May 2023

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If market fluctuations and economic uncertainty have you second-guessing your investment plan, it’s time to take a closer look. With an Envision® plan, you can help ensure your goals are measurable, reprioritize them if necessary, and adjust your strategy to reflect realistic expectations and your own comfort level for risk. Call today to get started.

SHAVUOT

J o i n y o u r l o c a l C h a b a d J e w i s h

C e n t e r t o r e - l i v e t h e g r e a t

h i s t o r i c a l m o m e n t w h e n t h e T e n

C o m m a n d m e n t s w e r e g i v e n t o

3 m i l l i o n o f o u r a n c e s t o r s a t t h e

f o o t o f M o u n t S i n a i .

I t i s a g r e a t M i t z v a h f o r e v e r y

M a n , W o m a n , a n d C h i l d t o j o i n

t o g e t h e r o n t h i s a u s p i c i o u s

o c c a s i o n !

E N J O Y A

D A I R Y

F E A S T !

W e h a v e l o c a t i o n s a l l o v e r S a n D i e g o !

S c r i p p s R a n c h ( C h a b a d S . D i e g o H Q ) ,

B o n i t a , C a r l s b a d N o r t h , C a r m e l V a l l e y , C h u l a V i s t a ,

C o r o n a d o , D o w n t o w n , E a s t C o u n t y , E n c i n i t a s ,

E s c o n d i d o , L a C o s t a , L a J o l l a , N C o u n t y I n l a n d ,

O c e a n s i d e / V i s t a , P a c i f i c B e a c h , P e n a s q u i t o s ,

R a n c h o S . F e , S D S U , U C S D , U n i v e r s i t y C i t y

PUBLISHERS

Mark Edelstein and Dr. Mark Moss

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jacqueline Bull

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Makayla Hoppe

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Eileen Sondak

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Donna D’Angelo

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Ronnie Weisberg

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Emily Bartell, Linda Bennett, Leorah Gavidor, Emily Gould, Judith Fein (Senior Travel Correspondent), Paul Ross (Senior Travel Photographer), Patricia Goldblatt, Pat Launer, Sharon Rosen Leib, Andrea Simantov, Marnie Macauley, Rabbi Jacob Rupp, Saul Levine, Rachael Eden, Sybil Kaplan.

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Alan Moss | Palm Springs

EDITORIAL

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SDJJ is published monthly by San Diego Jewish Journal, LLC. Subscription rate is $24 for one year (12 issues). Send subscription requests to SDJJ, 7742 Herschel Ave., Suite H, La Jolla, CA 92037. The San Diego Jewish Journal is a free and open forum for the expression of opinions. The opinions expressed herein are solely the opinion of the author and in no way reflect the opinions of the publishers, staff or advertisers. The San Diego Jewish Journal is not responsible for the accuracy of any and all information within advertisements. The San Diego Jewish Journal reserves the right to edit all submitted materials, including press releases, letters to the editor, articles and calendar listings for brevity and clarity. The Journal is not legally responsible for the accuracy of calendar or directory listings, nor is it responsible for possible postponements, cancellations or changes in venue. Manuscripts, letters, documents and photographs sent to the Journal become the physical property of the publication, which is not responsible for the return or loss of such material. All contents ©2023 by San Diego Jewish Journal. The San Diego Jewish Journal is a member of the American Jewish Press Association and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

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COVER Pam Ferris, President & CEO of Seacrest Village Retirement Communities with Seacrest residents.

Planning a move in or outside of San Diego and not sure where to start?

Joel Blumenfeld

and his team of real estate professionals specialize in distinctive properties throughout the San Diego region

Award-Winning. Regional Expert. Passionate.

Whether you’re looking to upgrade to a beachfront home in La Jolla or seeking to sell your modern condo in North Park, Joel Blumenfeld has you covered. The native San Diegan and Blumenfeld Group founder leverages his wealth of first-hand knowledge and his real estate expertise to help clients achieve their goals.

SDAR Circle of Excellence

2021 Platinum Level Award Winner

Berkshire Hathaway HS Chairman’s Circle

Diamond and Legend Award Recipient

6 years in a row — top ½ of 1% nationally

RISMedia Magazine

2020 Newsmakers Honoree

San Diego Real Producers Magazine

2019 Power Partners Feature

We are full of gratitude for the overwhelming support we received from the community, which will provide compassionate care and critical services for children, families, and older adults throughout San Diego.

Honorees

Joan & Irwin Jacobs

Marie Raftery & Dr. Bob Rubenstein

Honorary Chairs

Evelyn & Ernest Rady

Chairs

Jerri-Ann & Gary Jacobs

Tammy & Louis Vener

Thank You to Our Underwriters

Olive Anonymous

Joan & Irwin Jacobs

Marie G. Raftery & Dr. Robert A. Rubenstein

Fig CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services)

Jerri-Ann & Gary Jacobs

Wheat

Globalization Partners

Lee & Frank z”l Goldberg

Lois J. Richmond & Family

Karen & Jeffrey Silberman

Pomegranate

Marjorie & Sheldon Derezin ✽ Susanna & Michael Flaster ✽ Hanna & Mark Gleiberman

Marcia Foster Hazan & Mark Cammell ✽ Sean Joseph & Mahau Ma

Arlene & Louis Navias ✽ University of California San Diego ✽ Sharon & David Wax

Grape

Belmont Village Senior Living – La Jolla ✽ Marsha Berkson ✽ Jamie Carr

Cohn Restaurant Group ✽ Gallagher ✽ Insurance Auto Auctions

Emily & Chris Jennewein | Times of San Diego ✽ Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego

Jewish Federation of San Diego ✽ Jules & Gwen Knapp Charitable Foundation

Meiselman Family ✽ Stacy & Donald Rosenberg

Date

ACLU | ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties ✽ Anonymous ✽ Gail & Mark Braverman

Barbara Bry & Neil Senturia ✽ Deborah Bucksbaum & Lee Maio ✽ City National Bank

Liz Nederlander Coden & Daniel Coden, M.D. ✽ Alberta Feurzeig ✽ Joy Heitzmann & Jack Cohen

Susan & David Kabakoff ✽ KPBS ✽ Lisa & Gary Levine ✽ Sandy Levinson ✽ Jennifer Levitt

LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care, Ohr Ami, The Jewish Hospice Program & The LightBridge Hospice Community Foundation ✽ Sylvia Liwerant

Mathew z”l & Barbara Loonin ✽ Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

Pioneer Healthcare Services - Dan Rietti, CEO & The Mathew & April Fink Family

Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest ✽ Congresswoman Lynn Schenk & Terry Fechter

Susan Shmalo ✽ Nancy & Alan Spector ✽ The Salk Institute ✽ Karin & Tony Toranto

Tammy & Louis Vener ✽ Rachel & Adam Welland

Barley

Honorable Jan Adler & Karen Hartz ✽ Sarah Bakhiet ✽ Theresa Dupuis & Gary Kornfeld

Linda Fredin & Gary Frost ✽ July Teper Galper ✽ Allison & Daniel Gardenswartz ✽ Judi Gottschalk

David & Claire Guggenheim ✽ Michael Hopkins & Supreeth Manjunatha ✽ Hilary & Selwyn Isakow

