June 2024

Award-Winning Musicians in Your Own Backyard

Renowned classical artists such as Thomas Adès, Augustin Hadelich, Joyce Yang, and Anthony McGill will join visual artists The Paper Cinema, dancer Caleb Teicher, and others for unique concert experiences you won’t want to miss during this year's SummerFest.

Inon Barnatan, M Music Director

Jazz Chamber Music Choral

Fred Tomaselli, Head with Flowers [detail],

JEWISH SUMMER

CAMP

CHABAD JEWISH CENTER

GAN ISRAEL

Scripps Ranch

JUNE 17JULY 26

Coastal Gan Izzy Encinitas

JULY 29AUGUST 23

Coronado JULY 126

North County Inland

JUNE 24AUGUST 2

We have locations all over San Diego! Scripps Ranch (Chabad S. Diego HQ), Bonita, Carlsbad North, Carmel Valley, Coronado, Downtown, East County, Encinitas, Escondido, La Costa, La Jolla, North County Inland, Oceanside/Vista, Pacific Beach, Penasquitos, Rancho S Fe, SDSU, Tierra Santa, UCSD, University City

(From left to right) Gary & Lisa Levine, Ed & Barbara Shapiro, Sharon & David Wax, Cindy & Larry Bloch

Presenting Anonymous & Irwin Jacobs

Marie G. Raftery & Dr. Robert A. Rubenstein

Sharon & David Wax

Title Anonymous (Charitable Adult Rides & Services)

Premier

Jerri-Ann & Gary Jacobs

Dinner

Karen & Jeff Silberman

Cindy & Larry Bloch • Marjorie & Sheldon Derezin • Diane & Elliot Feuerstein

Hanna & Mark Gleiberman • Gary & Lisa Levine and A.J. Gallagher

Arlene & Louis Navias • The Shapiro Foundation • Randi & Charles Wax

Heart of the Family

Belmont Village Senior Living – La Jolla • Jamie Carr • Crust Kitchen

Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego • Jewish Federation of San Diego

Sylvia Liwerant • LourdMurray • Meiselman Family • Network Distribution

Congresswoman Lynn Schenk & Terry Fechter • University of California San Diego

Architects

Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek • Neil Senturia & Barbara Bry • Susan Shmalo • Linda Silverman

Nancy & Alan Spector • Jill & Mark Spitzer • The Salk Institute • Karin & Tony Toranto

Sheava & Bryan Wax • Rick Weitzen • Emma & Leo Zuckerman Gala Patrons

ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties • Honorable Jan Adler & Karen Hartz • Sarah Bakhiet

BYCOR General Contractors • Mary & Jon Epsten • Linda Fredin & Gary Frost

Gay & Lesbian Fund for San Diego • Jean & Franklin Gaylis • Dr. Rachel & Ryan Goldenhar

Jennifer & Mathew Kostrinsky • Linda & Edward Janon • Seth Krosner & Phil Johnson

Anita & Rabbi Marty Lawson • Leichtag Foundation LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care, Ohr Ami, The Jewish Hospice Program and The LightBridge Hospice Community Foundation

Morgan Stanley PWM, Bancroft Bleimeyer • Sonder Group • Susan & Jim Morris

Beth Goldenberg Newton • Fern & Lee Siegel • Jill Stone • Susan Chortek Weisman & Eric Weisman

Rachel & Adam Welland • Helene & Allan Ziman

PUBLISHERS

Mark Edelstein and Dr. Mark Moss

EDITOR

Susan Edelstein

On the Cover

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Makayla Hoppe

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Eileen Sondak

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Donna D’Angelo

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Ronnie Weisberg

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mandy Patinkin and Theatrical Milestones. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Emily Bartell, Linda Bennett, Leorah Gavidor, Emily Gould, Patricia Goldblatt, Sharon Rosen Leib, Andrea Simantov, Marnie Macauley, Lisa McGuigan, Rabbi Jacob Rupp, Rachel Eden, T.S. McNeil, Sybil Kaplan.

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Alan Moss | Palm Springs

EDITORIAL

editor@sdjewishjournal.com

ADVERTISING marke@sdjewishjournal.com

CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS ronniew@sdjewishjournal.com

ART DEPARTMENT art@sdjewishjournal.com

LISTINGS & CALENDAR assistant@sdjewishjournal.com

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 ©2024 by San Diego Jewish Journal. The San Diego Jewish Journal is a member of the American Jewish Press Association and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. San Diego Jewish Journal (858) 638-9818 | fax: (858) 263-4310 #SDJewishJournal SanDiegoJewishJournal sdjewishjournal.com

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SUNDAY, JUNE 30 Jewish Federation of San Diego will host a community gathering at the Corona Beachhouse, which offers stunning views of the Paddock and the Plaza. This private outdoor area will be transformed into a lounge-like atmosphere, complete with complimentary fair snacks like cotton candy and popcorn. Plus, there’s a no-host bar for those who fancy a refreshing adult beverage. And be sure to join us at 12:30PM to capture the memories with a group photo!

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SUSAN EDELSTEIN

Celebrating Art in San Diego

“The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be happy as kings.” I can’t agree more with this sentiment from Robert Louis Stevenson, especially regarding the vitality of the art experience in our community. From the exuberant flair of Mother Nature everywhere we look to the abundance of performing arts venues throughout our metropolitan area, San Diego has enough offerings to keep us busy and breathless for the entire summer and beyond.

Check out some of our area’s 81 performing arts theatres, from downtown’s robust Civic Theatre to the intimate Coronado Lamb’s Players Theatre to neighborhood venues like the Scripps Ranch Theatre celebrating 46 years in community theatre. For the visual arts, you can choose among 28 museums, from our gorgeous Museum of Art in Balboa Park to The New Children’s Museum, where kids can explore and create. For live music, there are hundreds of venues from the largest arenas like Viejas, Pechanga and San Diego Symphony’s Rady Shell to the smaller, hugely popular places like downtown’s House of Blues and Music Box to The Belly Up in Solana Beach in operation since 1974.

In this issue, we cover the iconic Summer Shakespeare Festival at the beloved Old Globe, which will mark a major milestone for the theatre as it completes the Bard’s canon. This month, JFEST will celebrate 31 years of presenting Jewish history, people and ideas through music, theatre, dance, comedy and food. We are also sharing the important and heart-warming work of ArtReach, a community organization dedicated to bringing art, hands-on and participatory art, to our school children through the joyous efforts of many volunteers. And this summer, La Jolla Playhouse presents yet another world-premiere musical under the direction of multi-award-winning Des McAnuff.

We also want to celebrate the art of writing, particularly that of our SDJJ contributors, whose work I look forward to each month: from Andrea Simantov with her poignant and personal perspective on life in Israel, to the very timely commentary of Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort, to the education in literature from Travis McNeil and the presentation of innovative artists from Marnie Macauley, and from the art of deliciousness from our Micah Siva to the enjoyment of our sumptuous outdoors with Lisa McGuigan’s summer Shabbats. I also want to acknowledge my co-workers whose art continues to lift me — thank you, Donna and Makayla.

