January 2023

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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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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Seizing Chances

The college and university landscape has changed a lot since I graduated. Where I grew up, during class and conversations with adults in my family’s circle, it was expected that I go to college. It wasn’t a question of “if,” it was a question of “where” and for “what.” I went to one of the best public high schools in my area of Michigan (which frankly worries me if what we got was considered exceptional) and many of my classmates went to good colleges. My high school boyfriend went to University of Michigan for engineering which was the bar of male achievement in an area heavily influenced and employed by the automotive industry.

I don’t know if the same expectation for college exists in that area now.

Over the years, I’ve been asked to give advice for writers either just graduating high school or starting college. And I’m happy to share what I know with them. My path may look different than theirs and with the shifting sands of the economy and media landscape, more people are wondering is college worth it?

Knowing what you want the start of your career and life to look like at 18 is such a huge question (especially considering many teens have no practice having any agency in their life). I graduated high school thinking I was going to be a fantasy YA novelist. This was a long-shot, but it was at least something to aim for.

I was specific about choosing a university with a robust and healthy Writing program. I was able to learn about many different genres: nonfiction, poetry, fiction, magazine writing and professional writing. I had opportunities to be featured in the student publications and participate in student readings. I read extensively from a diverse array

of contemporary authors. I had creative collaborators (not to mention friends) in fellow students. I had mentorship from knowledgeable, educated, published and kind professors. I was tasked to write — a lot — and learned how to take critiques about writing and how to give critique. I had the opportunity to work as a writing tutor for other students at the university. I was coached in securing internships. My college experience culminated in a real education, experience and ultimately employment.

A very savvy, self-possessed me potentially could’ve had a few of those experiences without college, but all of them? All of them in four years? While learning to be an adult and live on my own?

I was really mindful of getting the most out of my experience: I raised my hand a lot in class, I did the reading, I attended office hours to talk to my professors, I submitted to the student publications and I presented my work at readings. I seized the chances I was given, but the key is I had chances to seize. I don’t see how I would’ve had them without that college experience. So for me, simply, college was absolutely worth it.

So when I talk to new writers or people at that stage in life, before I ask them their “where” or “what,” I want them to have their “why.” I don’t think American university education is suited anymore to just try it out and see what happens. A goal is necessary. The loftier the goal the better — why not? At least they have a benchmark or a Plan A to then revise later. If they can envision what they want their experience to be and what they want to get out of it, then they can enter that institution with a purpose. A

Our Town

by Linda Bennett and Emily Bartell

The San Diego Center for Jewish Culture recently presented “Tapestry Reimagined – An Experimental Day of Jewish Learning” in partnership with Shabbat San Diego at the LFJCC. This new approach to the traditional Day of Learning format was very well received by the whole community. Keynote Speaker Zack Bodner opened the weekend learning experience with a presentation on “Doing Jewish and The Meaning of Life”. Enjoying the program with us were Committee Chair Hannah Cohen, Renee Barnow, Deborah Pantoni, David Rafsky, Kathy Berron, Stephen Purdue, Wynne Weiss, Travis Joseph, Rhonda Mason, Lisa & Nate Stein and Melanie Rubin

Recently seen conversing about his latest publication on “Today with Hoda & Jenna,” was San Diego native Ari Seth Cohen. Ari is the creator of the “AdvancedStyle” movement which includes blogs, books and movies. Through his latest book “Advanced Style,” Ari explores how fashion is not solely for the younger crowd. Through his photography and shared stories, he expresses increased vitality from the “60+ set” perspective. Happy parents are Frances & Jack Cohen.

Celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday, Congregation Beth Israel & First United Methodist Church gathered for the 42nd Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving. Gathering for communal worship service projects and a lovely meal at Beth Israel, some of those in attendance for the festive occasion were Stace Coleman & Mike Chasin,

Cynthia Fram, Karen Coleman, Jackie & Charlie Mann, Sue Geller, Melanie Book, Marsha & Herb Lubick, Allison & Steve Prager, Rhonda Schwartz, Madeline & Steve Flaster, Brian Haubenstock & Lori Shearer and Alexander (7 yrs) and Aaron (10 yrs) Lefter.

Mazel Tov to Rabbi Benj Fried & David Greco on their recent marriage! Their Temple Emanu-El friends and family were delighted to celebrate them at a recent Shabbat.

Mazel Tov to Bryan Monroe & Julie Athas on their marriage! Married on Oct. 8 in Calistoga. Proud parents Sandy & Pam Monroe and sister Amy looked on with pride.

Mazel Tov to Jeremy & Lindsay Globerson on the birth of their son Raphael Pau Globerson born on Feb. 24 in Los Angeles. Proud grandparents are Linda & Paul (z”l) Globerson

Mazel Tov to Daniel & Amanda Ratner on the birth of their son Mendel Moshe-Felix Marquez Ratner. Proud grandparents Richard & Peggy Ratner are overjoyed with his arrival.

Mazel Tov to Rachel & Alex Verne on the birth of their first child Mila Rosa Verne–born on Dec. 29, 2020 in Culver City. Mila’s grandparents are Barbara & Matt Meis of San Diego and Elena & Simone Verne of San Jose. (Better late than never.)

Yom Huledets Sameach to...

Marilyn Braun, celebrating her 80th birthday.

Rosie Jacobson, celebrating her 80th birthday.

Andrea Ladmer, celebrating her 80th birthday.

CELEBRATING

Wedding Anniversaries

with infinite love & happiness, Mazel Tov to…

Barbara & Ralph Levy, 63 years.

Gail & Thomas Pliner, 60 years.

Joan & Leon Kutner, 60 years.

Nancy & David Amiel, 56 years.

