November 2022

IT’S TIME TO LEARN SOME TORAH!

F a l l C l a s s e s c o m m e n c e i n :

* T o r a h P o r t i o n * H e b r e w R e a d i n g * K a b b a l a h ( M y s t i c i s m ) * J e w i s h L a w * T a l m u d * J L I * M u c h M o r e

O u r c l a s s e s , g i v e n b y o u r R a b b i s a n d R e b b e t z i n s , a r e d e s i g n e d t o q u e n c h y o u r t h i r s t f o r k n o w l e d g e n o m a t t e r w h a t y o u r b a c k g r o u n d , l e v e l o f o b s e r v a n c e , o r a f f i l i a t i o n T h e r e i s n o c h a r g e t o p a r t i c i p a t e .

There is a Chabad Jewish Center near

Scripps Ranch (Regional HQ),Bonita, Carlsbad North, Carmel Valley, Chula Vista, Coronado, Downtown, East County, Encinitas, La Costa, La Jolla, Oceanside/Vista, North County Inland, Pacific Beach, Rancho S. Fe, S. Marcos, SDSU, UCSD, University City

H I G H H O L I D A Y S A R E O V E R ,

W H A T

S N E X T ?

Y O U A R E A L W A Y S W E L C O M E A T Y O U R L O C A L C H A B A D C E N T E R T O I M B I B E I N T H E S W E E T W A T E R S O F T H E T O R A H , W H I C H I S Y O U R I N H E R I T A N C E .

PUBLISHERS

Mark Edelstein and Dr. Mark Moss

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jacqueline Bull

ASSISTANT EDITOR Makayla Hoppe

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Eileen Sondak

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Donna D’Angelo

SENIOR CONSULTANT Ronnie Weisberg

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

Jonathan Ableson | Senior Account Executive 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 ©2022 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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MONDAY, DECEMBER 5,

Luncheon & Conversation | 12:00–2:00pm Hyatt Regency La Jolla At Aventine

Meaning in Challenging

At some point in our lives, we all experience adversity. When faced with difficult challenges, a fresh perspective can help illuminate a way forward. Join us for an intimate and thought-provoking conversation with Rabbi David Wolpe as he shares his insight on how to find meaning during challenging times and how Jewish values can help guide us through today’s most pressing issues. Together, we’ll gain a greater understanding of the steps we can take as individuals and as a community to move forward with strength and hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Named as the most influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek, Rabbi David Wolpe is the Senior Rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. He has been featured and published in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Today Show, PBS, and more. Known for his sincerity and candor, Rabbi Wolpe is a celebrated and inspirational bestselling author, scholar, speaker, and thought leader.

can

Neighborhood Identity

In some ways, autumn marks the time for “real” San Diego. The tourism season dies down considerably and the streets are filled with locals going to baseball games and galas. (I had an interesting deja vu of the crowd excitement of the winning moment of the Padres game on Oct. 15 which felt much like being in a sports bar in Michigan when the Detroit Tigers made it into the World Series in 2012 — I’m good luck for the home team in baseball evidently.)

In my relatively short (5 years) time in San Diego, I’ve followed a lot of land developments with interest. I was just in time to see the last gasps of breath of Horton Plaza before the full scale remodel. I watched with curiosity about SDSU West. I’ve seen many new apartment buildings pop up in downtown, Hillcrest and Mission Valley. I have been delighted by the Shell and the trolley extension. I have enjoyed the new port of San Diego restaurant block. And now my attention has turned to the civic center plaza acquisition by the city and the latest in the Seaport Village saga. Saga is perhaps editorializing, but it seems apt considering how slowly decisions have moved and also how emotionally invested people are.

The latest development in the renovation of Seaport Village is the developer asking for $550 million of public money for “stabilizing the shoreline, lifting the land to withstand sea level rise, and accommodating utilities, and pay for amenities that were a selling point for the project like an urban beach, parks, a boardwalk and an elevated ‘green strand’ walkway modeled after The High Line in New York,” according to the “Voice of San Diego.”