So get out there, San Diego, and reap what is ours. A

Our Town

by Linda Bennett and Emily Bartell

The annual Yom HaShoah Community Holocaust Commemoration on Sunday, May 16 at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center was one that will be forever etched in our minds. Filled to capacity, the room was completely absorbed by the profound insights into the Holocaust as described by the keynote speaker, Mitch Albom. Best-selling author Albom, whose latest book, “The Little Liar,” set against the backdrop of the Holocaust, gave the audience a weighty understanding and served as a strong reminder of the importance of preserving the memories of this dark period in our history. Amongst those in the packed house were Alana Iglewicv with daughter Ellie Lerner (age 10), Marcy and Isaac Blumberg, Lynn and Michael Greenstein, Roberta Berman, Len Gregory, Rabbi Ralph Dalin, Mayor Todd Gloria, Selwyn Isakow, Karen Levenson, Lorraine Lachman and Andrea Schneider

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

• June 16 at the House of Israel in Balboa Park. CELEBRATE ISRAEL!

• June 23 at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, the Miriam Chapter of Hadassah presents Hypno Diva Comedian, Marsha Starr. All proceeds go to Hadassah Hospital.

Mazel Tov to Rabbi Devorah Marcus and Sebastian Eickholt on the birth of their son, Rafael Natan. Rafael’s grandmother, Nancy Marcus, is ecstatic with joy!

Mazel Tov to Shanni and Gil Argavani on the birth of their son, Yonatan (Yoni) Argavani. Yoni’s grandparents are Jodi and Ilan Argavani. Delighted great-grandmother is Carol Davis!

Mazel Tov to Meghan Hansen and Alan Trabejo on the birth of their twin daughters, Avalyn and Maelyn

Making an early appearance, the girls were born on March 17 in Colorado. Grandparents, Aimee and Sunny Hansen, and great-grandparents, Beverly and Steve Lachman, are overjoyed!

Mazel Tov to Tamar Caspi and Idan Shnall on their son, Remy, becoming a Bar Mitzvah at Temple Beth Israel on April 20. Grandparents, Leslie and Shlomo Caspi and Sara and Arie Shnall, along with Remy’s siblings, looked on with pride. Remy is in grade 7 at Kevod Charter School, which his mom helped found.

Mazel Tov to Sadie Jo Lipsher on becoming a Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth Israel on March 16. Sadie’s parents, Arlyn and Jonathan Lipsher, and her brother, Lukas, along with grandparents, Harriet and Bud Kader, were beaming with pride

Yom Huledets Sameach to...

Fern Cohen Siegel, celebrating her 86th birthday.

CELEBRATING Wedding Anniversaries

with infinite love & happiness, Mazel Tov to…

Sue and Dick Braun, 65 years.

Hannah Cohen and Elliott Edelstein, 62 years.

Lorna and Ronnie Diamond, 55 years.

Susan and Joel Volsky, 53 years.

Israel’s Eden Golan advances to Eurovision final as thousands protest in Malmö

by Shira Li Bartov, JTA News

Israeli singer Eden Golan advanced to Eurovision’s final on Thursday night, hours after thousands of people protested her inclusion in the contest while Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza continues.

In Malmö, the Swedish port city hosting the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, Golan’s performance of her song “Hurricane” received a mix of boos and cheers during Thursday’s semifinal, though the booing was

heavily muffled for at-home viewers in the TV broadcast. One man waving a Palestinian flag in the audience appeared to be escorted out by security.

Eurovision guidelines ban flags other than the national flags of contestants and the pride flag, meaning that Palestinian flags were not allowed in the Malmö Arena. Previously, a singer was reprimanded for wearing a keffiyeh, or Palestinian scarf.

This Jewish Gen-Z-er wants to be the next progressive pro-Israel congressman

by Ron Kampeas, JTA News

At least twice while campaigning in the small towns of the western stretch of Maryland’s 6th District, Joe Vogel headed to Shabbat services.

Synagogues in Cumberland and Frederick were only too happy to accommodate when his campaign called ahead and said the Jewish candidate wanted to stop by on a Saturday morning. In fact, the Frederick congregation had a favor to ask of the young elected official: Could he lift up a Torah scroll?

Before Eden Golan sang at Eurovision, Jewish teens from across Germany performed at Jewrovision

by Toby Axelrod, JTA News

A succession of musical acts, performed by elaborately costumed crews each representing a different place. An auditorium packed with screaming fans on the inside, and

dense with security outside. A winner to reign for the next year.

No, this isn’t Malmö in May, where the Eurovision Song Contest is underway amid tension over Israel’s

participation. It was instead Hannover on Easter Sunday, when Jewish children and teens from across Germany gathered for a different music competition: Jewrovision.

Continue reading these stories at sdjewishjournal.com

ISRAELI LIFESTYLE

LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE

by Andrea Simantov | andreasimantov@gmail.com

Hurricane

Only outsiders ask us, “How are you doing?” and pray we don’t answer because that answer is murky, bleak and spotty.

This isn’t to say that we don’t ask the aforementioned question of one another, already knowing the murky, bleak and spotty truth. We’re holding on. We’re so weary. Surprised that there are any tears left. And fatigued from a lack of trust. Feeling so shaky and isolated because many of those whom we considered friends have hardened their hearts and withdrawn all empathy. We grasp for straws of compassion, and our hands come back empty.

If the unbridled slaughter of farmers, dancers, moms, dads, students, layfolk, professionals and babies on October 7 was all that had happened, perhaps we’d say dayenu. If the kidnapping of more than 252 Israelis, foreigners, young, old, male, females and infants was all that had happened, perhaps we’d say dayenu. If our holy soldiers fell in battle both above ground and within an inconceivable network of tunnels, booby-trapped hospitals and nursery schools, perhaps we’d say dayenu. Huddling in my building’s ancient bomb shelter on a Saturday night with neighbors, we listened to the intercepting of 170 drones and 150 cruise and ballistic missiles that were lobbed at us from Iran. Dayenu? Nah. That’s a song that hovers over the seder table.

Upon returning from America at the tail end of Passover, I couldn’t catch my

breath. The virulent Jew-hatred which peppered nearly every moment of my U.S. visit was crippling. Ill-informed imbeciles had hijacked more than the campuses; they’d seized control of independent thought. Slogan-spewing lemmings had wrested all semblance of intellect, and people cowered. If the protestors were just embarrassingly ignorant and practitioners of selective morality, it might have been humorous, but no one is laughing. The danger is real, and it isn’t over. Here in Israel, our enemy neighbors are familiar to me — as cousins typically are — and we dance about one another cautiously while respectively raising our families and murmuring platitudes about an eventual peace. We no longer delude ourselves.

I haven’t been shy in sharing my perspectives on what is happening in the Jewish world and use my platforms with gusto: podcast, social media, magazine

articles and speaking engagements. Not everyone agrees with my POV, and I’ve enjoyed some healthy debates.

After Passover, however, my Facebook messenger was filled with ugly, hatefilled messages. Most of these notes repeated time-worn antisemitic slurs and threatened me and my children. I can’t lie; it was terrifying.

My husband read me the riot act at the Shabbos table as I whimpered, “Why do I need to do this? I’m going to quit. I’m so frightened.”

“This is what terror is,” Ronney explained. “That is how terror works. You are feeling vulnerable and powerless, and that is how they win.”

Eden Golan reminded me of what Jewish strength looks like. The beautiful 20-year-old singer represented Israel in the 2024 Eurovision contest, held this year in Malmo, Sweden. The

continues on page 20 >>

WRITTEN IN FIRE

by T.S. McNeil  tremcneil1980@gmail.com

Accounting For Taste

Art is said to be subjective, with every viewer coming to their own conclusion based on their own taste. A notion that, like many, is both true but also quite limited. Despite the adages about perspective and taste, there are actual technical elements that come into play when assessing the success of a piece outside of raw, arbitrary, aesthetic value. Someone who understood the difference between technique, execution and taste was Clement Greenberg, who still stands as one of America’s greatest and most exacting art critics.