Marge Katleman ✽ Jennifer & Mathew Kostrinsky ✽ Anita & Rabbi Marty Lawson

Legal Aid Society of San Diego ✽ Leichtag Foundation ✽ Jackie & Charlie Mann

Danielle & Brian Miller | Geppetto’s ✽ Amy & Edward Nefouse ✽ Beth Goldberg Newton

Dr. Larry & Linda Okmin ✽ Cheryl Rattner Price & Douglas Cramer ✽ Safdie Rabines Architects

Seacrest Village & Seacrest Foundation ✽ Lori Shearer & Brian Haubenstock ✽ Fern & Lee Siegel

Elizabeth & Mitch Siegler | Pathfinder Partners ✽ Beth Sirull & Jonathan Shuster

Erin Spiewak & Sid Voorakkara ✽ Jill & Mark Spitzer ✽ Jill Stone ✽ Sheava & Bryan Wax

Susan Chortek Weisman & Eric Weisman ✽ Wealth with Options ✽ Helene & Allan Ziman

Joellyn & Ron Zollman

In-Kind

Bonnie Foster Productions

Questions at the End of Three Years

On May 11, the Public Health Emergency put forward by the Department of Health and Human Services for Covid-19 will expire. It is difficult to believe that the start of the pandemic is now over three years ago. And the Omicron surge was over a year ago.

I struggle to be able to discuss it with any clarity or meaning beyond the all-to-familiar platitudes. And I think that’s actually what I want to talk about. Trying to make sense of all that happened to the world is too big of a concept to grasp. This enormous, global thing happened and (for the most part) we aren’t talking about it — at least not directly. You might hear the phrase “pre-pandemic” or “post-pandemic,” but mostly it is this subtext that is hinted at the edges of conversations.

I don’t blame us. I think it is understandable. I do wonder if it might be time to start talking about it directly, though. We are outside of the “surviving the day” stage and have had some time to come out of fight or flight. Over 1 million Americans died; many more live with daily impacts to their health.

How do we think about this time? What did we learn from this experience? Many of us, myself included, found the social fabric to be much more fragile than expected. At the same time, there were feats of global cooperation and benevolence. How do we hold these two competing truths in our mind at the same time?

I have considerably more questions than answers.

The world has changed so much in ways that are hard to see or articulate. The workforce is one example of a major conspicuous change. The prevalence of remote work is the most obvious change. Renewed interest in matching minimum wage to the cost of living and renewed interest in unions are also a result of the pandemic. Especially in the U.S., we are questioning the systems that uphold the status quo. In some ways, the pandemic was a test for our society and the individuals did the grading. How did we fare? What could we have done differently?

There will be more ripple effects from the pandemic and I imagine it is too soon to tell how wide and how deep they will go. With any luck, we learned to be more accepting of uncertainty and how to lean towards hopeful pragmatism. A

Whatever floats your boat,

Seacrest Village offers:

• A generous variety of life enrichment alternatives featuring fitness, culinary, and cultural programs

• The Ottenstein Fitness Center boasting weights, machines, treadmills, Peloton,© lap and therapy pools

• Daily walk, stretch (standing and seated), and yoga classes (standing and seated)

• Tasty menus inspired by the creativity of our chefs—with the oversight of a dietitian— which contain top-quality ingredients

• The gorgeous Chodorow Synagogue with services every Saturday and High Holy Day Observances

• Meals, cable/internet, and housekeeping included!

Our Town

by Linda Bennett and Emily Bartell

Mark your calendars for May 21: opening day of “A Holocaust Exhibit” at the Rancho San Diego Library, focusing on San Diego Holocaust survivors. Creator and curator of RUTH (Remember Us The Holocaust), Sandra Scheller, is the daughter of Holocaust survivors Ruth Sax (z”l) and Kurt Sax (z”l). This exhibit will run through May 2024.

The Woman’s Division of Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces (FIDF) recently held a presentation at the Fairbanks Country Club to a completely sold-out house! Giving their audience a first-hand account of their time in the IDF, these women totally captivated the crowd. We enjoyed the evening with Renee Barnow, Rimma Rosenberg, Elena High, Eva Shore, Ruth Gilboa, Marilyn Belamy, Mindy Gold, Jane Scher, Shana Yedid and Brazilian Sephardic singer-songwriter, Carla Berg.

A timely program, we attended the AJC and Jewish Federation presentation “The State of Antisemitism in America” on Mar. 30 at Congregation Beth Israel With such a prevalent rise in antisemitism in the United States, presenters Holly Huffnagle (American Jewish Committee U.S. Director for Combating Antisemitism) and Sara Brown (the new AJC Regional Director in San Diego) discussed the many recent experiences that have been documented around the nation. Some listening intently were Laurel Schwartz, Jackie Gmach, Sharon Rosen Leib and Rich Leib, Rosie Jacobson, Lolie Fromm, David Abrams, Mayor Todd Gloria, Steve Laufer, Randy Savarese and Chuck Petler, Carol Davidson Baird and Stephen Baird, Beth Sirull,

Elaine and Rick Barton, Larry Sherman, Karen and Warren Kessler, Ellen and Herb Hafter, Ronnie Diamond, Mitch Siegler, Jack Maizel and, of course, Rabbi Navarez

Mazel Tov to Tyler Emdur on becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Jan. 28 in Boulder, Colorado. Tyler’s parents, Drs. Abby & Joshua Emdur, along with grandparents, Dr. Larry & Barbara Emdur and sibling, Jake, were excited to take part in their joyous family occasion.

Mazel Tov to Elia and Myles Cohn on their becoming a B’nai Mitzvah on Mar. 24 at Congregation Beth El Happy parents are Jeremy & Tonia Cohn. Proud grandparents, Leslie & David Cohn and Lana & Ian Garrun, looked on with pride. A beautiful reception in celebration was held at Coasterra.

CELEBRATING Wedding Anniversaries

with infinite love & happiness, Mazel Tov to…

Roz & Marty Freedman, 65 years.

Bernice & Jack Kleid, 62 years.

Helene & David Schlafman, 59 years.

Joyce & Robert Blumberg, 54 years.

Sandie & Dan Kindred, 53 years.

Candy & Stephen Karas, 52 years.

Judy & Jack Morgenstern, 51 years.

Donna & Jeff Landie, 50 years.

A Brooklyn concert will celebrate the forgotten history of women cantors

by Julia Gergely, JTA News

Jeremiah Lockwood, the singer, composer and frontman of The Sway Machinery, is preparing for an upcoming concert by “doing a lot of talking to ghosts.”

These “ghosts” are those of the Jewish women singers and cantors of the past century. Many women have made deep contributions to Jewish spiritual life and music, but their stories were rarely told or preserved.

Lockwood is hoping to rectify that. Lockwood will unveil at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music his newest composition of vocal music: “In di vayber shul” (“In the women’s synagogue”), which is inspired by the legacy of these nearly forgotten Jewish women.

How on-the-rise Jewish indie rocker Blondshell takes inspiration from Larry David and Sarah Silverman

by Gabe Friedman, JTA News

When she sits down to write song lyrics, Sabrina Teitelbaum, who records music under the moniker Blondshell, doesn’t plan to reference her Jewishness. It just spills out in subtle turns of phrase.