I’ll be transparent and say I’m not sure if I feel posi tively or negatively about the idea. I can acknowledge that often the big dollar amount can feel like shock value. I also understand that perhaps I haven’t lived here long enough to have a big attachment to Seaport Village as it is now. I’ve walked through Seaport Village many times and on that route I’m more attached to the convention

center steps and to the thrill of seeing the huge Dole ship than I am to that little neighborhood. I do have strong emotional ties to other areas and would be devastated if, for example, Balboa Park was changed significantly in a way I disagreed with.

Seaport Village is a bit of a mystery to me. Whether I am accurate or not, I have an understanding of the function and tone of many of the neighborhoods in San Diego. I can predict the kinds of people in crowds in Little Italy and North Park. I can guess with fairly decent accuracy when each neighborhood gets busy and for what reasons. I don’t quite understand what the vision for Seaport Village is. Part of the development money is to reconcile the land with the water and to make it safe from a rising sea level and to make an urban beach. The port as it is now is still fairly busy with boats, both commercial and recreational; I struggle to see how it would succeed as a leisure beach; similarly to the near side of Coronado which only seems to ever have a few out-of-town stragglers on the beach near the dock.

Many of the tourism-heavy spots in San Diego also have a real draw for locals. Pacific Beach is a popular boardwalk for a one-time stroll, but also has many repeat local visitors. Little Italy is cute and picturesque for a photo, but also has great date night restaurants. Because I would imagine “downtown” and “waterfront” would equal huge rents, I don’t see what business could thrive there that would appeal to the average San Diegan. (If you have a different take, I’m curious to hear it.) I should also be fair and say I also have no idea what would be a better use for the land.

I’m generally in favor of change and progress for development, but have yet to be convinced in this area. In any case, groundbreaking isn’t expected until 2025 or 2026 so there is plenty of opportunity for things to change. A

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.

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

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

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Scene

Globe Board members Jennifer Greenfiled and Sheryl White co-chaired the 2022 Globe Gala with the theme “Drama Resides Here.” The event supports the Globe’s programming and arts engagement.

Cocktails were crafted by Snake Oil Cocktail Co. and accompanied by hors d’oeuvres on the Globe plaza. Dinner was catered by Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine.

Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein started the proceedings with a special presentation. Tony-nominated Broadway singer Joshua Henry performed. Dancing followed dinner with the music of Lovestoned.

PHOTOS

(1) Barry and Hilit Edelstein. (2) Joan and Irwin Jacobs, Colette and Ivor Royston. (3) Howard and Barbara Milstein. Photo by Carol Sonstein. (4) Iris and Matthew Strauss. (5) Diana Lombrozo, Alejandro Lombrozo, Olesya Lombrozo, Eliezer Lombrozo.

Our Town

The Jewish National Fund-USA held its 11th Annual “Love of Israel” brunch at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines. Chairs Leslie & Shlomo Caspi created a fabulous event celebrating Israel and educating the spectacular attendance of around 500. The program featured a presentation by Israeli-American actress, author, producer and activist, Noa Tishby. For his generous contributions to the well-being of the land and people of Israel, Dr. Andrew Viterbi was presented with the Guardians of Israel Award. Those in attendance were able to learn more about how Jewish National Fund-USA has been making a difference for the land and the people of Israel since 1901. Some of those we saw were Elena Berger, Lynn Greenstein, Melissa & Brian Davis, Rabbi Scott Meltzer, Fran Lobman, Mitch & Julie Dubik, Britt & Stuart Rubenstein, Sheryl Baron, Rami & Doris Nagola, Sol & Debbie Kempinski, Rabbi & Debbie Kornberg, Rona Dosick, Judy Gumbiner & LarryVigdor, and Tammy Vener