Born in the Bronx at the turn of the century, Greenberg’s parents were middle-class Jewish immigrants, who were doing better than many immigrants, particularly in the prewar era. The eldest of three boys, he had the space to follow his own interests, catching the art bug early on and sketching and drawing almost compulsively until he’d finished high school, then switching his razor focus to the world of literature.

Reputed to be multilingual, adding French, German and Latin to the confirmed Yiddish and English skills he’d had from childhood, Greenberg spent a few years after graduating from Syracuse University in the family’s fairly lucrative dry-goods business but found that he wasn’t well suited to commerce. Relying on his language skills, Greenberg found a preferable position as a translator. For the next seven years, he moved from one steady government job to another,

Finally, at age 30, Greenberg gained attention in the art world with his landmark essay, “Avant-Garde and Kitsch.”

including positions at the Civil Service Administration and the Veterans Administration.

His fingers itching to write again, while never losing his eye for art, Greenberg finally started writing his groundbreaking, term-defining work in his late twenties.

Focusing on books and theater for the first two years of his writing career, it wasn’t until 1939 that Greenberg got back to his boyhood obsession with visual art. Finally, at age 30, Greenberg gained attention in the art world with his landmark essay, “Avant-Garde and Kitsch.” Published in the “Partisan Review,” Greenberg made the astounding claim that avant-garde and modernist art were a direct reaction to the intellectual erosion caused by rampant capitalism.

For Greenberg, the modernist art of the 1930s was something close to what the Dadaists had been doing since WWI, resisting the change in culture brought by commercialization by redefining it. On the matter of kitsch, a term that had existed since the mid-19th century, Greenberg connected the direct expression of kitsch arts to those of the academic arts in which clear expression based on established rules was the point. Kitsch follows the same basic rules but with a more blunt approach.

In both cases, the verdict was not kind. Avant-garde art as it was practiced was a bit too base and literal to be used as propaganda, which required a force of clarity to describe what Greenberg thought was intentionally low culture.

Working jobs that paid the bills, Greenberg found positions as an editor at “Partisan Review” and became a staff art critic at “The Nation” by 1942, before becoming the associate editor of “Commentary,” which would be one of his longest stations, lasting for twelve years from 1945 to 1957.

A free speech advocate before it was cool, Greenberg joined the American Committee for Cultural Freedom and softened his view on the avant-garde movement, seeing it as a viable method to give a critical commentary on experience, if falling short of effective political criticism. He also worked to adapt his thoughts on kitsch, which was evolving into something more positive as the notion of nostalgia gained in cultural

Israeli Lifestyle

competition is supposed to be void of political agendas, but this year’s only agenda was, seemingly, genocidal Israel and the outrage of having Zionists in their pristine midst. Security guards and police created barricades around the arena for an entire week as crowds surged forward, screaming for Jewish blood. Eden sat with her crew and a few die-hard fans throughout the preparatory week, enduring snubs and insults. This class act chose to forgo appearing in the opening ceremony and instead attended a Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony with members of the Malmo Jewish community. Needless to say, she was not invited to any Eurovision parties and celebrations.

And despite calls for her removal and near-deafening hazing from the crowds, the girl sang “Hurricane,” a gossamerveiled commemoration of the Simchat Torah massacre. The song had originally been called “October Rain,” but the overseeing committee deemed this to be offensively political, and it was changed.

She was majestic. In an interview immediately after her soul-searing performance, she said, “Every ‘boo,’ every hate-filled jeer strengthened me to do my best for our amazing people, our brave soldiers, and our beautiful country. Am Yisrael Chai!”

How are we doing? It’s hard, but we have choices. We can buckle and bend, or ascend and sing. The fight for Jewish survival continues and for those

Literature

continued

dominance while still defining it as a  seudo-culture that ran parallel to more serious forms.

By the 1950s, going bravely against the opinions of American art heavy hitters like Norman Rockwell, Greenberg openly championed new American abstract expressionism, Jackson Pollock in particular, calling it the next evolution in modern art, actually changing the dimensions perceived by emphasizing the flat plain of the canvas as opposed to the perspective tricks giving the sense of three dimensions.

In relation to this, Greenberg also helped to popularize the notion of medium specificity, which emphasized the nature of the medium in relation to the artist’s ability to manipulate those aspects, emphasizing the flatness of a canvas in lieu of illusion and figurative techniques.

His support for medium specificity also led Greenberg to be gently skeptical of pop art. The crossover of mediums, such as paintings of consumer products,

showed an “openness and clarity as against the turgidness of secondgeneration Abstract Expression.”

Though, as with post-war, avant-garde and early kitsch, pop art was too empty of purpose, largely based on surface-level mimicry to truly challenge taste.

If there was one thing Greenberg could honestly be said to have hated, it was postmodernism in both art and social movements. Antagonistic to the new got the 50-something Greenberg and the art he supported dismissed as old-fashioned, as he had once done with the likes of Rockwell in the fracas over Pollock.

Disillusioned with abstract expressionism, which had itself become redundant as it got more popular, Greenberg moved on again. Shifting his focus to painters and paintings that emphasized the literal aspects of painting, such as the flatness of the canvas and the basic color field, most mimicking Yves Klein only without the originality of creating their own shades,

of us who are sitting on the front row of unfolding Jewish history, I confess: The chairs are shaking.

Sometimes, we need to turn off the news, silence the blather, and listen to the holiness that pulses within our communal heart. Faith is hard to come by but I know with every fiber of my being we will not be abandoned. In time — please, God, let it be soon — we will rise above the fray and soar. 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.

for which Greenberg coined the term post-painterly abstraction.

Meant to distinguish the term from abstract expressionism, the name was, in part, a swipe at postmodernism, which the work itself ironically resembled, particularly in terms of the work of Frank Stella, which Greenberg came to endorse. Greenberg’s issue with the postmodern approach had more to do with philosophy than execution. Greenberg saw post-painterly abstraction as an extension of modernist self-criticism, assuming there is still an internal logic and meaning expressed in grand narratives and enhancing it, as opposed to ignoring it entirely like postmodernists. 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.

by Lisa McGuigan  temeculatots@gmail.com

Embracing Summer Shabbats

As the longer summer days approach, there is a newfound buzz and excitement in the air. The school year has come to an end, and the opportunity to reconnect with family, friends and cherished traditions feels more attainable. Balmy evenings, later bedtimes and this overall quieter season allow for new ways to explore and discover the magic of a summer Shabbat. Read on to dive into some of the ways we’ll be infusing new energy and meaning into a quieter, slower summer Shabbat.

Southern California boasts some of the most iconic beaches in the world, offering a diverse range of experiences and landscapes. This summer, consider a Beach Shabbat celebration by the sea. La Jolla Cove is a perfect choice for its crystal-clear waters and abundance of wildlife, including birds, seals and sea lions. If you care to venture farther, Baby Beach, located in Dana Point, is a picturesque and family-friendly beach known for its calm and shallow waters. Wherever you land, there is nothing quite like welcoming Shabbat as the sun sets over the ocean. Pack a picnic, grab some towels, and you’ve got yourself the perfect Summer Shabbat that your family will remember for seasons to come.