Jewish-tinged dark humor is rarely seen in indie rock, especially in the woman-dominated subsets of the genre that Blondshell is being associated. And she’s not afraid of putting it out there.

It’s a date: Netflix’s ‘Jewish Matchmaking’ debuts May 3

by Jackie Hajdenberg, JTA News

A matchmaker who says she has successfully paired 200 Jewish couples is the star of “Jewish Matchmaking,” a Netflix series that is set to start streaming May 3.

“Jewish Matchmaking” will run for eight 30-minute episodes, featuring a diverse set of couplings, from Orthodox singles who observe the rules of negiah — the prohibition on touching before marriage — to Reform and secular U.S. Jews.

Continue reading these stories at sdjewishjournal.com

Magen David Adom has been saving lives since 1930, some 18 years before Israel became a state. We take immense pride in being Israel’s national emergency medical service and in supplying the blood and medical care for the soldiers who have ensured Israel’s existence. Join us in celebrating Israel’s 75th year of independence on Yom HaAtzma’ut.

Support Magen David Adom by donating today at afmda.org/give. Or for further information about giving opportunities, contact 800.323.2371 or emichael@afmda.org.

afmda.org/give

Israel is celebrating 75 years. Magen David Adom has been there for all of them.

LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE

by Andrea Simantov | andreasimantov@gmail.com

All There Is and More

My Yiddush speaking ancestors said it best: “Mit ine tuchas, ken men nit tantzen oyf tzvai chasones!” (With one tuchas, you can’t dance at two weddings.) Still, the women in my family historically suffer from a documented disorder called FOMO: Fear of Missing Out. We want to attend all weddings, graduations, bar mitzvahs, funerals and ship launches. “All You Can Eat Buffet Breakfast”? We’re there, even if we’ve already eaten.

One autumn afternoon in 1962, the secretary of Rockwood Park Jewish Center Hebrew School popped her head into the classroom, announcing that the President’s motorcade would traverse the local highway in only a half hour; our bearded rebbe led us up the embankment of the Belt Parkway where, for a glorious 2 minutes, we waved mini-American flags while President Kennedy’s limousine scooted past. In 1976, I stood with strangers to watch the Tall Ships Parade pass through Boston Harbor because a barrister in the coffee shop on Charles Street told me it was history in the making. What does a New York Jew know from Tall Ships? Never you mind. They sail, I’m there. The next month I roasted under a hot July 4th sun to hear the late maestro Arthur Fiedler direct the Boston Pops at the famed Esplanade, simply because I’d heard it would be his last performance.

Building upon the aforementioned reasoning, I had the great merit to see the world’s most renowned mime, Marcel Marceau, in his last stage performance

at the Jerusalem Theater, circa 1996. My girls were way too young to understand why the urgent schlepping, but I insisted on beginning FOMO training early.

But back to the present and to the trip.

I landed in Dulles and in the rental car, drove directly to Mom’s Independent/ Assisted Living Center in Rockville, Maryland. I knew she was in her room because the roar of CNN was deafening even as I exited the elevator on floor three. The door was unlocked and after the moment it took for her to recognize me, she gasped and shouted, “It’s you!”

My mother is the crowned Queen of FOMO herself. At the age of 93, she is still anxious to attend all family events, even those that are not yet scheduled. She can

no longer walk for more than a few steps without employing a wheeled ambulator and relies on hearing aids and frequent medications. Aides assist her at various scheduled times throughout the day with all of her needs. “Pshaw, pshaw,” she says. “Trifling. A mere bagatelle” is her take on her diminishing condition. Something that can be addressed with less coffee cake and, perhaps, some herbal tea.

For over two weeks, Mom and I were roommates. Six or seven of those days were religious holidays and we slept at my brother’s home. With assistance, she must have walked the steep inside steps approximately 50 times between meals, bathroom breaks and bed. Both Passover

continues on page 18 >>

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem: Getting a Head Start on Advancing Medicine

Considered as the silent epidemic of the 21st century, dementia is a degenerative illness affecting millions globally. A better understanding of this condition is a major focus for researchers across the medical, bioscience, and public healthcare departments at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU).

The university’s dementia research encompasses a wide range of activities, including clinical and lab-based studies aimed at deciphering the complex molecular and cellular pathologies leading to diseases related to memory loss and cognition. HU is also focused on training the next generation of medical professionals, teaching them how to treat patients with compassion while integrating the latest pharmaceutical methodologies.

But attention is increasingly being paid to HU computer scientists’ achievements, acting at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) development, with tools that may improve the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, including dementia. When it comes to the successful implementation of AI, particularly in the medical field, the critical tool is access to an immense amount of patient information, known as ‘big data.’ Harnessing decades of academic and professional collaboration with key players in Israeli medicine, researchers at HU’s Faculty of Medicine established the Center for Computational Medicine, whose dynamism depends upon the millions of data markers provided by partners.

But access to data is only the first, albeit critical, step in a deeply complex and evolving process.

The next challenge requires building the infrastructure that can mine massive troves of data to create models that may change the future of healthcare.

Dr. Shahar Arzy, a senior lecturer in HU’s Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences identified this task as a principal goal.

“Our Computational Neuropsychiatry lab aims to close the gaps between clinical practice and research, neurology, psychiatry, and psychology in order to reformulate our understanding of the human self and its pathologies,” he said. Using these approaches, Dr. Arzy and his team are working to develop clinical tools to enable medical professionals to diagnose, monitor, and treat neuropsychiatric disorders.

Recognizing the potential through using AI, Dr. Arzy’s attention is focused on integrating the tools for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. His goal is to develop computational methods to analyze Alzheimer’s symptoms and changes in the brain during early stages of the disease. By applying these tools on the clinical level, researchers significantly enhance their ability to identify and diagnose the condition, potentially well before symptoms appear.

Dr. Arzy’s tool is called ‘Clara.’ “Early diagnosis is critical in changing the trajectory of dementia…” he said. “Clara is a highly engaging, predictive, and data-driven chat app that uses selfreferenced estimations of people, events, and places to easily and precisely identify early-stage mild cognitive impairment through remote screening and ongoing monitoring.”

By harnessing the power of data and utilizing advanced analytical tools to implement findings like Dr. Arzy’s, we are on the cusp of a new era with the potential to revolutionize medicine and beyond–with Hebrew University uniquely positioned to play a central role.

To learn more, please contact Justin Pressman, AFHU Western Region Executive Director at western@afhu.org or 310.843.3100.

Israeli Lifestyle continued

seders lasted well into the early hours of the morning and Mom stayed up for both of them. I took afternoon naps in order to last but not Mom. Guests arrived throughout the days and Irma didn’t miss a conversation, snack time, or story session with resident great-grandchildren. Did she follow every conversation or grasp the nuance of various discussions? No. But she was extremely ‘present.’

Once freed from holiday restrictions and despite her pain and poor mobility, she insisted on hitting the pharmacy, a clothing store for a critically important cotton top and the kosher steak house for a sumptuous dinner. Indeed, any opportunity to hop into the rental car made her ecstatic and I became a pro at flipping the Rollator open and closed on demand.