Ann & Alan Chaitin, 55 years.

Rebecca & Larry Newman, 55 years.

Frances & Jack Cohen, 50 years.

Let us help you move forward.

Let us help you move forward.

Let us help you move forward.

Making critically important family decisions in the aftermath of emotional life changes can be extremely difficult. Our dedicated family law attorneys can help you navigate the complex divorce process with clarity.

Making critically important family decisions in the aftermath of emotional life changes can be extremely difficult. Our dedicated family law attorneys can help you navigate the complex divorce process with clarity.

Making critically important family decisions in the aftermath of emotional life changes can be extremely difficult. Our dedicated family law attorneys can help you navigate the complex divorce process with clarity.

Divorce, high conflict child custody, alternative dispute resolution, and more.

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Founder Myra Chack Fleischer

Founder Myra Chack Fleischer

Founder Myra Chack Fleischer

How a standup show at a Chinese restaurant turned into a 30-year Jewish comedy tradition

by Jackie Hajdenberg, JTA News

Volodymyr Zelensky named Time’s ‘person of the year’

by Caleb Guedes-Reed and Gabe Friedman, JTA News

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Jewish president of Ukraine, was named Time’s “person of the year.”

Zelensky is the fifth Jew to claim the honor in the magazine’s almost 100 years of awarding it.

Since the outbreak of Russia’s war against Ukraine in February, Zelensky has emerged as a Jewish symbol around the world. The former comedian and actor, first glorified for staying put in Ukraine as the violence threatened his life, is seen by many as a tough “modern Maccabee.” His Jewish heritage is widely acknowledged as historically significant in a country with a bloody Jewish history.

Just a few years into her comedy career, Lisa Geduldig was invited to perform standup at the Peking Garden Club near Northampton, Massachusetts.

After ruminating on it, she thought: why not start a Jewish comedy night on Christmas Eve?

It was an instant hit, with around 400 guests, and Geduldig said nearly 200 people were turned away at the door. Fast forward and this year marks the 30th Kung Pao Kosher show, and the first one back in person since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Netanyahu defends his pending far-right coalition: ‘Two hands firmly on the steering wheel’

by Andrew Lapin, JTA News

On the cusp of forming a new government, incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his inclusion of far-right groups in his coalition amid domestic and global criticism of his alliances with extremist figures. “They’re joining me, I’m not joining them,” Netanyahu said in an NPR interview during the final stretch of his coalition talks. “I’ll have two hands firmly on the steering wheel. I won’t let anybody do anything to LGBT [people] or to deny our Arab citizens their rights or anything like that.”

Continue reading at sdjewishjournal.com

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ISRAELI LIFESTYLE

LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE

by Andrea Simantov | andreasimantov@gmail.com

The Compassion Gene

I awakened at 4 a.m. with a rare bout of anxiety. Unable to meditate myself back to sleep, I ultimately stood up, stretched and checked the freezer for anything that could be prepared for Shabbos without going to the market. If one is a fan of ‘stone-soup,’ there was plenty to eat and my tension began to wane. By 5:15 a.m., it was late enough to take the dog out for the morning walk, say “Hello” to the regulars at the bus-stop and make the coffee. Hearing the familiar sound of the shower, I knew Ronney was awake.

I knew the source of the unrest. A client had unexpectedly passed away. The ophthalmologist detected early cataracts. A grandson with a chronic illness had his requisite soft-tissue MRI. My right foot has an inflamed toe. My annual mammogram is next week. Today is my shift to sit with a dying friend. My mother’s lucidity and health is diminishing and I am not there. I’m having a dispute with the federal tax bureau.

While sitting in the waiting room of the MRI department, the creative cynic in me found herself stereotyping everyone who waited for either tests or verdicts: A tattooed Russian barbouncer; the Moroccan safta with orange hair who stuffs grape-leaves; a Hasidic scholar, pale from hours of yeshiva study. My daughter secretly took a photo of me reading to my grandson and I gasped in horror upon receipt. Is that how I appear

to others? Soft and chunky, slightly wrinkled, kinky-haired, American and haughty? Too old for jeans and hiking boots?

An electric door slid open and I witnessed a young man tying the shoes of his wife who had just emerged from an hour-long scan. Her hand was limp on his shoulder and the tenderness on his face while he knelt at her feet nearly broke my heart. I’d witnessed an intimate glimpse of their entire universe — not mine — upon which every tomorrow hinged. What was I to take from this scene? Was there an inherent message waiting to be gleaned?

I want strangers to look at me and know that I’m important to someone, that I play a crucial role in the lives of those I love. But if this is what I want, shouldn’t the Moroccan safta be the most important person to those who are pushing her wheelchair and want her tests to be ‘negative’? Do the wife and children of the yeshiva bochur fervently pray that he receives a clean slate, ensuring many years of mentoring and love? The Russian man is someone’s son, an adored uncle, someone’s beau; his Hebrew is heavily accented and better than mine. Who might he be other than a Divinely created human who harbors dreams, expectations, fears and hope. He is the brother/son/friend I haven’t met

yet. My inner-cynic grows quiet. There but for the grace of G-d goes every one of us. No exceptions.

Dr. Seuss is credited with saying, “To the world you may be one person; but to one person, you may be the world.” And despite the advances made in DNA testing, scientists have yet to identify and/or isolate a compassion gene. Something to ponder as we enter a new Gregorian year, replete with the custom of making life-resolutions.