Not a fan of sand? Temecula offers some of Southern California’s greatest parks, and Shabbat at the Park is an

There’s nothing like welcoming Shabbat as the sun sets over the ocean.

Pack a picnic and grab some towels for the perfect summer Shabbat.

exciting way to engage children and make rituals more kid-focused and fun. There are several parks in and around the city, each of which holds a unique charm and style. Just outside of the Temecula Museum is Sam Hicks Monument Park, which is a great place to sit back, relax and take in the charm of Old Town Temecula. Other standouts include Vail Ranch Park, which offers a wildly popular zipline swing. Riverton Park and the safety-themed Stephen Linen Jr. Memorial Park are also noteworthy venues.

If traffic is too big of a bear to tackle on Shabbat, consider visiting a new park closer to home. The newly renovated Lake Poway Park offers modern facilities and amenities, updated picnic areas, an abundance of hiking trails and a gorgeous playground, all set to the backdrop of beautiful Lake Poway. Balboa Park, one of San Diego’s most iconic and beloved destinations, includes everything from gardens and museums to parks and theaters. Imagine celebrating Shabbat at the Japanese Garden, surrounded by tranquil ponds, lush greenery and a peaceful oasis. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature and cultural diversity while honoring the timeless tradition of Shabbat.

Finally, if Mother Nature is calling for a greater adventure, nothing can top a Shabbat hike or campout. Choose a scenic trail and embark on a leisurely hike with stops along the way for prayers and snacks. When you reach a scenic spot, enjoy a Shabbat picnic with breathtaking views and no distractions. Los Peñasquitos Reserve is a flat, well-maintained preserve suitable for families with children. In addition to birdwatching, rock collecting and exploring, this preserve features multiple trails, including a popular route that leads to a tranquil waterfall. If you care to travel farther, smalltown Julian offers cabins, trailer sites, individual tent sites and camping areas

Parenting continued

at William Heise Park and Lake Cuyamaca. Campers will love exploring the expansive grounds rich with wildlife, and be sure to grab yourself one of their world-famous pies for dessert.

Through outdoor celebrations, we deepen our connection to Jewish tradition and teach younger generations to be grateful for the natural wonders around them. It is a time to pause, reflect and explore together. No matter how you choose to welcome Shabbat, we wish you a joyous and meaningful summer season filled with family, friends, campfires and fun.

We want to hear your unique Shabbat ideas! Be sure to follow us on facebook at @SDJewishJournal and leave us a comment with your suggestions. A

Lisa McGuigan is an adventure-loving Jewish mama located in the Temecula Valley. She is also a co-founder of Jewish Together Temecula Valley, and creator of @temeculamama—a digital guide highlighting family-friendly fun in Southern California and beyond.

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Simon Wiesenthal LEGACY SOCIETY

JFEST 2024

Bringing Jewish Arts to San Diego

by Makayla Hoppe

For 31 years, JFEST has been bringing Jewish art, culture and history to the greater San Diego community. Artistic Director Todd Salovey and Producing Director Becca Myers have helped create a lineup for 2024 that will entertain, inform and enlighten audiences throughout the month of June.

“I think [JFEST] distinguishes itself because we develop a lot of original work in the Jewish festival and you can see by our programming this year that we love to be an incubator of new work,” Todd  said.

“We also love to encourage artists and arts organizations to explore Jewish content and Jewish themes in our work, and so, over the 31 years, we’ve developed a lot of plays, particularly plays and works in the theater that have started in the festival and been performed at venues around the country, and in Israel,” he added.

Events include the 15th annual “Women of Valor,” a production honoring the Jewish women of San Diego who have made a difference and given back to their communities. This year, the production will honor Sara Brown, Debbie Kornberg, Vered Libstein, Rabbi Devorah Marcus, Bev Pamensky and Dr. Barbara Parker.

Todd and Becca both contribute to the script for “Women of Valor,” along with Sarah Price Keating and local playwright Ali Viterbi.

“We’re honoring the women by creating an original play about them,” Todd said, “and we’ll gather six of San Diego’s top actresses to play the women. Year by year, it just sort of grows as being an important part of San Diego’s cultural landscape.”

This year’s festival headliner is Broadway veteran Mandy Patinkin in “Being Alive,” a concert filled with Mandy’s favorite Broadway and

American tunes. Mandy had been a sought-after performer for JFEST since the 90s, and Todd felt that 2024 was finally the year to make it happen.

“I always had this dream that the festival would help bring major Jewish headliners to San Diego, and at the end of last year, I was like, ‘Let’s do it,’” Todd said.

JFEST originated as a festival and program through San Diego Repertory Theatre. Although San Diego Rep suspended operations in 2022, the festival continued on as an independent organization.

“It was on a performance of ‘Women of Valor’ that I found out that the rep was ceasing operations,” Todd said. “I just announced to the crowd, ‘This is going to continue — I don’t know how, but it’s going to continue.’

We talked to a lot of community leaders in San Diego, and we were

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welcomed really generously into the family of the JCC.”

The Lawrence Family JCC now serves as a fiscal sponsor for the festival, as well as a venue for many different performances throughout the month. Events at the JCC include a performance by Nissim Black and “Comedy for Koby,” an evening with standup comedians.

Coastal Roots Farm will also serve as a venue for “REGENERATE! An EcoPerformance Fest” on June 30. The organization has taken ancient Jewish agriculture and wisdom and turned it into a community-based education center and working farm.

“We’ve commissioned four playwrights, a composer, and a choreographer to create new, original pieces...that have to do with ecology, the environment and with how Judaism views those things,” Becca said.

“REGENERATE!” started as a 24-hour play festival and has since been reworked into a single evening performance.

“We’re going to create this evening of original work that’s being performed by local actors being directed by amazing local directors that will focus on Judaism and the environment,” Becca added.

Becca feels that this year’s festival comes at a critical time and should be celebrated for what it brings to the community.

“The payoff of being at the shows and seeing the audience response feels so powerful, especially at a time that the Jewish community feels really important. It feels really important to be around Jewish joy right now,” she said.

JFEST has been at the center of Jewish art and culture in San Diego for decades. The festival continues to grow, with Todd reporting that its budget has tripled since becoming an independent organization. Every year brings new, talented performers, playwrights and directors to stages all over the county.

“It’s a labor of love,” Todd said. “We’ve been amazed how enthusiastic everyone is about continuing it, and it’s been a joy ride. It seems to happen in a very magical way.” A

JFEST 2024 JUNE LINEUP

Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Being Alive

7:30 p.m. | Balboa Theatre

The acclaimed singer and performer will cover his favorite Broadway and classic American songs, including work from Irving Berlin, Stephen Sondheim and Cole Porter.

10

La Obra (in Spanish)

7:30 p.m. | The Old Globe’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre

Presented by Ken Jewish Community and performed by the Teatro Punto Y Coma Acting Ensemble.

An original story that highlights everything that goes into putting on a show, from the directors to ushers and actors to technical personnel. The production will be sure to delight audiences with its surprises and twists.

13

La Obra

Second performance 8:45 p.m.

18

15th Annual Women of Valor

7:30 p.m. | Lawrence Family JCC

A festival mainstay that looks at six San Diego Jewish women who have influenced their local community and the Jewish community at large. The production will honor Sara Brown, Debbie Kornberg, Vered Libstein, Rabbi Devorah Marcus, Bev Pamensky and Dr. Barbara Parker this year.