Before I departed for the long, arduous return to Ben Gurion Airport, Mom left me with one message: When one of my sons becomes engaged, she will fly eleven hours to the Holy Land, if only to drink a l’chaim and dance the Hora. No pressure intended, of course.

History is not necessarily identifiable as it unfolds. Still, by glomming onto moments that are subtle and precious, we can sneak a glimpse into those precious life events that ultimately mesh into something called ‘legacy.’ The trick is to be, like Mom, present. A

Around the World, Helping Those in Urgent Need

Donations to Jewish Federation of San Diego County are directly helping Ukrainian refugees in their neighboring countries. Heidi Gantwerk, Federation CEO, returned from a two-day “fly-in” to Kishinev, Moldova, to see first-hand the impact this life-saving and life-changing work:

“I now understand more than ever the essential, lifesaving importance of the ongoing, core funding our Federation and our community provides every year to our partners in the Former Soviet Union.

The extensive support infrastructure, the talented staff already embedded in the community, the volunteer network, and the existing facilities meant that when war broke out, our organizational partners were already there, ready to pivot. The additional dollars we raise go directly to material support, goods, and rent subsidies, as well as to medical, psychological and other critical needs. And while our attention may be turned elsewhere, given all that is going on around the world and at home, the most significant European military conflict since WWII continues without an end in sight, and people still desperately need our help.”

Please consider contributing to Federation’s efforts at jewishinsandiego.org/give

Help us help those who depend on our support and the support of the global Jewish community.

Inna Vdovichenko of Federation partner Joint Distribution Committee, showing a sample of the orange, murky water from Nicolayev, one of the hardest-hit cities in Ukraine.

Olga and Mihail in their small hotel room in Molodva, where they have stayed for ten months “watching the war” and praying to return to their home.

Refugees Luda and Liana. Liana is in 1st grade at the World Ort School in Moldova, a Federation partner accepting Ukrainian refugee students.

by Rabbi Jacob Rupp | rabbirupp@gmail.com

A Rabbi Dreams of Race Cars

I had a mantra I repeated to myself after my parents got divorced: one day I will get a Porsche and keep my family intact.

When I was probably 15 or 16, after my paternal grandmother died, my father bought a beautiful cherry red 1989 Porsche 911. I remember how it would sound when he would come home from work, how he would wash it a few times a week, how it would feel as he would accelerate.

And I remember all of the trauma that was associated with it as it spelled the final chapter in my parents’ marriage. I lost touch with my dad for twenty years. I didn’t speak to him; I was angry, or broken, or something else.

For two decades I wasn’t sure if he was alive or dead. He missed me graduating college, becoming religious, becoming a rabbi, getting married and the birth of my four children.

When I finally reconnected with him, many narratives I had changed. Here I thought he had left me and from his perspective, I had left him. I had told him I never wanted to speak to him again and he had thought that was final.

I found the courage to find him (or at least search) after reading a book about the adult children of alcoholics. In a moment, I had decided it was time.

The lessons I have learned since then are far beyond the scope of this (I hope to record for a later day), but the thing that had stayed with me, the mantra throughout much of my twenty years without my father centered around the car, or the idea of the car.

For those twenty years, I had a recurring mantra. I’d also get a Porsche one day and keep my family intact. Not “just” a Porsche. Not “just” a 911: a 911 Turbo S. Convertible — the top of the line.

Now for much of my adult life, as my dear friend reminds me, we were so broke that I literally had trouble paying the bills. Despite sinking deeper into debt and before I launched our coaching

company, with no idea how to claw my way out, I didn’t lose the vision.

I know it would happen.

A dear friend and mentor Geeta actually sent me a Porsche key chain as a talisman to remind me of my future car.

Fast forwarding a few years, I tried everything to become the man I thought my dad would have wanted me to be.

Once I reconnected with my dad, I found out much of what I had known about him had changed or was never there in the first place. Living in Austria for over two decades, my father didn’t really care for cars anymore, or politics (at least my politics) or much else.

I knew then that the Porsche wasn’t about him; it was about me and the promises I kept to myself.

My work with my coaches trained me to focus and to have what I wanted. But that car? It was too much, too scary.

I leveled up with the BMW. But it wasn’t the Porsche.

And as scary as it was to get that car, I knew one thing: If I preach that you have to step into your uncomfortable zone to level up, I had to walk the walk.

And so I did.

I did the work, I believed and G-d delivered.

If I can do this, anyone can.  A

I knew then that the Porsche wasn’t about him, it was about me and the promises I kept to myself.

RETREAT Chabad at La Costa's Shavuos

Resident-Led Programming is a Smash Hit at Seacrest Village

by Makayla Hoppe

In 1944, San Diego Hebrew Homes opened as a small senior-care center for 10 people. The nonprofit organization now operates across ten acres as Seacrest Village in Encinitas. The retirement community offers entertainment and activities and lately, the residents have been organizing their own events.

Katie Park, director of the Lee and Frank Goldberg Residence Court and campus life enrichment, spoke about some of Seacrest’s residents and their self-run community groups.

“Since Covid, people got used to spending time in their rooms. Many of these residential-run programs are [now] more of the highly attended programs on campus. I think that’s what’s drawn more residents to want to lead programs like this,” Katie said.

One resident, Dina Robinson, leads a monthly event called “Let’s Shmooze With Dina,” a discussion group focusing on one specific question for that month. Last month the attendees discussed, “Where were you and what was your greatest interest when you were 15 years old?” For the month of April, the residents discussed the first big love of their life. Dina, a published author, hopes to take many of these discussions and turn them into a book.

“This has been such a great opportunity for residents to get to know

each other,” Katie said. “We hear, ‘Oh, this is my neighbor, we have dinner together and we talk.’ You know, dinner conversation. Nothing ever gets deeper than that. And so this program has given residents an opportunity to really get to know each other.”

Sharing personal history and finding shared interests is a common theme throughout the programs. Resident Esther Sabin leads a women’s group for companionship and camaraderie that meets twice a month.

“I felt that although we see each other and say hello, we hardly knew anything really about each other. This is a time for

us to get together to talk about if anyone is feeling lonely or depressed, or how we handle stress, not just to talk about what the soup is today. It’s a comfortable, friendly group to be supportive of each other,” said Esther.

Resident Dr. Larry Krause leads a discussion called “What’s On Your Mind.” Dr. Krause is a professor emeritus at the School of Global Policy and Strategy at UCSD and once served as a senior member of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisors in the Johnson administration.

“It’s meant to let the residents share what’s on their mind about different current events,” said Katie. “He also usually comes with some preparation and ideas of topics that he would like to cover and hear everyone’s point of view about it and it gives everyone a chance to share how they’re feeling.”

Dr. Krause’s expertise includes international finance, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and economic forecasting in Pacific countries.

Resident Rhoda Kotzin, a former professor of philosophy at Michigan State and Yale graduate, leads a religious study group. Attendees read in both Hebrew and English and Rhoda uses a variety of interpretative methods for the discussions.

“Many of these resident-run programs are [now] more of the highly attended programs on campus.”