Happenstance happens. But when spiritual and physical underpinnings loosen, it might behoove us to remember that coffee, hot showers, taking out the garbage and an occasional load of laundry are reliable countermeasures for things that remain out of our control. A

EXAMINED LIFE

OUR EMOTIONAL FOOTPRINT

by Saul Levine, M.D., Professor Emeritus in Psychiatry at UCSD | slevine@ucsd.edu

Anti-Semitism Targets All of Humanity

Whenever anti-Jewish sentiment reared its head, my late father would sadly say in Yiddish, “Meh Shlogt Shoin Veiter Yidn.” (“They’re beating up on Jews again.”)

He had immigrated to North America before World War II from the antiSemitism rife in Europe a century ago, but he never forgot the hateful “pogroms” (attacks) against the Jews he experienced as a child and young man.

The ancient scourge of anti-Semitism has existed for the thousands of years that Jews have inhabited this planet. More than 75 years after the Holocaust, old and new canards and conspiracy theories are trotted out to “justify” hatred towards Jews.

In recent years there have again been increasingly hateful anti-Semitic statements and violent acts in many countries. In the United States, recent inflammatory statements uttered by public personalities like Kanye West (“Ye”), Kyrie Irving and Nick Fuentes have fueled these fires.

Yet Jews are aware that they are not the only ones who have suffered the vile slings and arrows of hate. Hatred of “the other,” be it family, tribe, race, religion, has always been an integral part of human history. The United States has long portrayed itself as an exemplar and bastion of egalitarian civil liberties, yet this country has seen hateful treatments of those considered “lesser” or “dangerous,” like Indigenous Peoples, Asians, Blacks, Latinos, Jews and others.

So, you may ask, why isolate antiSemitism as a singular form of hate and Jews as “Exhibit A” of victims of persecution?

I belong to that group which has been vilified by many people. Many of the haters do not personally know any Jewish people but still they hate us. Our singular tribe has been persecuted, injured or killed solely because of our genetic, racial and ethnic background. These “impersonal hatreds” stem from hate-fueled and distorted historical lore, based on birthright and background, with ingrained beliefs in our inferiority and evil.

I was born and raised in a city with a crowded immigrant district made up of thousands of Jews, including my parents, who had fled the rampant anti-Semitism prevalent in towns and villages across Europe. As depicted in the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” in the mythical shtetl Anatevka, Jewish citizens faced daily aggressions in their communities, some random and impulsive, others wellorchestrated campaigns spurred by their common hatred of Jews.

Jewish refugees, however, were not always welcome on these shores. Many faced rental or sales restrictions, blocked job opportunities, admission quotas to schools and hateful articles in the press and on radio.

Anti-Semitic tropes (evil, usurious, Christ-killers, blood libel) “explained” why Jews were sinful and dangerous.

I recall being upset as a child when I saw signs on private properties, “No Jews Allowed,” which sowed seeds of hate and incited others.

Growing up in a politically progressive immigrant family, I learned that Jews were not alone in being despised simply for being “who we were.” This country has a history of expressing fear and loathing towards diverse “others” who came to our shores or who were here before us. Our avowed ideals in the Declaration of Independence, and the welcoming words of Jewish poet Emma Lazarus etched forever on our iconic beacon, the Statue of Liberty (“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses longing to be free...”), often fell on deaf ears.

For a few decades after World War II, there appeared to be a reduction in hateful acts against Jews. The Jews may have been lulled into a sense of complacency, as anti-Semitism never disappeared. Over the last few years we have again been experiencing uncomfortable familiarity: Anti-Semitic verbal nastiness and overt physical acts have mushroomed in frequency and intensity in this country and many others.

Other religions and groups can’t take comfort that toxic animosity is restricted only to Jews: History shows that antiSemitism often goes hand-in-hand with the infectious spread of hateful thinking and actions against others.

Examined Life continued

People who have been frustrated and angry with their lot in life have often sought to blame others for their duress and Jews have for centuries been the “go-to” scapegoat. Fervent hate groups feel their “enemies” are the cause of their problems and unhappiness and thus their vilification and eradication provides remedies.

The recent growth of anti-Semitism is a warning that other racist attitudes are not far behind. Demagogues use inflammatory rhetoric to spout xenophobic sentiments which can be a forerunner to attacks on other groups or on core institutions of democracy, like civil liberties, journalism and justice.

I am frankly of mixed mind. On the one hand, the history of humanity is filled with tales and irrefutable evidence of hateful atrocities directed at particular groups in every country on Earth. Yet, I retain a degree of hope: Research has shown that we humans have the abilities to overcome our propensities to aggression and hate and that we can create solutions to violent conflict.

Are we up to this challenge? In fact, we have no alternative. A

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RELIGION

POST-POLITICAL

by Rabbi Jacob Rupp | rabbirupp@gmail.com

College Doesn’t Make Sense Like it Used To

How good are the longstanding institutions of our society?

Well-recognized brand names that have garnered trust for hundreds of years are supposedly the gold standard. In recent years, from media to food, start ups and smaller brands have exploded in popularity and have gotten serious traction in the public eye.

Education is (in my opinion) on the front line of re-examining. What is the value of education? And how much should that cost? Unfortunately most people don’t ask the fundamental question of why, how, or when. People will spend years of their lives and hundreds of thousands of dollars (potentially putting themselves deeply in debt) in order to achieve some undefined goal in the future.

Whenever the government floods money into something, expect the value to drop and expenses to rise. The cost of college has risen dramatically over the past fifty years, massively outpacing the economy and is largely unaffordable for most people. The ability to borrow vast sums of money to pay for this allows for easy abuse of unsuspecting students.

Candidly before you invest — you should be educated. Like any decent financial, health, or life plan, each person must be clear on their goals, needs, expectations and desires. High yield, more risky investments? It might be good if a person has a longer time horizon to invest and can afford to lose

People who work hard are likely to work out no matter where they find themselves.

