season on March 6 with Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner speaking on Defying Limits: Climbing the 14 Highest Peaks. Zakir Hussain & the Third Coast Percussion performs on March 8, and on March 14, violinist Blake Pouliot and pianist Henry Kramer give a recital. Collision of Rhythm is coming on March 15 as part of the Kids Series, followed on March 16 by two performances of Goitse.
Les Arts Florissants plays Vivaldi’s iconic Four Seasons at 300 on March 22, and the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez dances at the Balboa Theatre on March 23 Japanese piano virtuoso Nobuyuki Tsujii will lend his keyboard magic to round out the month for the Music Society on March 23
SAN DIEGO OPERA
sdopera.org
The San Diego Opera is coming back to the Civic Theatre with a production of “Salome,” a masterwork by Richard Strauss. Based on the play by Oscar Wilde, “Salome” recounts the biblical story of Princess Salome and her infatuation with John the Baptist, a prisoner in King Herod’s court. The opera will be performed March 21-23.
BROADWAY SAN DIEGO
broadwaysd.com
Broadway San Diego will be presenting “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations” on March 28-30 at the Civic Theatre. With its Grammy-winning songs and captivating storyline, this musical is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser, and Des McAnuff’s direction is always spot on.
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SAN DIEGO
mcasd.org
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is featuring “An Artful Life: A Tribute to Matthew C. Strauss” from March 20 through Aug. 3. The exhibition offers a glimpse at the expansive holdings that comprise the Strauss Family Contemporary Art Collection.
ROUSTABOUTS THEATRE CO.
broadwaysd.com
The Roustabouts Theatre Company is staging a limited engagement of Sam Shepard’s “True West,” the brilliant, funny and emotionally intense examination of the American dream set against the landscape of the untamed West. The engrossing play will keep local audiences glued to their seats March 27 through April 13
While Purim often elicits images of colorful costumes, cocktails and piles of hamantaschen, there are other very delicious ways of celebrating this holiday. We indulge in sweet hamantaschen to ridicule Haman, eat beans and legumes to celebrate Esther’s vegetarianism (which helped hide her Judaism), and stuffed, rolled, and folded foods, which are thought to represent hidden miracles that occurred during the Purim story.
Empanadas are commonly found as street foods in Latin America, from Argentina to Colombia, and are thought to have originated in Spain. When we took a trip to Chile a few years ago, we subsisted on empanadas, letting the rich, fried pastries fuel our hiking through the Patagonian mountains. Often filled with meats, cheeses and beans, our horizons were expanded to find a plethora of vegan options, from chopped tofu to braised mushrooms and finely chopped vegetables. Interestingly, some Jewish texts from the 13th century mention a similar dish, “impanada” and “panada,” described as a bread product filled with fat, fish or meat. There are various versions of empanadas across the diaspora, from bourekas to sambusak; clearly, a turnover pastry is a beloved treat for many. In some ways, I see empanadas and knishes on a similar level — one shaped like a stout dumpling and the other artfully folded into a half moon.
Spiced Carrot Empanadas
by Micah Siva
MAKES 10
INGREDIENTS:
Filling
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 6 to 8 medium carrots, peeled; 3 cups grated or finely chopped in food processor
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tsp. sweet paprika
• ½ tsp. cinnamon
• ½ tsp. cumin
• ½ tsp. coriander
• ½ tsp. turmeric
• ½ tsp. kosher salt
• 3 tbsp. hummus
To assemble
• 10 pre-made empanada discs for frying (I use Goya brand), defrosted
• Vegetable oil for frying
Cilantro-lime sauce
(Makes ½ cup)
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• Zest of 1 lime
• Juice of 2 limes
• ¼ tsp. kosher salt
PREPARATION:
1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the onions, cooking for 6 to 8 minutes, until they start to soften.
3. Add the carrots and garlic. Cook until slightly softened, stirring occasionally, about 5 to 7 minutes.
4. Add the paprika, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, turmeric and salt, mixing to evenly distribute. Cook until the carrots are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and stir in the hummus. Set aside to cool slightly.
5. Lay the empanadas on a clean surface. Place 2 tbsp. of the carrot mixture in the center, and fold over to create a half moon. Use a fork to crimp the edges. Repeat with remaining filling.
6. Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet until it reaches 350F. Test the temperature by dropping a small piece of dough in the oil; it should bubble immediately. Line a baking tray with a paper towel. Set aside.
7. Add the empanadas, no more than three at a time, and fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer the cooked empanadas to the paperlined baking tray.