Always a remarkable event, we were so delighted to attend the 13th Annual American Friends of the Hebrew University (AFHU) Bel Aire Affaire. Celebrating “The Magic of the Hebrew University,” truer words could not be said based on the evenings program at the stunning Papillon Estate in Beverly Hills. The event chairs (Joyce Brandman, Renae Jacobs-Anson & Dr. David Anson and Helen Jacobs-Lepor & Dr. Norman Lepor) created a truly magical affair, featuring world famous illusionist and magician, Adam Trent. With pride and admiration, AFHU honored Jaye-Jo Portanova, M.D. & Bruce Cooperman and Cindy & Gary Frischling with the Humanitarian Torch of Learning Award. Others enjoying this memorable event were Miryam & Sam Tarica, Steve Frankel & Dan Ricketts, Marissa Lepor, Andrew Dunst, Beth & Dennis McCoy, Patricia Glazer & Sam Mudie, and May & Richard Ziman

Mazel Tov to Lindsey Negrete & Michael Sweaney on their marriage! They were married on Aug. 13 at the Coronado Marriott. Parents, Marla & Richard Negrete and Carol Sweaney, along with grandparents, Roz & Marty Freedman were completely overjoyed!

Mazel Tov to Doreen & Morris (z”l) Casuto, on the birth of their grandchild, Madison Angela, born on Aug. 25. Happy parents are Simon & Stefenie Casuto. Older sibling Chloe (3) is all smiles!

Mazel Tov to Sheila & Jeff Lipinsky, on the birth of their grandson, Jason Phillip. Born on July 29, Jason is the son of Steve & Caroline Lipinsky

Mazel Tov to Sarah Alpert & Benjamin Laatsch, on the birth of their daughter, Zosia Ruth. Older brother, Amichai was overjoyed to welcome his new little sister to the family!

Yom Huledets Sameach to...

Lois Ellenstein celebrating her 96th birthday. Ben Midler celebrating his 94th birthday. Phyllis Gold celebrating his 88th birthday. Marsha Stein-Hicks celebrating her 86th birthday. Si Coleman celebrating his 85th birthday.

CELEBRATING Wedding Anniversaries

with infinite love & happiness, Mazel Tov to…

Sarita & Samy Zands, 58 years. Evelyn & Edward Singer, 50 years.

Iran’s supreme leader blames protests on Israel and US

In finally addressing the protests against the repression of women that have for two weeks roiled his country, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, blamed Israel and the United States for the unrest.

“I openly state that the recent riots and unrest in Iran were schemes designed by the U.S.; the usurping, fake Zionist regime; their mercenaries; and some treasonous Iranians abroad who helped them,” Khamenei said.

The protests that have engulfed the country since Sept. 17 were sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, who had been arrested for not properly wearing a headscarf. There have been hundreds of arrests and state TV has reported over 40 deaths of protesters and police.

Khamenei heads a regime that has for decades backed the dismantling of Israel and lends logistical support to terrorist groups and some of Israel’s most implacable enemies.

Simultaneous demonstrations in support of Iran’s protests took place across the world on Saturday. As in many other countries, Israeli women have recorded online videos in support of the Iranian protesters; at least one set was organized by Israel’s foreign ministry.

All of the Jewish NHL players to watch this season

JACK HUGHES  |  NEW JERSEY DEVILS, CENTER

All did not go according to plan last season for the No. 1 pick of the 2019 NHL Draft. After multiple goals in the season’s first game, including an overtime game-winner, Hughes dislocated his shoulder in the next match and was off the ice for six weeks.

In just 49 games played last season, he still managed an impressive 26 goals and 56 points (goals plus assists). He and new linemates Alexander Holtz and Ondrej Palat have such an instant chemistry that they’re already nicknamed H20 (Hughes-Holtz-Ondrej).

ZACH HYMAN  |  EDMONTON OILERS, FORWARD

After playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs for six years, forward Zach Hyman signed with the Edmonton Oilers last summer and never looked back. The left winger had a stellar 2021-2022 season, recording a career-high 27 goals and 54 points in 76 games — which included 11 goals and 16 points in 16 playoff games.

Of all the Jewish players in the NHL, Hyman is perhaps the most vocal about being connected to his faith and roots. He wears No. 18 for a reason. “I’m Jewish, and in Judaism, 18 is a lucky number; it’s chai, which means ‘life’ in Hebrew,” he told “The Athletic” last year.