“I do this once a month and it’s partly for my own sake; it gives me an opportunity to pursue my studies in TaNaK. It also gives others the opportunity to learn and there’s a group that comes every month. I’ve been told that this is on a graduate level. Three of the people who come are retired professors: one in law, one in political science and one in sociology,” Rhoda said. The resident-led groups involve activities as well as discussions.

For six years, resident Barbara Appleby lived at Seacrest only part-time to be in sunny San Diego instead of cold New York winters. Barbara moved in permanently in 2016 and now leads a crafting group. The group gets together to make greeting cards with donated art supplies from Barbara’s son-in-law.

“We have many Seacrest residents that give back to our community in various different ways as volunteers on campus and in all of our buildings and

levels of care, including volunteering to lead these intellectual group programs. So this is just one of many volunteer opportunities that our residents do take part in,” Katie said.

The resident-led discussions and activities have allowed Seacrest’s community to have a greater sense of participation and connection with their neighbors.  A

“Sharing personal history and theme throughout the programs.” finding shared interests is a common

PHOTO BY BROCK SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY.

The 30th Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival

June 1 – July 16, 2023 | Ticket Information at sdjfest.org

Todd Salovey – Artistic Director | Matthew Graber – Managing Director

14th Annual Women of Valor

June 1 at 7:30pm | Lawrence Family JCC

June 11 at 1:00pm | Leichtag Commons, Encinitas

Honoring Annie Benaroch, Amelia Glaser, Jan Landau, Fanny Krasner Lebovitz, Sheila Lipinsky, and Beth Sirull.

“A woman of valor, who shall find?” asks the famous psalm. These 6 inspiring women have made unique contributions to our community. JFEST celebrates their lives and accomplishments.

Directed by Ali Viterbi.

Written by Sarah Price Keating, Rebecca Myers, Leah Salovey, Todd Salovey, and Ali Viterbi.

Witnesses (A One-Show-Only Reunion Concert)

June 4 at 2:00pm | Lawrence Family JCC

Awarded Best Production in 2022 by San Diego Theatre

Critics Circle, Witnesses is a new musical inspired by the diaries of 5 teenagers who perished in the Holocaust.

Directed by J. Scott Lapp

Book by Robert L. Freedman

Music and Lyrics created by Adam Gwon, Gerald Sternbach, Jordan Beck, Matt Gould, Carmel Dean, Mindi Dickstein, Anna K. Jacobs

Produced by California Center for the Arts Escondido

Theatricals

Proudly sponsored by Jean Will Presents

Perla Batalla in House of Cohen: The Songs of Leonard Cohen

June 15 at 7:30pm | The Lawrence Family JCC

Grammy-nominated singer and touring band member with the legendary songwriter Leonard Cohen, Perla Batalla’s In the House of Cohen features selected songs and rare personal anecdotes that reveal the timelessness of Cohen’s art.

22nd Klezmer Summit: The World of Jewish Music

June 21 at 7:30pm | The First UU Church of San Diego

Jewish music takes on flavors from the entire world of Jewish wandering. Starring: Yale Strom, Elizabeth Schwartz and Hot Pstromi with special guests: Farhad Bahrami, Coral McFarland Thuet, Robert Zelickman and Fred Benedetti. Come celebrate Jewish music from Spain, Persia, Portugal, Romania, Belarus, Ukraine, Turkey, and more!

Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik:

The Achilles Heel of Michelangelo’s David: A Perfect Tale of Imperfection

June 5 at 7:30pm | Congregation Adat Yeshurun, La Jolla

Bible 365’s Rabbi Meir Soloveichik delivers the Festival keynote. Michelangelo’s David is visited by millions as a symbol of artistic perfection. Meanwhile, Rembrandt’s etching of the monarch is just six inches - yet rightly understood, captures the essence of David. This teaches a profound lesson about the biblical approach to art and understanding ourselves.

The Whole Megillah New Jewish Play Festival

June 7 and June 11 | Old Globe Theatre and July 6 and July 9 | The Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center

The Whole Megillah celebrates new plays that are “unapologetically” Jewish and express the entire gamut of Jewish ideas, affiliations, and experiences.

Thank you to Whole Megillah sponsors Dylan Jacobs and Mikayla Wilson. Festival Producer – Rebecca Myers

The Red Beads | June 7 at 7:30pm @ The Old Globe

By Rinne Groff | Based on The Singer of His Sorrows by Osip Dymovas adapted by Adrian Guo-Silver and Rinne Groff from a translation by Adrian Guo-Silver

Hereville | June 11 at 7:00pm @ The Old Globe and July 9 at 2pm @ The Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center

Co-Produced by Kids On Stage Productions | Based on the book by Barry Deutsch, book and lyrics by Robby Sandler, and music by Lizzie Hagstedt

Chagall | July 6 at 7:30pm @ The Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center

A musical collaboration between writer/composer Yale Strom and writer/director Todd Salovey

“Neshama” – Music of the Soul

June 8 at 7:30pm | The Old Globe

A community-wide musical concert that captures the essence of our soul. Featuring local stars including Yale Strom, Elizabeth Schwartz, Heidi Gantwerk, Zeji Ozeri, Andy Mayer, Myla Wingard, Jeffrey Myers, LITVAK Dance Company, and more performing in the styles of pop, folk, klezmer, classical, Sephardic, and dance. A celebration of our deep connection.

theatre dybbuk:

The Merchant of Venice (Annotated), or In Sooth I Know Not Why I Am So Sad

June 18 at 2:00pm | Lawrence Family JCC

What can a play from sixteenth century England tell us about antisemitism and prejudicial beliefs in our world today? theatre dybbuk explores William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, weaving in their unique blend of deep historical investigation and heightened theatricality to create a new work from the core of the classic play.

Matisyahu

June 20th at 8:00pm | Belly Up, Solana Beach

Concert by the renowned Reggae star, Matisyahu whose hit song “One Day,” is one of the most beloved Jewish pop songs.

Yale Strom’s Recordially Yours, Lou Curtiss (with Pre-show presentation on Jews and Folk Music at 6:15 pm)

June 25 at 7pm | Digital Gym CINEMA, Park & Market, San Diego

Yale Strom’s newest film explores the life and work of Lou Curtiss – creator of the San Diego Folk Festival, Adams Ave. Unplugged Festival, folklorist, raconteur, radio host and proprietor of Folk Arts Rare Records. Archival footage, live interviews, and music tell the story of this San Diego icon.

Eco-Jewish Play Fest - 7 plays. 24 hours to create. 1 night to enjoy!

July 16 at 6:00pm | Coastal Roots Farms located at Leichtag Commons, Encinitas

In collaboration with Coastal Roots Farm, JFEST will bring together 7 writers, directors and stage managers with 21 professional actors for 24 hours to create and perform new short plays inspired by EcoJewish values, questions, and inspirations.

30 Years of Performances Celebrating Jewish History, People, and Ideas in Virtuoso Music, Theatre, Dance, and Fine Arts!

For full details and ticket information please visit sdjfest.org

SDJA Splashes Out With First Summer of Camp

by Jacqueline Bull

“If I had to do it again, how would I do it better?” Adam Benmoise asked himself.