(I would as well), but it wasn’t because of the school — I just happened to be in school when this happened. And while both relationships are worth far more than money, does it make sense to charge people a crazy amount of money to allow them to hang out with others?

Now, you might say, “what is the alternative?” “It’s better than sitting around smoking pot on your parents couch.”

the money. Looking to retire soon? Keep your money in a more stable investment.

College is the same thing. If you’re looking to have a job that pays you 60-100K/year, does it make sense to go into 200K of debt to get the job? Do you even know if you want to do the kind of work that naturally comes from your major? And does the college itself qualify you for the job, or does it just get you in the door? And what if the skillset and mastery comes from experience in the industry?

Perhaps one would argue that the “experience” or “network” you get as a result of going to the school is the purpose, regardless of what happens to you professionally. And do those things justify the cost? Does the institution get the credit?

I joke that the best thing I got from college was meeting my best friend and my wife. Now, you might argue that that’s a valuable thing to get from school

True — but likely those driven to succeed in college would likely succeed without it. Meaning people who work hard are likely to work out no matter where they find themselves. And perhaps if we shift our culture from college being necessary to internships, mentorship and work experience, not only would our kids thrive but our economy would as well.

I said nothing about the moral or societal norms that are discussed as fact in school and how many colleges are echo chambers of particular values which might or might not be good for impressionable young minds. I reflect back on my mental maturity from 18-21 and feel (frankly) upset that I was conditioned and convinced to make certain life choices before having the maturity to engage.

Granted, hindsight is 20/20. The best we can do is advise the next generation. My advice would be to focus small and encourage individuality.  A

San Diego Jewish Academy Opens its Doors for the Fourth Year in a Row

by Makayla Hoppe

Pushed to adapt to school closures, online classes, distancing and protocols — students’ stability has been damaged and their learning has been disrupted. And according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, students’ standardized test scores have dropped almost 10 points since the start of the pandemic, akin to missing an entire year of learning. Conversely, Zvi Weiss, head of school for San Diego Jewish Academy, states that their students’ test scores have only increased since 2020. “We really didn’t miss a beat,” said Weiss, “We’ve been effectively teaching our students.”

At SDJA, the Open Door program has allowed students the opportunity to have this kind of quality education that otherwise might not have been accessible. “It’s been highly successful over the last four years since we started it,” said Weiss. “We’ve really seen a significant change in the number of middle income families who have

been able to join our school and have really contributed a lot to the overall atmosphere at the school. Some of our best and brightest students are now students who have come to SDJA through Open Door.”

The tuition assistance is given to every student entering kindergarten or ninth grade, but enrollment must happen at that time in order to receive the credit. “Those are two specific spots where students tend to enter... It’s all the preschool families who are looking for elementary school and all the people graduating eighth grade who are looking for the next step,” said Weiss.

Weiss is incredibly proud of the program and everything that it has brought to Jewish families in San Diego. “Part of the beauty of Open Door is that it’s brought us some families who felt uncomfortable asking for tuition assistance, because the price tag was where independent [school] price tags tend to be, especially the lower school... And we really want to be a community school that accepts students regardless of their financial situations...In this day and age, the price of living has gone up so much in San Diego,” he said.

Expanding and Experiences

SDJA’s student numbers have only increased since implementing the program. “Looking today, our current enrollment is in, overall for the school, the 730’s. Before Open Door, overall enrollment was easily a couple hundred students less. It has a significant impact on the growth of the school — there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind,” said Weiss.

As the number of students continues to rise, the campus grows along with it. “We’ve built more on our performing arts program and have a performing arts auditorium, which we didn’t have prior, so there are more opportunities for students in the arts. We are opening an innovation yard, which we call the hatzer, where students have the opportunity to learn how to use tools and to really build significant prototypes and products based on the design process,” Weiss said. “It gives an opportunity that a lot of kids in schools these days don’t have, which is really learning how to use your hands and how to use tools. We’re getting back to the basics, we’re creating those programs right now as well. Our continues on next page >>

We’re really, truly a community school, which reflects the goal of Open Door.

garden is flourishing, our chickens are laying eggs...It’s just a very happy place to be.”

Together As One

One of the school’s biggest concerns right now is bringing back socialization and a sense of community since COVID19. After remote schooling during the

experiences...that is such a signature of our program,” said Weiss.

“It’s reflected in the programming that we offer, from classes that really help

San Diego Jewish Academy continued

Ohr Shalom Synagogue Hosts Fifth Annual

Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM)

by Jeanne Argoff, JDAIM Co-Chair, Ohr Shalom Synagogue

“People with disabilities and their families are too often on the edge of a community, or outside it, looking in, yearning for the everyday benefits that come with inclusion and participation most of us take for granted. ...welcoming and including people with disabilities and their families will help inform (congregants about) who they feel called to be as a congregation and as people of faith.”

— Forward to Longing to Belong, by Shelly Christensen, Co-Founder of JDAIM

For the past four years, OHR SHALOM SYNAGOGUE has set an example for other Jewish institutions in San Diego with its annual programming that increases the sense of belonging for people with disabilities and heightens disability awareness in their fellow congregants. In February 2019, Ohr Shalom launched its first Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) program, joining hundreds of other Jewish organizations across the country whose local efforts supported the national program.

Over the past four years, Ohr Shalom has hosted local, national and international disability leaders and experts to present diverse programs such as: a discussion of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the impact of disability on families, disability in the arts, and discussions among leaders of synagogues of differing size, locations and denominations how to promote access and inclusion. We have partnered with the LFJCC and congregations in San Diego and across the country and have virtually hosted speakers from as far away as Washington, D.C., Israel and Europe.