Testimonial from a current resident

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LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE

Focaccia &

In the months just before the pandemic, nearly five million tourists touched down at Ben Gurion International Airport to experience Israel. Respectively, they came for archaeology, heritage, to hike Masada, pray at the Western Wall or float in the Dead Sea. They arrived from every corner of the world.

My aliyah occurred more than 27 years ago and I shamefacedly admit that I frequently take these holy visitors for granted. Few of them meander toward my dumpy town that lies nestled between two Arab villages, abutting the highway to the south of the country. We do not boast nightlife, cultural attractions or fine dining. We don’t even have a coffee shop. (In August someone tried to operate a shawarma stand out of a refurbished minivan and it lasted all of 11 days.)

However, when planes stopped coming due to the Covid scourge, I awakened to the delicate nature of the travel industry. I discovered that many of my clients were — or married to — tour guides. Incomes dried up overnight and a wealth of Israel-centric passion and knowledge abruptly lay fallow. Many of these people retrained to become online teachers, technical writers or to pursue other reputedly stable careers in a suddenly shaky universe. Consequently, many of us became sensitized to that precious commodity called tourism and prayed for the days of overflowing restaurants, bumper-to-bumper-taxi

traffic and desert camel rides to become, once again, the norm.

I tried to keep the aforementioned thoughts in mind over the recent holiday season when I could not get a table for two in any restaurant in the city. I wanted to take my visiting sister to a favorite eatery and was gobsmacked to learn that it had been fully booked through mid October before Rosh Hashanah even began. Apparently, phone reservations were just foolhardy. I parked my dented jalopy in the beautiful Mamilla Complex garage and meandered from restaurant to restaurant, attempting to negotiate the queues that formed along the elegant boulevard. Hopeless. With growling stomachs, Sis and I raced back to the car and tried to find parking at the refurbished First Station, the German Colony and even hotel bistros. By the time we realized that we could not compete with the well-heeled Englishspeaking crowds, I aimed my headlights

towards the lesser known joints in a simpler part of town.

With Hebrew-only menus, my corner of the world boasts more falafel and less focaccia and little awareness of the international maelstrom that plays out only a few kilometers away during tourist-season.

And then, it was over. October ended and the children returned to school. The Sukkahs came down and most of us went back to work. Tour guides — those special individuals who bring the Holy Land to life for millions upon millions of people — began preparing for the upcoming Hanukkah rush. The newer American immigrants ordered hardto-come-by turkeys for Thanksgiving, holding on to an emotional vestige of the life they left behind.

Joni Mitchell’s song “Big Yellow Taxi” includes an eerie line, “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” When tourism does not directly impact our lives, it is easy to dismiss the impact of this mighty, economic engine. If visitors want to purchase Hebrew namenecklaces or demand ‘half-caff’ lattes that make post-army baristas chuckle, let them. Their absence did not make for a better Israel and we are blessed by the energy and drive that accompanies their curiosity and moxie.

The gates are open and it is only right to say, “B’ruchim Habaim.” Welcome home! A

CONNECT. DISCOVER.

The CommUNITY Trip to Israel | May 4–11, 2023

Be a part of the San Diego Jewish community’s transformative trip across Israel, experiencing its immense natural beauty, dynamic religious expressions, rich culture and history, vibrant cuisine, incredible innovations, and remarkable and diverse people.

• 5-star accommodations and the best of Israeli dining — from exquisite to casual

• Meet the people and experience the programs Federation supports

• A special day in Sha’ar HaNegev celebrating 25 years of partnership including: the Viterbi Family Art Festival, dedicating the new Youth Sports and Culture Center, home visits, & much more

• Special events at venues throughout Israel

• Meetings with dignitaries and interactions with everyday Israelis

• Continue the journey with an incredible 4-day post trip extension to UAE

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Elective opportunities in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

• Food and Wine • Art and Culture

• Social Cohesion and Hi-Tech

• Celebrating Women’s Achievements

• Hunger, Aging & Poverty • Immigration

• Adventure in Israel • Jerusalem Beneath the Headlines • Disenfranchised Communities

• Understanding the Areas of Mutual Co Existence • Business and Innovation

• Jewish Pluralism & Advocacy

$3,999 per person double occupancy (Land Only) 7 nights/ 8 days. Limited subsidies available for 25–45 year-olds. Most meals included. Local San Diego Rabbis on all buses.