20

Italian Jews Through the Generations

6:00 p.m. | Beverly and Joseph Glickman Hillel Center, UCSD

Playwright Ali Viterbi examines the Italian Jewish experience. Enjoy a delicious Italian meal prepared by award-winning Chef Benedetta Jasmine Guetta.

23

Women of Valor

Second performance 2:00 p.m.

24

Comedy for Koby

7:30 p.m. | Lawrence Family JCC

Standup comics Bob Zany and Kira Soltanovich will perform a hilarious show to benefit The Koby Mandell Foundation. Avi Liberman, a CBS and Comedy Central performer, will emcee the evening.

25 “Refuah” — Music and Performances of Healing

7:30 p.m. | Lawrence Family JCC

An evening of music, dance and poetry from some of San Diego’s finest performers. The production is a community-wide musical concert that strives to uplift the soul.

27

23rd Klezmer

Summit: From the Shtetl to the Shuk

7:30 p.m. | First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego

A deep dive into klezmer music, drawing from Middle-Eastern melodies in shucks (marketplaces). It features Jamie Papish (percussion) and Amos Hoffman (oud), joining Hot Pstromi and featuring Yale Strom, Elizabeth Schwartz, Gunnar Biggs, Fred Benedetti, and Tripp Sprague.

30 REGENERATE! An Eco-Performance Fest

5:00 p.m. | Coastal Roots Farm

Hosted by Coastal Roots Farm, an organization that takes ancient Jewish agriculture to heart. The evening will feature eco-theater, dance and music and end with a farm after-party.

A Celebratory Summer With the Bard

by Makayla Hoppe

Since its founding in 1935, The Old Globe has produced 33 of Shakespeare’s 36 plays. This summer, it will finally complete all of Shakespeare’s theatrical work with its productions of “Henry 6 One: Flowers and France” and “Henry 6 Two: Riot and Reckoning.” Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein has taken “Henry VI, Parts I, II and III” and adapted them into a two-part production running in repertory.

“Henry VI, Parts I, II and III” tells the story of the War of the Roses, a civil war that lasted over 50 years. After Henry V’s death, the House of York, symbolized by a white rose, and the House of Lancaster, symbolized by a red rose, fought for the English throne.

“The plays tell a story about the impact of political decisions, and in particular, what happens to the country when political leaders lose sight of the values that should guide them and also what happens to the country when there’s a long-lasting war,” Barry said.

It was no easy feat to take such a significant, three-part story and adapt it into two parts.

Rene, “Henry 6 One” — costume rendering by David Reynoso.

“Four years of hard work that are the culmination of 30 years as a Shakespearean [went into] trying to figure out which parts of the story to tell and which parts of the story not to tell,” Barry said. “Some of it is just trimming away repetitive material or unrelated episodes and trying to come up with a clear story for the audience to follow over two nights, and some of it is making choices about what themes to emphasize in the big sprawling canvas of Shakespeare’s story.”

The two productions will be the center of the Old Globe’s annual Shakespeare Festival. Each summer, the theater takes a Shakespearean production and surrounds it with community-wide interaction and involvement.

“From time to time, throughout Shakespeare’s three plays, [the king] visits regular people,” Barry said. “Most of the plays are about the political leaders — the king and the royal court and the queen and the various people jockeying for power — but sometimes he cuts away and just

checks in on what the impact of all this policy is on the lives of regular English people. So, we knew that the plays would need a very significant contingent of just regular citizens in order to tell that part of the story. And we decided that this was an opportunity for the Old Globe to bring together our professional art-making operation and our communitybased operation, which we call arts engagement.”

The Old Globe oversees 18 programs involving 50 local nonprofit organizations, including playwriting, acting and tactical theater programs that search San Diego’s neighborhoods to help individuals learn about the world of theater. For six months, the artistic designers, composer and choreographer have been holding workshops for San Diegans to participate in.

“Some of the scenery and some of the costuming will be influenced by the input of these community members who have been working with these designers in these workshops,” Barry said.

San Diegans participate in filming crowd scenes for “Henry 6.”

Several large crowd scenes in the production are represented by previously recorded videos. According to Barry, The Old Globe became a studio for several weekends and welcomed hundreds of San Diegans to participate in the filming.

The “Henry 6” productions will even feature walk-on roles for community members. “Literally every night, there will be members of the community who will be on stage with the professional actors,” Barry said.

In addition to the community involvement with “Henry 6,” Barry and The Old Globe will hold “Thinking Shakespeare Live!” The one-night engagement will have Barry discussing his book, “Thinking Shakespeare: A How-To Guide for Student Actors, Directors, and Anyone Else Who Wants to Feel More Comfortable with the Bard.” The book and the production are a Shakespeare how-to for novice and experienced Shakespeare-lovers alike.

These two repertory shows of “Henry 6” will make The Old Globe the 11th theater in the country to have produced all of Shakespeare’s theatrical work.

“[The festival] is basically a huge, huge, huge celebration of Shakespeare at The Old Globe using this landmark of completing Shakespeare’s canon,” Barry said. A

A Country Music Love Story

Comes to Town

Do you remember your first music-world crush? It was 1969 when I first saw Johnny Cash singing a duet with Bob Dylan. I had never seen anyone like him. Country music was a foreign entity in my circle of family and friends. My sister loved The Beatles, I was a Dylan fanatic, and my parents were steadfast Sinatra lovers, but when I saw Johnny Cash for the first time, I was riveted, mesmerized and thrilled. He had a magnetic bad boy look, dressed in black, sang in a deep, gravelly voice and performed for prisoners. Wow, I was hooked.

Johnny Cash is one of the bestselling music artists ever, and his music spanned genres. This crossover appeal earned him inductions into three Halls of Fame: Country Music, Rock and Roll and Gospel. June Carter Cash was an

by Susan Edelstein

equally talented musician, earning five Grammy Awards, including for their duet of “Jackson” in 1967. Johnny and June were married for 35 years and together, they were country music royalty.

So I, and I’m sure most of San Diego, are excited for the 2024-2025 season opener at La Jolla Playhouse of the world premiere musical “The Ballad of Johnny and June,” taking the stage May 28-July 7. The musical is based on the book by Robert Cary (“Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”) and La Jolla Playhouse Director Emeritus and twotime Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (“Jersey Boys,” “The Who’s Tommy”), with music and lyrics by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash (of course) and others. Their love story is told through the eyes of their son, John Carter Cash, from their first meeting in 1956 at the

Grand Ole Opry through all of their “soaring highs and whiplash lows of fame, life on the road, addiction, arrests, controversies, marriage, family and devotion.”

With this musical, La Jolla Playhouse welcomes the return of its own renowned director, Des McAnuff. The cast features Broadway stars Christopher Ryan Grant (“Million Dollar Quartet”) as Johnny Cash, Patti Murin (“Frozen”) as June Carter Cash, and Van Hughes (“American Idiot”) as John Carter Cash. The soundtrack includes beloved hits like “I Walk the Line,” “Ring of Fire,” “Jackson,” and many more.

So, get ready, San Diego, for “The Ballad of Johnny and June,” sure to be a must-see, must-hear extravaganza for both old fans (like me) and about-to-be fans (like you). A

Patti Murin, Christopher Ryan Grant and Van Hughes with the cast in rehearsal for La Jolla Playhouse’s world-premiere musical. PHOTO BY RICH SOUBLET.