Adam is the Director of Auxiliary Programs at San Diego Jewish Academy and now the Camp Director for SDJA’s first-ever summer camp this year. Adam has a long history with Jewish summer camps in the northeast and being given the opportunity to build one from scratch, with the facilities of an entire school campus, has him excited and dreaming big.

“First and foremost I was looking to design a product that was not offered in San Diego. For me it wasn’t enough that we were on great facilities and the capabilities to provide highlevel staff through our faculty, we wanted to provide a product that was fundamentally different than what anyone else was offering,” Adam said.

The K-5 day camp is designed around week-increments where the camper picks an adventure track (athletics, arts,

sci-tech and nature and outdoors) to explore. Campers can stick to the same adventure track or bounce around.

“I learned through my research that many parents chose to send their kids to two or three or four different camps in the summer,” Adam said.

Sometimes parents were sending them to different camps for different specialized activities (e.g. tennis camp here, martial arts there), to line up with

continues on next page >>

“We wanted to provide a product than what anyone else was doing.” that was fundamentally different

groups of friends or to fit around planned family vacations. Having week-long sessions allows for much greater flexibility.

“Parents don’t need like a personal assistant to try to map out their summer and figure out where their kids are being dropped off every week because it is kind of getting that way,” he said.

“A child can go to one camp with the same philosophy, the same values, the same traditions, the same Jewish camp feel that some of us older parents have grown up with, but they get to go to that one place and do the things that they want to do — the thing they are most passionate about.“

One tradition they are carrying on at camp is weekly shabbat. It will look a little different from SDJA’s school year shabbat, but still serves as a communityaffirming gathering.

“It will be very much a community celebration of our week. We will have performances, we will have songs, we will honor our accomplishments and achievements. We will have a lot of joy and a lot of simcha around our shabbat at camp,” he said.

They will also have camp-wide gatherings at the beginning and end of each day to bring everyone together and build connection.

“The staff will be a nice mix of faculty from the school, alumni of the school, current high school students as well as outside hires — we are looking to acquire the best talent across the board. As an important example as it pertains to athletics, soccer is going to be a big part of what we do. We’ve partnered with the Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks to provide the soccer coaching,” he said.

Variety of programming is a goal of Adam’s as well as the quality and depth.

“Particularly for us at SDJA as an educational institution, we understand learning in a different way...We are leaning on that education and skill-building side as a school to guide what the camp looks like.”

Adam heard from some parents that they would be driving their kids to camp in the summer and passing the SDJA campus on the drive and were wishing that’s where they could be taking them. Adam hopes to grant that wish and more, noting a marker of success is the number of nonacademy students registering to be campers. He is proud to show them a taste of what they offer. A

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is a goal of Adam’s as well as the quality and depth.

Embracing the Cultural Jewish Fold in the Temecula Valley

by Lisa McGuigan and Stacia Deutsch

Jewish Together Temecula Valley (JTTV) is a new grassroots initiative in the area. The group’s inaugural event was a Passover seder that boasted 130 attendees.

“We’re stunned at our own success,” confessed Stacia Deutsch, a reform rabbi in the area. “We went to Europa Winery (in Temecula) to see the room we’d use for the seder and honestly thought we’d get 30 or 40 guests. We sold out and were squeezing people in on the day of the event!”

JTTV started when four families came together organically.

Rabbi Deutsch and her husband, Jim Seilsopour, arrived four years ago after their last child went to college. Jim was part of the equestrian community and made friends quickly. Stacia, who hadn’t

Kay’s long-term vision is a brick and mortar Jewish Community Campus with space for events, meetings, religious school and eventually a summer day-camp.

worked as a Jewish professional in years, knew she needed to carve out a place for herself. She began to invite Jewish families to their home for dinner and conversation.

Historically, there have been four synagogues in the Temecula Valley. A conservative congregation in Murrieta, a reform congregation that shares their building, a second conservative congregation that met in Old Town and a Chabad. The two conservative communities are now blending and the reform congregation is changing location to a space in the Methodist Church. There is also an active Hadassah with two chapters and an organization dedicated to memorializing the Holocaust.

“There are several small organizations,” Lisa McGuigan, past Marketing Director for the Jewish Federation of San Diego County noted, “but nothing centralizing or unifying. We moved to the area during Covid because we wanted more space, better schools and a different speed of life. What became apparent early on was that there were very few Jewish opportunities for families with young children. I created a Facebook group for local Jewish and interfaith families and right before Hanukkah, I decided to throw a party and invite the entire community. To my surprise, more than 75 people RSVPed. It was clear there was a need for something that wasn’t being offered in the area and I knew I could help.”

Juli and Paul Rycus were also new to the area. They’d both served on their temple board for many years in Thousand Oaks, California and were searching for the vibrant community they’d left behind. “We had experience in bringing non-engaged Jews into the cultural Jewish fold,” Juli said. “And we were looking for ways to connect with other Jewish people in this area.”

Paul had used his organization and management skills in their home synagogue and they were ready to find community in the valley. “I like event Judaism,” Paul remarked. “Our specialty became providing events for our congregants who loved to attend regardless of religious affiliation. That’s where we started with JTTV.” He designed the website and with collaboration from the group, defined the mission, “Jewish Together Temecula Valley is a grassroots initiative for celebrating Jewish Togetherness in the Valley.”

The fourth couple to join the “committee” were Kay and Richard Yuspeh. They’re snowbirds who have been coming to the area for 22 years from Wisconsin. Kay bonded with Stacia’s husband, Jim, over their love for horses. In all the years that they’ve embraced the Temecula Valley, they never sought out a Jewish community, but when Kay sold a chain of Wisconsin sports clubs, she and Richard decided that they’d spend more time in the region. They quickly realized the kind of Jewish connections they were looking for didn’t exist.

“I’m a consensus builder,” Kay said, touting her 30-plus years of business experience. “When we all decided to have this seder, I knew we’d need support from the existing community leadership.” Kay went to each congregation, told them JTTV’s plans, and in the end, they all sent out the flyers and were represented at the seder. Kay’s long-term vision is to have a brick-and-mortar Jewish Community Campus where all the existing organizations and the new ones too, can have space for events, meetings, religious school and eventually a summer day camp. “We’re dreaming big,” Kay admitted.

For the families that founded Jewish Together Temecula Valley, the seder was the first step in bringing Jews and interfaith families together under one banner. In their most recent meeting, they discussed an invitation from the JCC in San Diego to be supported in partnership with their J-berhood program, which would help with resources and programming.

“The JCC leadership has given us guidance in defining our goals,” Lisa commented. “As we move forward, JTTV hopes to be the valley’s one stop that has all the information for local Jewish life. Whether you’re moving or visiting, if you want to plug in Jewishly, we’ll be able to share what’s going on in the synagogues, broader community and with our own events.”

After the seder, they distributed a survey to the attendees. Paul Rycus tallied the results and the reviews and found that 75% of respondents wanted holiday events and 65% wanted networking events for adults.

Their next big event will be an adult evening under the stars at a local ranch, complete with tacos and s’mores on June 17.