AT SDCOMMUNITYTRIP.ORG

All participants will have the opportunity to make a meaningful gift to Jewish Federation of San Diego County on the trip.

trip will have a powerful impact on our community for years to come.

OUR EMOTIONAL FOOTPRINT

If Home Is Where the Heart Is, Where Do I Belong?

Most people are familiar with the adage, “Home is where the heart is,” originally used in 1857 by author JT Bickford in his book “Scandal.” He meant then, just as it is used today, that wherever one may live or wander in life, one retains a heartfelt connection and soulful belonging to a deeply personal home and/or the people there.

This interpretation is simple but it can also describe a challenging emotional state. Being away from the loving ties to one’s original home, family and friends often engenders varying degrees of nostalgia, longing and yearning, and wishing, hoping and praying. These emotional thoughts and feelings are often referred to as “homesickness,” but if prolonged and intense they can lead to intense sadness and even depression.

But what do people do if they are separated from their homes and loved ones for reasons out of their control? This is of course not unusual in the migration experiences of millions of emigrants or refugees fleeing dire circumstances, like extreme poverty, or racism and other hateful “isms,” or war. People who leave their ancestral homes and loved ones for safety or to enhance their personal or family opportunities, can still face a sense of alienation in their adopted lands and cultures.

But yearning to return to one’s native land is by no means universal. The chances that immigrants will return to their homelands are negligible, although there have certainly been some incidents of returning. My immigrant parents never looked back with regret that they left the anti-Semitism and Nazism prevalent in their native countries in Europe.

In fact, returning has often brought mixed results. In his famous novel “You Can’t Go Home Again,” the author Thomas Wolfe demonstrated that changes to people and places are inevitable over time and that “going home” can be disappointing and upsetting. Sometimes, as is said, “there is no ‘there’ there.”

Why, you may ask, am I raising this issue here and now? I do so for entirely personal reasons: Over the course of my lifetime, I have mostly lived in three very different cities, approximating a third of my years in each of the metropolises of Montreal, Toronto and San Diego. (Ialso lived in Jerusalem and Palo Alto for periods of time). Having said that, I must confront my own truth, which is that I don’t really know where my heart belongs.

I spent my enjoyable childhood, adolescent and young adult formative years in Montreal, Canada. I have

wonderful memories of my family home as well as my education from kindergarten through medical school. I also developed meaningful friendships — some still viable today.

My middle adult decades were spent in Toronto, where I lived with my wife and raised three exceptional sons, worked and thrived professionally, wrote papers and books, appeared on television regularly and again, developed deep and lasting friendships.

My most recent three decades have been in San Diego, where I remarried, raised a wonderful daughter, enhanced my professional and writing career and once again made wonderful and intimate friendships.

But when people ask me, “Where is your ‘emotional’ home?” I actually have a difficult time answering cogently. I then ask myself, “Where do I most belong?”

All three cities offer singular prototypic sites and monuments, cultural and sporting opportunities, natural scenes of beauty and impressively unique idiosyncratic features. My wife and daughter live in San Diego, as do my oldest son and his family. I also have married sons with children and extended family

Your Mess Becomes Your Message

As I was engaged in an(other) extremely trying time in my life, I decided I wanted to record my story. My intentions were certainly not to be a how-to guide, as after all I certainly didn’t feel like I had created any level of success, or a tell-all story as I (to this day) feel incredibly protective of the reputations of the people who have been in my life.

I didn’t want to put out something “too hot for TV” which would impact my kids’ chances of getting a good match (trust me, in the circles I run in, this matters). But I wanted to inspire — even one person.

See, I used to love gedolim books. Gedolim books are inspirational biographies of our great rabbis. They serve as spiritual portraits of what elevated people can achieve. But at a certain point, maybe because I’ve read so many, the most recent ones I had been reading lost me. From the author’s perspective, he doesn’t make mistakes. I started to wish I’d read about one of the times he’d really gotten upset. Even in his struggles and difficulties, he responds as a patient and loving servant of G-d. I felt like I had missed a step. I admired him and I wanted to be like him, but I didn’t know how to close the gap.