Our program for February continues our history of partnership and creativity, including an in-person and virtual screening of a new feature-length documentary written, produced and co-directed by North County resident and best-selling national author Laura Morton. “Anxious Nation” explores and captures the wave of anxiety that has inundated our country, specifically focusing on the rise of anxiety among young people aged 10-26. Exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, anxiety strikes one in three kids in America. Among other issues, the film zeroes in on how anxiety shows up, what’s happening in homes and schools, the impact on lower socioeconomic communities and the stigma, loneliness and isolation experienced by kids suffering from anxiety.

After the screening, Morton will head up a panel that will include

a teenager who has experienced anxiety and a mental health professional. Temple Solel in Cardiff-by-theSea, Laura Morton’s synagogue, is a community partner for this event.

On Feb. 26, there will be a Zoom interview with Susan Sygall, the country’s preeminent expert on international exchange and international development as a tool for improving the lives of people with disabilities across the globe.

Sygall is the daughter of Holocaust survivors whose experience exemplified the value of savoring each day. She used that passion for life to make the difficult transition from an athletic young woman to a wheelchairrider who would change the lives of thousands of people with disabilities

Our discussion will explore Sygall’s beliefs, life and extraordinary work.

Please contact office@ohrshalom.org for information on how to attend or sponsor these events and for other accessibility needs. All programs will be live-captioned and sign-language interpreted. Listening devices are available for in-person events.

Making a Mess and Making Friends

Q&A with Chabad Hebrew Academy’s Preschool Director

by Jacqueline Bull

Divi Fradkin has been working at Chabad Hebrew Academy for almost 17 years, most recently moving from Judaic Director into the full Preschool Director position.

She sat down with us at SDJJ to talk about what it’s like running a preschool and her perspectives on Jewish education for small children.

SDJJ: What does a typical day look like for you?

Divi Fradkin: I look forward to every morning greeting the children and the parents at drop off. We welcome them into our school, then the day begins. I go around and pop my head into every class and greet all the kids. There is nothing more special for me than coming to school — and you know children are full of love; they are so excited to see you all the time and it’s really, really special. I’m busy working with teachers, parents, children. I’m very lucky to have the position I have. I’m very grateful.

SDJJ: How was the transition from Judaic Director into your current role?

DF: Well it was during Covid, so I think the hardest thing was all the rules and regulations. Trying to open up the school and have the children on campus as soon as possible and create as normal a routine as possible was our biggest challenge.

SDJJ: I see messy play is an emphasis for the preschool, can you explain that?

DF: I actually started that program Play. Worx. We are looking forward to starting that soon again. We find it so important. Children learn through so many different ways and it’s so important for the children to learn and to feel different textures and create so many different connections in their brain. A lot of time

as parents we are “Don’t touch that, it’s messy. Let’s not go there, I don’t want to bring the sand home”— whatever the little things are that we don’t want. We just feel like the earlier age that we can get them to touch different textures and feel things and, yes, make a mess. We’re giving them the opportunity to explore and the ability for them to grow in a way that is crucial for them. You see such a wonderful side of the children when they are able to... It has been shown that children that touch many different sensories actually help them with reading, writing and math later on in life. It builds different neurological paths that help later on.

SDJJ: What is your philosophy?

DF: The most important thing for me is that we have a loving, warm, caring environment...These children are coming in young and this is our time to influence them and give them all that love and encouragement, so that they can grow. And we can impart all the beautiful wisdom that we have from our heritage. If we can do it through love, that’s the most important thing. That’s our philosophy for the children. And for the

parents, we have lots of young families here and we try to build the community for the parents. [It’s] very important for us to have a loving, warm environment.  We do challah bakes, we do Thanksgiving pie bakes, we make Shabbaton. People that come to the school, we try to connect them with other families that are like-minded and we try to build a tight knit community. This is the way we can impart the beautiful traditions of Shabbat and through all these programs and build love for our Judaism.

SDJJ: The Jewish day school has such an important role in the community.

DF: Like you say, keeping everyone together. It was hard during Covid to do that, but we still did it. We did programs over Zoom and we sent home boxes to everyone. Now that we are fully open we [have programs like] Dads Donuts and Dreidels coming up, we have sing-a-longs happening and just lots of time to be together, to build connection and pass all our traditions on. We really love the community being part of the school.

SDJJ: Is this emphasized especially in the preschool because it is creating the

connections for the young child and the young family?

DF: We’re partners with the parents. We have to have a really tight-knit connection with the parents. We’re both raising these children, you know? And that is special. We have to have that tight-knit connection, so that we can raise them in the way that we both want. The beauty is that continuing through the school, as you say, is that all of these children meet when they are in preschool and stay friends [through school]. From my own experience, my own children, they have gone through 8th grade and are in college now and the friends they knew through school are [still] tightly connected. They love to do their Hanukkah together. In the summer, they do a Friday night together. These are connections they’ll have for the rest of their lives. It is beautiful that we are able to instill this love within the children and not only for each other, but for their heritage. They had such a good feeling when they were at school they want to keep that connection when they are out of school.  A

City Council Approves Plan for Mira Mesa’s Future Development

A new community plan update will allow Mira Mesa to accommodate 58,000 homes and 117,000 jobs, replacing the previous plan from 1992. “As one of San Diego’s largest communities by land area, population and employment, Mira Mesa will greatly benefit from having more mixed-used areas where people can live, work and play. The plan adopted by the City Council today will allow for just that,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. The plan will be implemented over the next 20 to 30 years.

In addition to housing and jobs, the new plan calls for easy access to transit, including bus flex lanes on Mira Mesa Boulevard and Miramar Road. Carroll Canyon Road will receive a dedicated transitway for express buses. Pedestrian-friendly spaces have been encouraged, as well as a skyway that will connect UC San Diego, University City and the MidCoast Trolley Extension. “Mira Mesa is a vibrant area and we are thrilled to have a plan that creates a better balance of homes and jobs, with community infrastructure that will provide residents and workers with safe, convenient and enjoyable ways to travel,” said Heidi Vonblum, the city’s planning director.