Storyteller

Work

by

Holly Roberts

Through September 1, 2024

ArtReach — A Gift that Lasts a Lifetime

by Susan Edelstein

I was lucky enough to work at a middle school in San Diego that had and still has a fabulous visual arts teacher and program (shout out here to Trish Cox at Muirlands) that our students enjoyed and benefited from. Trish is very knowledgeable, hands-on and hardworking; she exposed our students to many artists and forms of art and turned our campus into an artistic showpiece with murals and sculptures and an annual gallery of work open to proud and appreciative parents. However, not all children have this exposure and experience.

ArtReach is on a mission to change that. As everyone knows, visual art is transformative, and participating in it opens eyes and minds to a world that is uniquely human and as long and storied as humanity itself. SDJJ connected with Anna Laroque, the Advancement Manager at ArtReach and had a few questions for her.

SDJJ: Anna, we know that ArtReach was created in 2007 in response to the educational budget cuts that eliminated virtually all funding for arts education in public schools. This seems like a drastic and devastating thing to do to our children. Can you describe the loss of the arts on school children and the ways ArtReach works to restore what was lost?

Anna Laroque: Drastic cuts to arts funding is the reason ArtReach exists. Art has always been one of the first programs to be cut from schools, but it’s such a vital part of each young person’s creative development. Fortunately, arts advocates and organizations like ArtReach continue to fight for more funding in the

Artist Lux Meteora with participating students at Roosevelt Middle School in Oceanside.

Proud young artists at Jefferson Elementary in North Park.

city budget to be allocated to arts and culture each year. ArtReach’s purpose is to help fill the gap at schools and with community groups that are lacking the funding and opportunities by offering free and low-cost visual arts education programs to anyone that needs it.

SDJJ: Your Mural Program was created in 2019. Can you describe its launch and purpose?

AL: The Mural Program began as a way to expand our workshops in the classroom to a larger project for the students to beautify their school. One of the school teachers we worked with at the time asked if ArtReach could help paint a wall in their school’s garden. We had never done a mural before, but this one project inspired what has now

turned into youth-led collaborative murals at over 50 school and community sites throughout San Diego County. We work directly with youth and community members to dream up a long-lasting transformative design for their space.

SDJJ: How does ArtReach pull together the people to determine the space, draw up the plan, create the design and bring the children into the process?

AL: Our Mural Program is based on the idea that youth and community members are involved with the mural from concept to completion. Our team coordinates with school faculty and community leaders who want a mural in their space, and we hold workshops and input sessions to gather ideas for our Mural Artists to incorporate into

their designs. Some sketches are even added directly into the design. Once the final design is approved, youth and community members help paint the wall. We see the mural as a gift to the school or the community, a legacy project for the students and everyone involved. They get to go up to the wall, point to a section, and proudly say, “I painted that,” or “I designed that.”

SDJJ: Can you tell us about your Artist Residency Program? Its mission? Its members?

AL: ArtReach was built on our Residency Program, and it continues to grow and adapt each year. We work with students K-12 at schools that do not have existing arts programs. Our Teaching Artists develop curriculum based on the needs of the school and the students, and bring art into classrooms all over San Diego County. ArtReach’s mission is to ignite youth creativity through visual arts expression and community connection. We do this by teaching a wide variety of visual arts lessons, but we also incorporate social-emotional learning into our programs. We believe art and creative practice play a crucial role in human development and are an essential part of education for all.

SDJJ: How does ArtReach work to ensure that once awakened to the world of visual art, students can continue to benefit from their experience?

AL: ArtReach is full of dedicated, creative, passionate artists who show up each and every day for their students. Our Teaching Artists inspire young people to harness their artistic potential and apply it throughout their lives. Freedom of creativity is just the beginning of ensuring youth find their voice, build confidence and take ownership of their unique ideas. A

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There Is a Way Forward

by Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort

Many of our Jewish brothers and sisters are shocked and confused by the hostile environment currently on display in American universities across the country. They do not understand where the open calls for genocide come from, and they cannot fathom the obsessive and implacable hatred for Israel, the only liberal democracy in the Middle East. They cannot wrap their heads around how anyone could feel any sympathy for the brutal terrorists of Hamas (among other Palestinian terror groups) or cheer for the murderous regime in Tehran. What caused the utter turnaround in attitudes towards Israel, which is another manifestation itself of antisemitism?

Let’s begin our analysis by taking ownership of our own failures. We have largely failed, though not completely, to instill unapologetic pride in Israel. For

Israel is under siege. We need to circle the wagons and become strong and vocal advocates for her.

some reason, we always feel compelled to begin any defense of Israel with some sort of caveat, like, “Although Israel isn’t perfect...” Israel has nothing for which to apologize. It is surrounded by the most heinous and brutal thugs known to humankind. Israel is fighting modernday monstrous Nazi barbarians.

How many times have I heard the leaders in our religious community

criticize Israel for this or that perceived failure? I remember hearing an esteemed leader criticize Israel for not having open borders and allowing untold thousands of refugees to flood the country a few years back. Israel is held to an impossible (double) standard.

Leaders of our community, for some reason, feel a need to be hypercritical of the lone Jewish state. Here is the thing: the Jewish state has many external enemies. We should not be giving them ammunition with which to attack Israel. Israel is under siege. We need to circle the wagons and become strong and vocal advocates for her.

The hypercritical message has, in many cases, turned our own youth into advocates for the enemies of our people. The leaders who have done this may mean well, but their words have created moral confusion for our youth so that

continues on next page >>

A Way Forward continued

you see signs paraded around by Jewish youth (Jews for Palestine) calling for the destruction of Israel. When our children become advocates for our enemies, we have only ourselves to blame. We must change this culture of hypercritical commentary against Israel immediately.

Since the Six Day War, when Israel preemptively defended herself from yet another planned war of annihilation initiated by yet another tyrannical despot, Abdel Nasser of Egypt and his enablers, and expanded her boarders to include the heartland of Biblical Israel so as to be able to effectively defend herself, much of the mainstream media, as well as the more radical crowd often found on college campuses, turned against Israel in a big way. The narrative was quickly rewritten by the archterrorist Arafat, and the world bought into it.

All the continued aggression against Israel, which has continually and

unabatedly emanated from the Muslim neighbors, metastasized and took hold around the world. Bad actors, like the USSR, Communist China, Cuba and the like, fueled the irrational anti-Israel/ antisemitic hatred voiced so consistently in the UN and other world bodies. Israel is blamed for the failures of others.

The Palestinians, and only the Palestinians, are to blame for the lack of peace. They will not enter into a meaningful peace where Israel gets to retain her identity as a Jewish state. That has always been the sticking point, and it will always be the sticking point. Clearly, they don’t want a peaceful coexistence with the Jewish state. We must stop deluding ourselves to the contrary and ascribing to them our feelings of wanting to live in mutual peace. It is a harmful farce, and it needs to stop now.

Israel, both the people and the land, are different. The land’s existence is

meant to help ensure the survival of the Jewish people while simultaneously bringing out the best in us. It is wonderful when Israel helps other nations, and it is a source of immense pride. But the government of Israel’s first and top priority must always be ensuring the security of her citizens, and a very close second is the security of the Jewish people wherever they may be.