I haven’t picked up that book (or candidly few others of the sort) since then. What did I find or look for? Other

“I don’t speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don’t have the power to remain silent.”

biographies — and even a glimpse (ok, this is honest, a deep dive) into true crime and some of the darker aspects of human nature.

A challenge for me, reading about other peoples’ lives, is that there is a need to present perfect. Sure, it’s still the same messed up world it’s always been, but we try to polish our lives so they fit for mass consumption, through social media or otherwise. Even when we share our challenges, it is to show people how we’ve triumphed on the other side.

I just finished a book about a woman who left her family, her religion and her comfort to pursue radical truth — and she told us her whole story in a best-selling book after getting picked up by Oprah and making millions — powerful yes, but relatable in the end? I didn’t think so.

of his community told me at one point he wanted to just give up and be a masseuse. That message cut through me because who’d admit such a thing? And the fact that the vulnerability was so rare makes me think that that is what the world needs.

The point in exposing the lack of perfection and positivity isn’t for the sake of complaining or being depressed, but rather to provide hope that all great people have failed. (In fact, they are great because they failed.) As Churchill once said, “Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” We live in a world where there are a lot of “have-nots” and “success stories” but rarely are we privy to see the transition, or know the trepidation on the way up.

“I used to be x, y, and z and now I’m a billionaire and my life is awesome,” said everyone and no one ever. I wanted to put together my thoughts and experiences because one day, hopefully my students, or friends, or children, or myself would want to see how I became who I am. I still don’t know what that is, but I’m excited to find out. I have seen a fair amount in my life and thank G-d achieved some success. So I decided to share with you, dear readers, some of my story.

A wonderful friend of mine, who is a successful entrepreneur and pillar continues on next page >>

Post-Political continued

I have gone from being a largely unaffiliated reform Jew to an orthodox Outreach rabbi, to a coach and entrepreneur myself. I lost over 100 lbs in my lifetime. I grew up with an alcoholic father who left my life when I was in high school only to find him and reconnect with him twenty years later. I am now a father to four children and husband for sixteen years. I’ve learned how to leverage my fear and lack of confidence and to keep going despite having never gotten rid of either.

There are a ton of people more successful than I am. And tons less. It doesn’t matter. G-d gave me the ability to be open and share my story and my weaknesses and I might as well do it.

Just share your story. Someone might just listen. The lessons you have learned through your experience are there to serve others. A

Examined Life continued

in both Montreal and Toronto. In addition, I cherish meaningful and close friendships in each of these cities.

Of course, this is not to say that life in each locale was always easy and problem-free, because we all know that our lives are at times challenging and painful. But in retrospect, I use similarly valid adjectives to summarize my experiences in each city as “enjoyable,” “enhancing” and “meaningful.”

Having said that, I introduce with some trepidation a sensitive subject which some readers might consider to verge on the morbid. But at my age, the question “Where do I belong?” can be translated into, “Where do I wish to be buried?”

In pondering this, other questions immediately come to mind: Why is my burial site important to me? Is this because I want my grave to be visited

by mourners? Is this mere egotism or narcissism on my part, or is it deeply meaningful?

My family wants me to state my personal wishes in these matters, and I do think this is wise. I want to be clear about these choices in order to ease the stresses on my survivors, but I am still left with this quandary.

So many people have moved elsewhere in the course of their lives, and I wonder if any readers share this dilemma. If this describes you, where do you consider your emotional home to be? And where do you wish your final physical resting place to be? Are they the same? A

Shabbat San Diego Showcases Breadth of Community

Shabbat San Diego, a community-wide Jewish event, is here for its 9th year, but in many ways is a brand new event. Since the event is centered around bringing the community together, really thinking about questions like “What does the community want? What is it ready for? What are people comfortable with? How can we include the most people? What can we teach people about how to make Shabbat special?” are incredibly important for serving the mission of the event.

“So this will be an option for them to test the waters after the Hadin, after the holidays, to see if people are truly ready to be getting back together,” Shabbat San Diego Director Simone Abelsohn said.