Largest Jewish Women’s Organization In the U.S. Welcomes Carlsbad Woman To the Leadership Team

Pamela Brode, a Carlsbad resident and health coach, has been selected by Hadassah to join the inaugural class of Evolve Leadership Fellows. The program brings together a group of young women from all over the U.S. to develop leadership skills and address current issues. Brode and the other new Fellows traveled to Jerusalem in November for Hadassah’s 100th national convention; there they met with senior leadership and longtime members. Over the next year, the Fellows will work on their leadership skills and learn from both Hadassah’s national president and the CEO.

Center For the Study of Interreligious Dynamics Established by Tel Aviv University and Goethe University

The center for the study of interreligious dynamics will promote research on monotheistic faiths for both Tel Aviv University and Goethe University. This center will allow the universities to train students and researchers, as well as conduct joint research. A two-day conference held by TAU this December brought the universities together to sign the final agreement. Leader of the initiative at Goethe University, Professor Christian Wiese, stated, “There is no better way to inaugurate a joint German-Israeli research center than with an intensive public discussion of its underlying theoretical objectives. This conference

marks the beginning of an exciting joint scientific and science policy journey in which we place great hope.”

Beth Israel of San Diego is a shining example of what a Jewish educational institution should be. From its nurturing and inclusive preschool to its experiential religious school and wide range of adult education programs, Beth Israel is committed to providing a highquality education rooted in Jewish values.

At the heart of Beth Israel’s educational offerings is the Bill & Sid Rubin Preschool. This preschool provides the very best in early childhood education in San Diego, offering a nurturing and supportive environment for children aged 3 months to five years. The staff at the preschool are dedicated to providing each child with individualized care and support, helping them to grow and develop in a way that is tailored to their unique needs.

In addition to the preschool, Beth Israel also offers the Lee & Frank Goldberg Family Religious School. This school provides experiential learning that is grounded in Jewish values, teaching students not only about the core beliefs and practices of Judaism, but also about the importance of community and connection. The school’s curriculum is designed to nurture Jewish identity, a sense of belonging to the Jewish people, a connection to Israel, and

a commitment to Judaism. Our all-embracing approach recognizes that our students come from a variety of backgrounds, family situations and styles of learning — meeting our students where they are.

Education at Beth Israel doesn’t stop at the preschool and religious school levels. The congregation also offers a wide range of adult education programs, open to people of all backgrounds, that provide opportunities for continued learning and connection to Judaism. These programs include classes, discussions and speakers on a wide range of topics, as well as special programs designed for interfaith couples and families.

Beth Israel is a truly exceptional educational institution. Its commitment to providing a high-quality education rooted in Jewish values, as well as its inclusive and welcoming atmosphere, make it a wonderful place to learn and grow. Whether you’re a child attending the preschool, a student at the religious school, or an adult looking to continue your education, Beth Israel has something to offer you.

To learn more, call us at 858-535-1111 or visit cbisd.org.

A BETH ISRAEL EDUCATION

INSPIRES LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO JEWISH VALUES

Scholar in Residence

Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2023

Rabbi Geoffrey Mitelman is the Founding Director of Sinai and Synapses, an organization that bridges the scientific and religious worlds, and is being incubated at Clal – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. His writings about the intersection of religion and science have appeared on the homepages of several sites, including The Huffington Post, Nautilus, and Science and Religion Today.

What’s Goin’ On

by Eileen Sondak

The arts and entertainment scene is back to its prepandemic glory, so look for a smorgasbord of offerings from theaters, museums and other arts venues around the county. Culturally-starved San Diegans can celebrate that for the New Year! Here’s a sampling of the entertaining ideas on tap.

BROADWAYSAN DIEGO

Broadway-San Diego was supposed to bring the Broadway megahit “Frozen” to the Civic Theater way back when — but it’s finally coming on Jan. 18. The Disney musical promises an unforgettable theatrical experience, marked by sumptuous sets, sensational special effects, and stunning costumes. The show is a must-see for audiences six years and older, so snare a seat before “Frozen” melts away on Jan. 29.

NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE

North Coast Repertory Theater’s staging of “2 Pianos 4 Hands” will end its run at the troupe’s Solana Beach theater on New Year’s Day. “Blues in the Night” will move in Jan. 11 through Feb. 5. This ode to early jazz and blues standards features a powerful ensemble of singers, and it should be a thrilling evening of American music.

THE OLD GLOBE THEATRE

The Old Globe’s Main Stage is ready to unveil a genre-busting play adapted and directed by Mary Zimmerman, a MacArthur Genius Grantee. The exciting work, titled “The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci,” will reside on the Globe’s Main Stage Jan. 21–Feb. 26, with a cast of chameleon-like actors leading us through the mind of da Vinci, as he deals with everything from philosophy and math to love. The show has been described as “a fun house of the mind,” and it sounds like just the ticket for a new season of theater.

Cast of “Blues in the Night.”

“The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci.”

Photo by Aaron Rumley.

Joyce DiDonoto.

THE LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY

The La Jolla Music Society has an eclectic mix on hand this month, starting on Jan. 14 with two performances at the JAI by Davina & The Vagbonds. Joyce DiDonoto will make a one-night stand on Jan. 18, followed on Jan. 19 by Leif Ove Andsnes on piano. On Jan. 26, the Balboa Theater will welcome the Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour. 123 Andres The ConRad Kid Series is slated for two performances at the JAI on Jan. 28. Pianists Johan Dalene and Giorgi Gigashvili will round out the month on Jan. 29.