The group is still discovering its voice and role, but has no shortage of passion or vision as they work together to provide a meaningful Jewish connection in their own backyard. A

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The real Jewish history behind Netflix’s ‘Transatlantic’ and the WWII rescue mission that inspired it

by Shira Li Bartov, JTA News

While the United States swung its door shut to most refugees during World War II, a young American in France saved thousands, including some of the 20th century’s defining artists and thinkers–such as Marc Chagall and Hannah Arendt–from the Nazis.

The rescue mission of Varian Fry, which went largely unrecognized during his life, is the subject of Netflix’s new seven-episode drama “Transatlantic,” from “Unorthodox” creator Anna Winger.

After France surrendered to Germany, Fry was among 200 Americans — including journalists, artists, museum curators,

university presidents and Jewish refugees–to create the Emergency Rescue Committee at the Hotel Commodore in New York.

The group developed legal and illegal branches, with the cover organization offering humanitarian relief while a behind-the-scenes operation flouted the law to help refugees escape. Continue

Local Offerings

BY EILEEN SONDAK

SAN DIEGO OPERA

sdopera.org

MAY 12-14: The Falling and Rising

The San Diego Opera is ready to unveil a new opera — co-commissioned by the company (along with other opera organizations) and the U.S. Army Field Band and Soldier’s Chorus. This welcome new work will be performed at the Balboa Theater. The opera captures the spirit of the U.S. Military, while exploring themes of service, sacrifice and family. “The Falling…” focuses on a wounded female warrior in an induced coma and the lead role is played by Active Military Sergeant Teresa Alzadon.

BROADWAY SAN DIEGO

broadwaysd.com

MAY 9-14: 1776

Before there was a blockbuster megahit called “Hamilton,” there was “1776,” a musical about the founding fathers. Now Broadway-San Diego is bringing this history-based musical to the Civic Theater for a week-long run. A multiracial and female cast will portray the iconic revolutionaries in this celebration of American independence.

NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE

northcoastrep.org

THRU MAY 21: Murder on the Links

The North Coast Repertory Theater is showing off a world premiere by Steven Dietz. This who-dun-it is based on the novel by Agatha Christie. Directed by the author, the play features Hercule Poirot on a mission to solve one of the most intricate mysteries of his career. You can try to solve it with the great detective this month.

LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE

lajollaplayhouse.org.

MAY 11-JUNE 4: La Lucha

Presented in conjunction with the Museum of Contemporary Art, “La Lucha” transports audiences into the world of Mexican wrestlers, using masks and high-flying maneuvers to delight audiences.

THE OLD GLOBE THEATRE

theoldglobe.org

THRU MAY 7: Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play

This whimsical new work takes place in 1999, with an awkward Asian American high schooler at the center of the plot. The play is a hilarious time-traveling adventure through the world of teenaged crushes, family legacies and zany elements.

THRU JUNE 25: Destiny of Desire

The Old Globe is calling this show “an unapologetic telenovela in two acts.” The show explores the joys, trials and tribulations, along with the plot twists of love, with humor and wit. The clever work pays homage to the telenovela “Native Gardens,” revealing what happens when two babies are swapped–leaving one in outlandish wealth and the other in poverty. Exciting choreography and live music enhance the production, while the emotional roller coaster speeds to its conclusion.

Anna Mikami as Ami and Eunice Bae as Exotic Deadly in Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play.

PHOTO BY RICH SOUBLET II.

Murder on the Links. PHOTO BY AARON RUMLEY.

More Than 300 San Diegans Gather at Community Holocaust Commemoration for Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, hosted by Jewish Federation of San Diego

by Jason Edelstein

More than 300 people gathered on Apr. 16 at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center to mark Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. The event was hosted by Jewish Federation of San Diego and included a video honoring 70 years of Holocaust survivors in San Diego. A panel discussion featured a Holocaust survivor and second-generation family

members sharing how they created new lives in the community. Yom HaShoah is a day to remember the six million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust by the Nazis during World War II. The remembrance pays tribute to those who survived and is intended to teach future generations, so it never happens again.

Federation’s mantra is “Never Forget and Never Again.” The program

Federation Joins National Effort to Support Holocaust Survivors in Poverty

To mark Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jewish Federation of San Diego has joined 40 community organizations across the country, national funders, organizations and stakeholders to raise money to support the 25,000 Holocaust survivors living in poverty in the United States.

This collaborative initiative funds emergency needs like rent, utilities, food, transportation and medical services. The initiative is spearheaded by Seed the Dream Foundation and KAVOD-Ensuring Dignity for Survivors.

highlighted how the Holocaust survivor community has influenced San Diego and the Jewish community over the past 70 years. There also is a self-guided installation at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center Gotthelf Art Gallery, Apr. 12-May 24, that displays historical photographs and descriptive information that tells the story of survivors living in San Diego.

Rabbi Dr. Hillel E. Silverman passed away peacefully at the age of 99 years old while surrounded by the love of his close family members on April 10th, 2023 in Los Angeles, California

Rabbi Hillel E. Silverman’s prominent career in the rabbinate spanned over 70 years. He served as the Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel in Dallas for 10 years. He then went on to serve as the Senior Rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles for 16 years. After 20 years as a Spiritual Leader of Temple Sholom, Greenwich, Connecticut, he “retired” in 2001 as Rabbi Emeritus. From 2001-2002, he served as Distinguished Visiting Rabbi and Scholar-in-Residence

of Congregation Beth El, La Jolla, California. Rabbi Silverman finished his career serving as the Senior Rabbi at B’nai Shalom in Vista, California and a Visiting Scholar at Valley Beth Shalom in Los Angeles. A month prior to his passing, he was honored at Valley Beth Shalom before the Torah and the entire congregation in celebration of his 99th birthday, the birth of his great-grandson and the upcoming wedding of his grandchild.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut on Feb. 24, 1924, he is the son of Rabbi Morris and Althea Silverman. His father was spiritual Leader of Emanuel Synagogue for fifty years and achieved national prominence as editor and compiler of numerous prayer books

used throughout the world. His mother was a well-known author. Rabbi Silverman was married to Roberta Silverman for over 40 years.

Dr. Silverman spent several years in San Diego as the Interim Rabbi at Temple Beth El in 2001-2002 and as the Senior Rabbi at B’nai Shalom in Vista, California from 2004-2018. He spent his final years in Los Angeles, California, where he delivered guest sermons as a Visiting Scholar at Valley Beth Shalom until 2023. A month prior to his passing, he was honored at Valley Beth Shalom before the Torah and entire congregation in celebration of his 99th birthday, the birth of his great-grandson, and the upcoming wedding of his grandchild.

JCC Nierman

Preschool Expands

The State of California expanded the JCC Nierman Preschool’s license to include a second toddler classroom. The school now has open slots for toddlers (18-24 months) and children (2-4-years-old).

The City of San Diego Public Library (SDPL) is adding Sunday hours at 14 of its 36 library locations (1-5 p.m.).

“The City is excited to restore these vital library services to residents,” said Chief Operating Officer Eric Dargan. “The success of the recent City career fair allowed the San Diego Public

Library to fill the positions that make these Sunday hours possible. More than 200 people applied to work at the library, which is a testament to the great work that SDPL does every day.”

Carmel Valley Library, Central Library and La Jolla/Riford Library are among the 14 libraries adding Sunday hours.