8. While the empanadas are cooking, make the sauce:
9. In a medium bowl, combine the cilantro, olive oil, garlic, lime zest and juice. Season with salt.
10. Serve the empanadas while warm
ADVICE
ASK MARNIE
by Marnie Macauley marniemacauley@gmail.com
Enough! Readers, Do You See Me? Do You Hear Me?
My dear San Diegans: Forgive me. I know you will understand. I have spent my life trying to be helpful, independent, capable and honorable. Although I do not always hit that standard, I do try.
I have written about us humans being taken over by Big Machines and now AI wants to have an intimate convo with me. Am I here? Do you see me? Do you hear me? Are my arms waving, my mouth moving? Am I still writing all by myself? Enough! Not one more thing is taking me over. Then one more thing happened. And who else can I rant to but my dear San Diegans?
I saw him driving slowly past my house. The only thing visible through the battered Beetle’s windshield was the top of his hat. You know the kind: a beat-up Sam Spade fedora. Suddenly, the window of his rusty Beetle rolled down, and he pointed his 1943 Leica right at me. He shot and kept shooting while I remained behind my living room drapes, shivering with fright. Then I heard the voices of thousands, maybe millions, of desperate people in my head yelling, “Never again!” I’m going out there, I thought, steeling myself to chase the Beetle, which was now fleeing at 10 mph. I grabbed my mace, ventured through the door and ran after it. True, running’s not been my thing since my hip event. Truth is, it never was. My limping against his creeping? I didn’t stand a chance.
...while
everybody worries about politicians and the Constitution, neighborhood by neighborhood, little bands of despots are decimating the 5th and the 14th Amendments.
“What?!” I said. “Don’t call me again with this,” he said tersely and hung up.
I called a national legal rights organization. “How can they be charging me with a picture of blurry dirt?! How can they put a lien on my house?! Without even going to court?” I screamed.
Person after person, organization after organization, sighed, empathized and said there are no laws stopping them from doing anything to anyone.
“But everyone I talk to is terrified of them! Hates them!” “Too bad, lady.”
Three days passed. I owed $575. I called a virtual meeting. They didn’t show up.
A week later, it arrived. Hard mail, email, in Adobe or Acrobat — in whatever form our 12-year-olds have devised to make all things unintelligible to us.
There were two photos with a formal letter.
Your diseased crabgrass is behind the street lights. For your offense, you will be fined $100 a day until the chairman holds our classified conference to determine if we shall seize your property. Note: the clock is ticking.
Catastrophized, I called my lawyer and wept out my story. Once he heard, he quickly said, “I don’t deal with that.” The man was my father’s lawyer for 30 years!
Finally, I found their HQ, and there it was, a timber-framed house with defensive walls surrounded by fields divided into strip-like units. And the sign above?
The Dinkelshtoppen HOA — Here To Serve Neighbors.
Did you know about this? I didn’t. I rent. My house manager barged in hysterical with fear, as did the owner. The threats over the crabgrass no one could see had them one scream short of an institution. Apparently,this group, obviously started by someone to make sure neighborhoods were tidy and surely would help with problems interfering with keeping things up, settled in, and advertising good intentions, fooled politicians and the government into
giving them unlimited power to mutate over the years.
Many have now become legal terrorist organizations run by little people whose parents routinely locked them in closets.
My neighbor Jack racked up $4,000 in fines because the HOA wouldn’t approve his choice of house paint. He’s facing a lien over ramona green vs. eggshell. Down the street, Miquel’s gutters weren’t cleaned out enough. The rabbi next door is appealing the $50 he was charged because a strange car was out front for too long. His visitors’ marriage was crumbling, and they were seeking guidance.
As for me, I spent over $1,000 on compost, seed and phony lawn, which, according to the powers that be, might solve my problem. But the extortionists are still out on the matter. It seems
they’re now taken up with whether a 92-year-old can keep her wheelchair on her front porch.
We have banks, huge corporations, chaotic government, internet, communication companies, nosy online retailers, and evil media intruding, interfering, hounding, exasperating and controlling, listening in and taking over what we like, who we owe, how we write, where we’ll be best buried. We see this every time we turn on our computer and it spits out our last sock purchase from a small industrious town in Mumbai.
Apparently, while everybody worries about politicians and the Constitution, neighborhood by neighborhood, little bands of bored despots are decimating the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Unlike the Feds, the State, the FBI, and the CIA, the HOA can make me put
a lawn dwarf near my front door because they voted that “dwarves make the neighborhood so much fun to play in.” A
Marnie Macauley, MS, Columbia University –Creator of Strategic Relationship Thinking (an innovative way to solve problems), writer, editor, author, lecturer, clinician, and administrator – is a straight-shooter, with a distinctive voice and take on the world in her columns, features and books. She has been nominated for both an Emmy and a Writers Guild award.