Let us propose that at every one of our day schools, Hebrew schools and at every Shabbos service we all try to convey a feeling of unapologetic pride in being Jewish and in the land of Israel. We must, all of us, nurture an optimistic view of Israel’s future, our people’s future, and indeed the world’s future! We will thrive! A

DIVERSIONS

The Drake-Kendrick Lamar ‘Great Rap War’ is a battlefield of race, identity — and Jewishness

by Jonathan Branfman, JTA News

Breathless headlines have tracked the recent “Great Rap War” between Drake, a biracial Jewish Canadian rap superstar, and Kendrick Lamar, a Black non-Jewish American rap superstar.

Over the past few weeks, Drake and Lamar have bashed each other with unusually scathing, high-profile and rapid-fire diss tracks, which have garnered coverage even from flagship newspapers like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. While it is tempting to dismiss the feud as a marketing ploy or a frivolous distraction from weightier issues, the Drake-Kendrick Lamar beef also illuminates broader patterns in the way

that American society envisions rap authenticity, race, class, masculinity and Jewishness.

Since long before the recent feud, the rap industry has often predicated rap authenticity on specific notions of Black American hypermasculinity including dark skin, which popular stereotypes equate with harder masculinity, and an impoverished upbringing in ghettoized Black neighborhoods of American cities, such as Kendrick Lamar’s hometown of Compton, California.

In contrast to this industry norm, Drake is a light-skinned biracial man raised more or less middle-class by his Canadian Ashkenazi Jewish mother within an affluent neighborhood of

Toronto. And for those unfamiliar with stereotypes about “soft” Jewish men, Jewishness is often associated with whiteness, fueling the misperception that Jewish identity undermines authentic Blackness.

In the context of American rap, all of these traits position Drake as an inauthentic Black man and thus an inauthentic rapper.

In the wake of this rap feud, Drake will likely remain a high-profile barometer for the wider debates over cultural authenticity, ownership, and theft that all performers (both Jewish and non-Jewish) must navigate onscreen. A

The rappers Drake, left, and Kendrick Lamar have been trading insults in a series of songs that have aroused commentary far beyond the music. (PRINCE WILLIAMS/WIREIMAGE; ERIKA GOLDRING/FILMMAGIC; VIA GETTY IMAGES)

Local Arts

BY EILEEN SONDAK

THE LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY

theconrad.org

The La Jolla Music Society will start the month off on June 1 with two performances by Larry & Joe. The Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival will be held June 23 with Mozart’s Serenade No. 10 “Gran Partita” and June 25 with Tchaikovsky’s Serenade, Op. 48.

LAMB’S PLAYERS THEATRE

lambsplayers.org

The Lamb’s Players is showcasing “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” for a summer run. The show opens on June 1 and stays in Coronado through August 18, delivering laughs by way of a gradeschool competition. The multi-awardwinning show (performed by adults) is one of the funniest musicals around.

THE OLD GLOBE THEATRE

theoldglobe.org

The Old Globe Theatre’s Shiley Stage is featuring “Fat Ham,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning take on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” This fresh and funny comedy uses hilarity and profound insight to explore the conflict between family obligations and a sense of self. The exciting new play will entertain audiences through June 23

The Globe’s outdoor theatre is gearing up for a landmark adaptation of Shakespeare’s epic history plays. Adapted by The Globe’s own Barry Edelstein, “Henry 6” will distinguish The Globe as only the 11th theatre in the nation’s history to complete

the Bard’s canon with the largest Shakespeare production the Tony Award-winning theatre has ever produced. The two-part production of this must-see saga will take over the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre June 30 through September 15, with a sprawling cast and a top-notch design team bringing it all to life.

BROADWAY SAN DIEGO

broadwaysd.com

Broadway San Diego is ready to unveil “Mrs. Doubtfire,” a musical based on the popular movie. The show will take over the Civic Theatre June 4-9

“Mrs. Doubtfire” at Broadway San Diego.

NORTH COAST REP

northcoastrep.org

North Coast Repertory Theatre is reviving “Camelot,” an enchanting musical based on the legend of King Arthur. This production has been adapted for the intimate theatre and features the captivating story, told through songs by Lerner and Loewe, and magical stagecraft. The fairytale musical will continue at NCR’s Solana Beach home through June 30

LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE

lajollaplayhouse.org

La Jolla Playhouse rolled out the red carpet for the world premiere of “The Ballad of Johnny and June,” a musical based on the lives of country music’s

“Forecast Form: Art in the Caribbean Diaspora” at Museum of Contemporary Art.

royal couple, Johnny Cash and June Carter. The story, told through the eyes of their son, covers their childhoods, their meeting in 1956 at the Grand Ole Opry and all the highs and lows of their lives. Their beloved hits will be among the songs. This production marks the long-awaited return of director Des McAnuff. You have until July 7 to check it out.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SAN DIEGO

mcasd.org

The Museum of Contemporary Art is highlighting “Forecast Form: Art in the Caribbean Diaspora.” The exhibition will continue through July 21

SAN DIEGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

sdnhm.org

The San Diego Museum of Natural History has two new exhibitions –“Nature Trail at the Nat,” and “Action from the Archives: The Nat at 150.”

Des McAnuff directs “The Ballad of Johnny and June” at La Jolla Playhouse.

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Comradeship

El Cajon Blvd., San Diego

Marilyn Weiss – Encinitas

Alan Magerman – Carlsbad

Janet Matzner – San Diego

Barry Schechter – San Diego

Jordan Waldman – La Jolla

Joseph Yarvitz – Mission Viejo, CA

Barbara Wittner – Carlsbad

Elaine Gale – Bonita

Ann Graeff – Encinitas

Janice Koster – La Jolla

Stephanie Heinzman – San Diego

Leon Lachman – La Jolla

Aubrey Stone – San Diego

Sam Braunstein – San Diego

Donald Shuckett – Encinitas

Sidney Zabludoff – Washington, DC

Mark Talpalatsky – San Diego

Theodore Goldberg – Encinitas

Martha Sundel – San Diego

Abraham Levine – San Diego

Larry Dawson – San Diego

Don Barach – San Diego

Phyllis Grodzitsky – Santee

Sandra Samit – San Diego

Ross Kurland – San Diego

Leah Keri – La Jolla

Manya Titerman – San Diego

Kaz Fleishman – Pacific Palisades

Laurence Weitzman – El Cajon

AM ISRAEL MORTUARY

by Micah Siva noshwithmicah.com

Whipped Feta & Avocado “Tzatziki”

Whipped feta has been one of my favorite food trends in recent years. Salty, briny feta is blended with creamy yogurt, garlic and a healthy drizzle of olive oil for an addictive dip that is perfect on vegetables or spread onto a sandwich. Over the past few months, I’ve been traveling across the US in promotion of my cookbook, “Nosh.” At every stop, I’ve sought out the best Mediterranean and Israeli food I can find...and if whipped feta is on the menu, you know I’ll be ordering it! Inspired by the beloved tzatziki, this whipped feta is made creamy with both yogurt and avocado, with a subtle kick of spice. Serve this at your summer BBQ with pita chips or crudité, or as a dipping sauce for your falafel!

SERVES 8-10

INGREDIENTS:

• ¼ English cucumber

• 6oz feta cheese

• ½ avocado

• ⅓ cup plain, whole milk Greek yogurt

• Juice of 1 lemon

• 2 cloves garlic, peeled

• 3 tbsp. olive oil

• 1 to 2 tsp. chopped jalapeno

• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh dill

• Salt and pepper, to taste

PREPARATION:

1. Grate the cucumber on the largest hole of a grater. Place onto a large piece of paper towel or a clean kitchen cloth and wring out as much moisture as you can. Set aside.