FOOD

by Micah Siva noshwithmicah.com

Raspberry Almond Loaf

With the wild weather we’ve been having, I’ve been leaning on comforting recipes and snacks to power me through rainy days. Almond flour is the secret to delicious baked goods that make you feel great. Packed with healthy fats and plant-based protein, almond flour helps to make this cake irresistibly moist, with a light nutty flavor. The key to getting a light and fluffy cake is by whipping the egg whites with sugar before gently folding it into the batter. This provides lift to the loaf, despite using a hearty flour.

MAKES 1 LOAF, SERVES 8

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 large eggs, separated

• ⅓ cup sugar

• ¼ cup almond milk

• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract

• ½ tsp. lemon zest

• ¼ tsp. sea salt

• 2 ½ cups almond flour

• 1 tbsp. baking powder

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• ½ tsp. ground ginger

• 1 cup frozen raspberries

• 1 tbsp. tapioca or cornstarch

• 2 tbsp. sliced almonds

PREPARATION:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan.

2. Using a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the egg whites and sugar until soft peaks form.

3. In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks, almond milk, vanilla, lemon zest and sea salt.

4. Add the almond flour, baking powder, cinnamon and ginger to the egg yolk mixture. Mix with a spatula. Gently fold in egg whites, ½ cup at a time into the almond flour mixture until a batter forms.

5. In a small bowl, toss the frozen raspberries and potato starch. Fold into the batter.

6. Transfer the batter to the lined loaf pan and sprinkle with almond slices.

7. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

8. Let cool in the pan before serving.

by Marnie Macauley, M.S. | marniemacauley@gmail.com

Celebrities on Their Jewish Mothers

My Dear San Diegans:

All who are born in the Jewish faith have one thing in common: a Jewish mother. Over the years, I’ve been privileged to interview and research many extraordinary people for my books and calendars. In honor of Mother’s Day, I bring you their equally fascinating comments about their Jewish mothers. In writing my book “The Yiddishe Mama: The Truth About the Jewish Mother,” the resonance, the connectedness, the humor about some Jewish mothers and some of their Jewish children, could have been heard in my own childhood (and adult) kitchen.

According to Dr. Bruno Halioua, author of “Meres Juives des Hommes Celebres (Jewish Mothers of Famous Men),” about 12,000 of France’s 150,000 physicians (8 percent) are Jews, whereas Jews make up only 1 percent of the country’s overall population.

“We got to talking about our mothers,” he said. “And I realized that most of my Jewish colleagues got into medical studies because we were prompted to do so by our mothers. It’s the same all over for the children of Jewish immigrants — medicine or law!” laughed Dr. Halioua. “I think that is the secret of Jewish mothers, in giving not only love like all mothers, but tremendous self-assurance to their children.”

JASON ALEXANDER — actor, “Seinfeld” fame:

When Jason dropped out of college in 1980, leaving his New Jersey home for a studio apartment in Manhattan, to become an actor, “She wept,” he said. “That’s what Jewish mothers do. I was throwing my life away.” He told her, “Mom, in 10 years I’ll be doing Tevye on Broadway.” He beat his own prediction and did Tevye nine years later. His parents, Alex and Ruth Greenspan, attended the opening – and his mom wept throughout the show, which of course, is what Jewish mothers do. And from there he became “a rich man.”

MEL BROOKS as the 2000 Year Old Man:

“I’m proud to say that I was the first Jew to study medicine at the big medical cave...I graduated in a week...My mother was the first one in history to say, ‘This is my son, the doctor.’ She coined that phrase.”

MICHAEL MEDVED — Nationally Syndicated Conservative Talk Show Host:

“My mom insisted on buying oneday-old meat and baked goods. As a pre-teener, I was embarrassed, but she made the point that there’s nothing embarrassing about being sensible.

She’d say, ‘People have better things in life to do than watch you.’”

“My mother was sloppy. When I was applying to college, she cleaned up the living room for my interview with Harvard. I was scrubbed and put on a skinny tie. This guy comes in and my dad, who happened to be home, says hello... in his underwear. She shrugged. ‘Don’t worry about this [shmegegge].’ So I went to Yale...

The Jewish Mother knows values and insists her children share them, live them. She treasures tradition. The keeper of the family welfare — that’s her purpose in life. Her waking hours are spent figuring out ways to make her child and husband more successful and she will sacrifice. ”

SUSIE ESSMAN — comic, actress (Curb Your Enthusiasm):

“My mother’s from the school that the minute you walk in the house you have to eat,” she said in an interview, describing her mother Zora. “She asks, ‘What can I get you?’ and if I say, ‘Nothing,’ the question just continues. One Thanksgiving, there were only six of us, and she had two 20-pound turkeys — plus brisket. Not to mention the eight sides and 15 pies and cakes and halvah. I went onstage that night to do stand-up and I just read the menu from her dinner.”

While doing the book, I spoke to mama Zora, she had a slightly different take on the matter. “My kids don’t know this part of me... a lot of it is, but it’s really not me. The fact is, I do make two turkeys on Thanksgiving but...I’m trying to please everybody...one likes this dressing, another likes that dressing. My children say I have a brisket under my skirt...not me.”

FRAN DRESCHER — actress:

“I was fed when I was sad, I was fed when I was good, we ate to celebrate, we ate to mourn...and in between, we’d discuss what we were going to eat later.”

MALLORY LEWIS — entertainer, writer, producer, daughter of the late Shari Lewis:

“My mother’s best quality was that in her eyes I was perfect. She was always on my side,” said Mallory, whose “sibling” was a puppet named Lambchop. Was

she ever jealous of her “little sister” who, when Mal was young, got all the public attention? She laughed. “Not at all. I knew she was a sock. But Lambchop was a source of comfort. Today, my own son would tell Lambchop secrets which mom will never hear!” Like her mother, Mallory is convinced her progeny is perfect. “Whenever we have a disagreement I convince him I know best because, I tell him, ‘I made you in my tummy.’ My son is going to be a wonderful hubby. Like my own mother, I support him totally.”

NORMAN LEAR — producer:

“[Some] years ago, I was pleased and honored and amused to address the National Press Club on... faith, vision and values in American life,” said Norman Lear. “The amusement was occasioned by a vivid memory of my late Jewish mother. I had phoned her and said: ‘Mom, the TV academy has just

established a Hall of Fame and guess who the first inductees will be? Milton Berle, William Paley, David Sarnoff, Lucille Ball, Edward R. Murrow and me.’ After a short beat, my mother said: ‘Look, if that’s what they want to do, who am I to say?’”

TOVAH FELDSHUH — actress, singer:

“My mother, Lily, was a phenomenal parent,” says Tovah Feldshuh. “She was the connoisseur of tough love. She would say: ‘Selfish people are the loneliest people in the world,’ ‘Never beg a man for a hat...you buy your own.’ ‘When you walk into a room, see what’s wanted and needed in that space.’ ‘Be ruthlessly honest.’”

Tovah, herself the mother of two, has her own philosophy. “To be a good mother, Jewish or otherwise, you need to do two things: love your children unconditionally — and show up.” A

Mary Epsten

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