“Communities are starting to dip their toe into live events, but people aren’t ready for thousand-person-plus

events. Instead we are concentrating on smaller yet intimate Shabbat San Diego events. We are partnering with a variety of shuls around town and they are all hosting their own versions of our challah bake or classes,” she said.

Tifereth Israel, which has historically been Shabat San Diego’s East County location, will again be doing a challah bake and will be around 300–350 people instead of its usual 1000. Simone explained her goal is to have 36 challah bakes around town and was at 22 at the time of the interview, but hopeful to get to about 30. If the event makes it to 30, they will have the same number of people involved in years past, but just spread out to multiple locations.

“The goal is to make the smaller more intimate setting and still connect them all, still make them part of the worldwide project,” she added.

The theme for the worldwide event is one Shabbat together again.

“It’s one Shabbat to get back together again. Get back into your communities, get back into the meaning of Shabbat, get back into the lovingness of Shabbat, get back into the beauty of the Shabbat, get back into the kindness, get back into whatever is you want to get back into. So it is one shabbat to get back into,” she said.

Simone, from her view as director, has seen first-hand the impact of the event over the years. The events that they had during Covid showed how even having the event online connected people

who were experiencing loneliness and isolation.

“On the planning level, two of our co-chairs from the beginning are now like sisters and I just saw on Facebook that they spent the Hadin together. Without Shabbat San Diego, they would’ve never met,” she said.

Simone has also made many personal connections through Shabbat San Diego and has made friends with the other directors of other cities in Israel, South Africa, Mexico and Phoenix, Detroit New York and Pittsburgh. The directors on the individual city level meet for conference calls a couple times a year to

brainstorm, check in and troubleshoot challenges. Simone and San Diego have been mentors to other newer cities and especially those with a range of sects from secular to orthodox.

“In the beginning the Shabbos project was a more orthodox project. And when Selwyn and Robin brought it to San Diego in 2014, they said ‘The project is incredible but an Orthodox project is never going to work here, can we make it secular?’ And the team in Johannesburg, South Africa said sure we will make this exception for you to make it secular, but please don’t change our brand. And that’s why we are called Shabbat San Diego and not Shabbos Project like other cities are. After that first year in 2014, we were so successful here locally that they actually now have two ways of doing the Shabbos Project: the one is the traditional halachic way and the other is the cultural Shabbat San Diego way. For the first couple years, I was mentoring other cities and helping them bridge the gaps between their Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and giving them the words that we use to help unite the different ways of practicing Judaism. And so I do still have some of those connections from the beginning,” she said.

A new connection this year is a partnership with the JCC. Shabbat San Diego is now powered by LFJCC where the JCC provides resources like marketing and outreach.

“The one thing Shabbat San Diego is wonderful at is utilizing our volunteers. We have seen a lot change because we’ve tried to bring in new volunteers over the years. It truly is community-led. It truly is volunteer-led. Each year you can see the volunteers that organize it shine through the projects which makes me really excited for this year that different organizations are going to have the opportunity to shine through the project. And I’m very excited to see how the different shuls and organizations will shine and show their individuality,” Simone said. A

Cantor Rebecca Joy Fletcher Brings Sustainability and the Arts To Coastal Roots Farm

The autumn weather is upon us here in San Diego county. On a drizzly Thursday afternoon, Coastal Roots Farm was filled with activity as employees prepared for the farm stand to open, as well as getting ready for the Sukkot Harvest Festival. The farm features vegetable gardens, compost centers and a flock of chickens. Approximately two-thirds of the produce gets donated to San Diego residents in need and the farm stand operates on a pay-what-you-can basis.

Coastal Roots Farm consists of 17 acres on the grounds of the Leichtag Foundation, an organization that encourages a thriving Jewish community in North County.

The farm stand’s offerings change depending on what produce is ready to be harvested and it just so happened that pomegranates were available that day. “In Jewish tradition pomegranates are very symbolic,” said Rebecca Joy Fletcher. “There’s this idea around the

time of the high holidays: ‘May a person be blessed to do as many good deeds as there are seeds in a pomegranate.’”