THE LAMB’S PLAYERS THEATRE

The Lamb’s Players Theater is offering another brief opportunity to enjoy Ken Ludwig’s hilarious take on “Baskerville, a Sherlock Holmes mystery,” for one week, Jan. 3–8. If you missed the first go-round, you can take advantage of this short stay.

BIRCH AQUARIUM

Birch Aquarium will begin its “Tidepooling Adventures” on Jan. 7. An experienced guide will show guests the exotic sea life inhabiting our shores. Dates and times are based on tides, so check with the Birch for details.

THE MUSEUM OF ART

The Museum of Art is showcasing “Chapel of the Rocks,” by Justin Sterling through Feb. 12. It’s the first solo museum show for the New York-based artist and features a chapel built within the museum, Lisa Ross: Elegy to a Uyghur Homeland will be on display through March 5. The exhibition captures the rituals and spiritual traditions as well as everyday life. Through Feb. 12, you can also see 30 large-scale paintings by Sergio Hernandez

CYGNET THEATRE

Cygnet Theater will kick off the New Year with “El Huracán,” a play about two generations of a Florida family and their encounters with hurricanes. The show is loosely based on Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” and it sounds like a fascinating piece — complete with elements of magic and theatrical wizardry.

THE NEW CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

The New Children’s Museum is featuring “Los Trompos” this month, inspired by the children’s toy. The delightful experience has colorfullywoven, life-sized spinning tops to amuse the small-fry set.

“Los Trompos.”

“Chapel of the Rocks.”

Sweet Potato Salad with Harissa Vinaigrette

by Micah Siva noshwithmicah.com

When I’m building a salad, I’m thinking well beyond the lettuce and looking for hearty ingredients that will satiate vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. The key to the ultimate, craveworthy salad? A blend of flavors and textures. Harissa is a spicy blend of ground chilies, garlic, citrus, oil and spices that originated in North Africa. Today, you can find it as a paste or dried as a spice and it is a great way to add depth and flavor to vegetables! Sweet potatoes, salty feta and fresh mint leaves are the perfect blend of flavors to balance the heat. This recipe also uses

pomegranate molasses — a sweet and sour syrup made from pomegranate juice!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb sweet potatoes, about 3-4 medium, cut into ½ inch cubes

• 1 tsp. smoked paprika

• ¼ tsp. cinnamon

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• ¼ tsp. salt

• ¼ tsp. pepper

• ½ cup pecans, whole

• 4 cups arugula

• ⅓ cup feta cheese, crumbed

• 1 cup mint leaves, torn

Dressing

• 1 tbsp. harissa seasoning

• 2 tbsp. pomegranate molasses

• ¼ cup white wine vinegar

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

PREPARATION:

1. Preheat the oven to 400F.

2. On a large baking tray, combine the chopped sweet potatoes, paprika, cinnamon, olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for 16–18 minutes.

3. Remove from the oven and add the pecans to the tray. Return to the oven for 3–4 minutes or until the pecans are toasted.

4. Meanwhile, combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.

5. Add the potatoes and pecans to a large bowl. Drizzle with the dressing and let sit for 5 minutes.

6. Add the arugula to the bowl and top with feta cheese and mint before serving.

2022 Was A Big Year For Jews In The Arts. Here’s What Happened On Screen And Stage.

by Andrew Lapin, JTA News

Anyone paying attention to pop culture in 2022 saw a lot of Jewish creativity. This year saw several big, distinctly Jewish releases across multiple media, ranging from acclaimed movies to popular TV shows to theater, books and viral TikToks. And amid endless debates over who has the right to tell (and be cast in) Jewish stories, it was notable just how many of the biggest pop-culture events of the year fervently embraced Jewish identity.

Growing up Jewish at the movies

Two of the year’s big art-house film releases were autobiographical portrayals of their directors’ Jewish upbringings. In “The Fabelmans,” Steven Spielberg’s account of how he became a filmmaker, a teenager in 1950s America navigates a fracturing Jewish family and antisemitism at school. And in “Armageddon Time,” James Gray’s retelling of his Reagan-era childhood,

a Jewish family in Queens, New York tries to assimilate into the WASPy upper class — while their young son brushes aside the needs of his Black friend.

A ‘Rehearsal’ for living Jewishly Gonzo comedian Nathan Fielder staged elaborate simulations of everyday life in “The Rehearsal,” a new HBO series that proved to be among the buzziest TV shows of the year — and whose lateseason pivot to discussions of Jewish parenting caught just about everyone by surprise. The Internet lit up with conversations about Miriam Eskenasy, the Hebrew tutor Fielder hired for his fake Jewish son.

A Nazi gold train on ‘Russian Doll’ Natasha Lyonne’s time-hopping Netflix series returned for a second season this year, reaching deep into the past to find Lyonne’s protagonist Nadia unearthing generations of Jewish trauma

in her family. It all culminated with her exploration of a Hungarian “gold train” filled with treasures the Nazis supposedly looted from the country’s Jews during wartime. Lyonne was drawing on real-life Holocaust history for the plot, suggesting that Jewish inherited trauma remains with us to this day.