2. In a blender or food processor, pulse the feta cheese, avocado, yogurt, lemon, garlic cloves, olive oil and jalapeno until smooth.

3. Add the dill and cucumber, pulsing one or two times to incorporate without pureeing. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

ASK MARNIE

by Marnie Macauley  marniemacauley@gmail.com

Breakthrough Artists

My Dear San Diegans:

For this Arts Issue, we’ll look at several innovative Jewish artists who, as people and creatives, have moved their art into new vistas. Check out these unusual talents as we once again show how Jews can be downright out-of-thisworld quirky and remarkable.

ARTISTS: Fascinating, fascinating and more fascinating

David Black, cutting-edge author and screenwriter

A versatile multimedia writer who has distinguished himself in both fiction and nonfiction, David Black is an award-winning journalist, novelist, screenwriter, producer and adventurer whose “dark” side would make Mario Puzo envious. For example, his novel, “An Impossible Life,” a series of bubbe meises, takes readers on a journey through Jewish history and myth. It has been praised by, among others, Nobel Prizewinning author the late Czeslaw Milosz (who was also a recipient of the Medal of the Righteous Among the Nations in Yad Vashem). Said the late writer Lawrence Block, “It’s the very sort of novel Isaac Bashevis Singer might have written if he’d known the Godfather. Or been the Godfather. Or David Black.”

Black has risked his life a number of times to research pieces, including being put under house arrest by Baby Doc’s secret police in Haiti, infiltrating totalitarian therapy cults, being

It’s the very sort of novel I.B. Singer might have written if he’d known the Godfather. Or been the Godfather. Or David Black.

abandoned on a desert island, and exposing a white slave organization in the East Village. Mr. Black, the recipient of many awards, has been able to cross more media oceans than I. B. Singer. In addition to a Pulitzer Prize nomination for “The Plague Years,” he is a prolific mystery writer, nominated three times for the Edgar Allan Poe Award. He has won the National Magazine Award in Reporting and the National Science Writers Award. His novel “Like Father” was named a notable book of the year by The New York Times and listed as one of the seven best novels of the year by The Washington Post. “The King of Fifth Avenue” was named a notable book of the year by The New York Times, New York Magazine, and the AP.

Black’s television credits read like a who’s who of the small screen. He received an American Bar Association Certificate of Merit for “Nullification,” a controversial episode of “Law & Order” about militia groups, which the Los Angeles Times called an example of “the new Golden Age of television.” Other credits include “Monk,” “Hill Street Blues” and “Miami Vice,” to name just a few.

Jewish Influence: David has claimed over the years that it’s all about tradition and showing God in action through history, transformation and ethics. He always saw God as highly human. This belief can make fascinating storytellers. His father once told him why Jews always worship while standing — to look at God face-to-face because then it is much easier to argue with him.

Barbi Leifert, Dancing on Canvas

The soul of a dancer on canvas? We’ve all seen painters of dancers, but New Yorkborn Barbi Leifert, a dancer since age three and later a choreographer, has melded the two in her unusual artwork that captures more than mere movement. Her paintings express the emotions, fluidity and soul of the dance and dancers through her own personal experience. The result brings to life the energy, vibrancy and artistic brilliance inherent in contemporary dance. Ms. Leifert shows her paintings in Malibu, Los Angeles, Palm Springs,

Advice continued

New York, Florida and Seattle. In addition to her training and career as a dancer, she is the author of the “Manhattan Dance School Directory.”

Jewish Influence: To Barbi, being Jewish is about family and giving back to the world. Priorities are taking care of family and ensuring that family take care of each other so everybody is healthy, safe, secure, thriving, successful and happy. Jewish tradition has been a major influence in her work, creating in her the need to give.

Ilya Moshenskiy, Luxury Photographer Hits the Lights and the Heights Photography, particularly architectural photography, has been a defining factor in the Russian-born artist’s life. He considers the camera to be a permanent extension of his arm and his eyes. His passion is looking at his subject

through a viewfinder to capture and freeze a perfect moment in time. His inspiration is in the details to spotlight the beauty and individuality of any subject. To do so, light is critical to his process. Mr. Moshenskiy is one of the few photographers using lighting techniques involving fiber optics to create that perfect effect with splitsecond accuracy.

Born and raised in Kiev, Moshenskiy purchased his first camera, a Pentacon 35mm, and built a dark room in his parents’ bathroom at age 17. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1993 and has since photographed some of the most magnificent homes and buildings in the world, including, among others, luxury estates in France, Spain, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Miami and Chicago. As an innovator in photographic technique, his methods are constantly evolving to stay at the forefront of cutting

edge technology and bring his unique perspective to every photo shoot.

Jewish Influence: To Ilya, the Jewish community thrives on the unconditional support of one another. It is a proud society all about family that inspires respect and trust in our icons and heroes. It is part of the Jewish heritage to strive for ideal perfection and to love with all your heart. He believes that Judaism generates a gift of a sixth sense in that one is taught to be a thinker. Pride and the highest esteem define Jewish culture, and the outcome is the pursuit of creating great success for the Jewish people in their lives and careers. A

Marnie Macauley, MS, Columbia University –Founder of Strategic Relationship Thinking: theSRTway.com. For in person sessions in Las Vegas, including marital and work issues, you can reach Marnie at marniemacauley@ gmail.com or for Remote: Zoom. 702 258 9904.

Love is burning thing.

Some storms you can’t hide from.

Happy hour is a state of mind.

Christmas, but not as you know it.

Radical. Magical. Unforgettable.

Change the conversation. Change the world.

WORLD-PREMIERE MUSICAL

WORLD PREMIERE

WORLD-PREMIERE PLAY

WORLD-PREMIERE MUSICAL

WEST COAST PREMIERE

WORLD-PREMIERE PLAY

Featuring Mandy Patinkin In Concert: Being Alive

June 4th @ 7:30pm Balboa Theatre, San Diego

THE 31ST ANNUAL LIPINSKY FAMILY

May 30th – June 30th, 2024

For tickets and event details, please visit SDJFest.org or scan this code.

Nissim Black

May 30 @ 7:30 pm

Inspiring American-Israeli Rapper/ Singer whose music spans genres.

Ken Jewish Community Presents La Obra (In Spanish)

June 10 @ 7:30pm & June 13 @ 9pm

An original story showcasing the unique dynamics of a company putting on a show.

15th Annual Women of Valor

June 18 @ 7:30pm & June 23 @ 2pm

Honoring Sara Brown, Debbie Kornberg, Vered Libstein, Rabbi Devorah Marcus, Bev Pamensky, and Dr. Barbara Parker.

Italian Jews Through the Generations

June 20 @ 6:00pm

An evening of food, entertainment, and learning exploring the Italian Jewish experience.

Comedy for Koby

June 24 @ 7:30pm

A hilarious evening of comedy benefiting the Koby Mandell Foundation.

“Refuah” –Music and Performances of Healing

June 25 @ 7:30pm

A community wide musical concert that captures the many aspects of refuah (healing).

25th Annual Klezmer Summit: From Shtetl to Shuk

June 27 @ 7:30pm

The 23rd celebration of Jewish music delves into the intricate tapestry of klezmer music.

Regenerate!

An Eco-Performance Fest

June 30 at 5:00pm

A night of original eco-theater, dance, and music by brilliant, forward-thinking artists.