Tom Stoppard’s ‘Leopoldstadt’ puts the Shoah on stage

While Tom Stoppard would make just about anybody’s shortlist of the world’s most influential playwrights, he had never before explored his Jewish background onstage — until this play. Stoppard’s sprawling new historical drama, featuring a massive cast depicting several generations of Austrian Jews before and after the Holocaust, was Broadway’s most hotly debated play this year. A

James Benson - San Diego

Larry Ponseggi - El Cajon

David Brook - San Diego

Brian Michaelson - Del Mar

Herbert Holzman - Oceanside

Akiva Gulko - San Diego

Ruth Covell - La Jolla

David Vigderovich - San Ysidro

Rhea Glickstein - Carlsbad

Howard Bregstein - San Diego

Irvin Silverstein - San Diego

Naomi Feldman - La Jolla

Frida Volfovich - San Diego

Kenneth Polak - Cedar Park, TX

Sara Limenes - Coronado

Jerold Siperstein - Chino Hills, CA

Dorothy Cohen - San Diego

Beverly Lowenstein - La Mesa

Eleanor Bluestein - La Jolla

Barbara Moss - Suprise, AZ

Bridgette Galgut - San Diego

Revekka Rubinshteyn - San Diego

May their memory be a blessing.

AM ISRAEL MORTUARY

On behalf of AM Israel Mortuary, We extend our condolences to the families of all those who have recently passed. The families of those listed above would like to inform the community of their passing.

We Are San Diego’s ONLY All-Jewish Mortuary Serving the community for over 40 years. (619)583-8850

6316 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego

Members of the JFDA- Jewish funeral directors of America, KAVOD - (Independent/ Family owned Jewish funeral directors) Consumer Affairs Funeral and Cemetery division For a list of

ASK MARNIE

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

Rosenwald & Washington

The Amazing Story of how Sear’s Jewish President, Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington Transformed Schools for Generations of Black Students

My dear San Diegans:

Today we look at an extraordinary alliance that changed the landscape in education in the South.

In 1910, Julius Rosenwald, president of the Sears, Roebuck mail-order empire, read Booker T. Washington’s “Up From Slavery,” about the founding of the Tuskegee Institute, today the most revered of the Historically Black Institutions of Higher Learning. Rosenwald, brilliant–though lacking formal education–saw in Washington a like-minded man with a strong belief in self-determination and providing the means to do so.

And so led to a friendship and audacious project that would keep the men teamed to build over 5,000 schools across the South in black communities where separate but equal, was not only severely unequal, but often non-existent and doing so, started creating a new black middle class in the South.

The Unlikely Story of Julius Rosenwald

Young Rosenwald dropped out of high school at age 17 and left his native Springfield, Illinois, to apprentice for his uncles, who were men’s clothing manufacturers in New York. From the beginning, he showed a propensity for hard work — working weekends to supplement his $5 weekly salary.

Around the time that Sears and Roebuck were starting their company in Chicago, young Rosenwald helped found his own men’s clothing manufacturing company. One of his largest customers was Sears-Roebuck which turned out to be fortuitous.

The catalog company’s business was down. There was the feeling that the mail-order business was a flash in the pan. But Sears-Roebuck owed Rosenwald money for 10,000 suits it had purchased from him, which is largely why JR, as he was known, decided to invest in the retailer, using that debt as part of his buy-in.

Despite lack of formal education, Rosenwald possessed something superior: a brilliant strategic mind and dedication. He was dedicated to pursuits which he brought to Sears, in a variety of ways, functionally changing the way corporations do business (proper space/ equipment, accounting, accountability, correct investment and innovations for those in the workplace).

Beyond his business acumen and success, Julius Rosenwald is best remembered for his charity. JR’s great grandson, David Stern, who as executive director of Equal Justice Works is a philanthropist himself, said “Some people believe this is apocryphal, but so many branches of the family have heard the story I believe it’s true: JR believed,

‘If you get a lot of money, you should use one-third to live on, one-third for savings and one-third you give away.’”

In fact, JR did better than to live up to that credo. His net worth was a reported $80 million (more than $1 billion today). But over the course of his lifetime, he gave away nearly as much — $70 million — to various institutions.

JR, whose company was known for shipping home-building kits through the mail, developed a partnership with Booker T. Washington. This partnership provided funding, blueprints and guidance that enabled black communities in 15 states to build permanent schools in these neglected areas. For example, James Macon County, home of the Tuskegee Institute, spent $14 on each white child’s education but just 20 cents on each black child. White schools had one teacher for every 30 students, while in the few existing black schools, each teacher was responsible for upwards of 200 students. This was what “separate but equal” meant.

Rosenwald Rural Schools Initiative funds required community buy-in which prevented the diversion of money from its intended purpose. The schools were designed specifically to compensate for a widespread lack of electricity and indoor plumbing. As black teaching talent was scarce in rural areas, there were blueprints and seed money for adjoining

Advice continued

teacher housing and, later — practically unheard of at the time — high schools and facilities for “industrial” training.

The construction campaign ran from 1912 to 1932. The 1929 stock market crash, which decimated the Sears stock Rosenwald had used to endow the effort, was the first harbinger of the building boom’s end. But the schools continued to serve children for decades.

Overall, 5,357 schools and associated buildings in 883 counties were created that educated more than a fourth of black children in the South (around 663,615). The schools had an enormous effect on literacy, earnings and the Great Migration to the North, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago concluded in a 2009 report.

Today, an estimated 10 percent of the schoolhouses still exist — some as

community centers and museums with plaques explaining their significance, others as barns and sheds, their historic pasts unrecognized. And there is a national campaign to restore and preserve these important remnants of American history. At least 58 of these schools are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF NEGRO EDUCATION, February 8, 1933

To the Colored Teachers of Virginia

Dear Teacher:

Rosenwald Day this year should receive special attention inasmuch as our great benefactor has recently passed away. We are asking that all colored

schools in our State observe March 3rd as Rosenwald Day — a day which is being observed over the whole South. ...

— W.D. Gresham, Superintendent of Negro Education

The partnership of the Jew and the black former slave was a major gamechanging mitzvah that forever changed the landscape of education in the South. A