Rebecca is an ordained cantor from Chicago that has been brought on as the Director of Jewish Life at Coastal Roots Farm, a brand new position for the organization. “The farm knew what it wanted in a large sense and it knew it was an important step for them to create this position. But I’m filling it out, I’m putting bones on it as I do it,” she said.

Her time in Chicago included working as a climate change coach, something she hopes to utilize for this new position.

“The idea is to help people, individuals and organizations, wherever they are, to navigate the crisis better,” she said. The farm takes great pride in their sustainability efforts, and rightfully so. “That’s where I want to live,” said Rebecca, “the realm of interpersonal communal uplift in this time of crisis, which I do believe is a time of crisis...My hope is that over time I will run programs here. I will invite the community; this place will be a resource for a level of exploration, nourishment, conversation and connection around climate issues.”

Rebecca also has a long and impressive background as an actor and theatre maker. “I spent about 15 years creating and touring my own work,” she said. “In that period it just so happened that everything that I created, in some way, had some kind of Jewish content. So it meant that I was touring in venues or areas where there were significant Jewish audiences. I had the good fortune to perform in France, Poland, Israel and the UK. During those periods when I toured like that it was also a time when I was able to expand my wings as an experiential educator.”

In addition to her climate change work, Rebecca hopes to bring her artistic talents to the farm. “The role of theater across history has been within communities to tell the stories that need the most to be told. And to give language to imaginings and possibilities that we don’t already see,” she said. “Jews, and all people, are storied people. So in this era of the climate emergency I believe strongly that the stories we tell each other can help us open our eyes to new possibilities.”

Coastal Roots Farm enjoys hosting the community for special events. In addition to the annual Sukkot Harvest Festival, the farm put on gardening workshops and workshops for teens during the month of October. Rebecca plans to put on workshops of her own, especially geared toward adults. “Until now there was a bit but it was more young family and kid-focused,” she said.

“It is a rare privilege for me to be brought in to give flesh to a new position at an institution that is already thriving, that has such a clear vision that is so inspired already,” Rebecca said. “I’ve never had this experience before. The world of nonprofits is sometimes very shaky, and Coastal Roots Farm is not shaky. What is incredible is that they waited to create my position until they felt that there were deep enough roots in all the other primary values: regenerative agriculture, environmental education and food justice. Then further uplift the fourth value which is Jewish life. It’s a privilege I’ve never had before in my professional life, to step into something new where the ground feels really solid and that is a testament to the farm.” A

Our Commitment to Community Security

Almost daily, the news cycle includes stories of antisemitism — whether graffiti, vandalism, threats, or violent acts. Both verbally and physically, Jews are subjected to hatred in this country at higher rates than ever before, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Of course, in San Diego we’ve experienced this hatred firsthand, the tragedy that can unfold when antisemitism festers unabated.

In this unfortunate reality, Jewish Federation of San Diego County deploys a comprehensive strategy to safeguard our local Jewish institutions. This work began in earnest a few years ago following the shootings at the Chabad of Poway. Federation, in partnership with ADL San Diego, hired an ADL Security Director to provide more support for Jewish organizations across the community. Simultaneously, along with the Leichtag Foundation and Jewish Community Foundation, we began to work closely with local organizations to ensure they received federal and state grants allocated to nonprofit organizations for security assistance, resulting in over $3 million for local security projects.

These initial efforts were just the beginning and now, as Covid recedes

from our daily lives and we again gather again in person, our commitment to security is as important as ever. For Jewish community to thrive, Jews must both feel safe and be safe in our Jewish institutions. We are implementing a plan to meet this need.

Our goal is to invest $1.2 million over the next three years, which will go toward increased physical security improvements at Jewish organizations, increased security planning and coordination and, critically, supporting our new community security director hire. This individual will be part of a nationally networked Jewish community security team that offers cutting edge resources to monitor threats and rapidly respond to crises.

At our recent Federation 360 event with hundreds of community members, Karen Parry, executive director of Hillel at San Diego, shared just how vital a community security director is, commenting, “As Hillel of San Diego is building the Beverly and Joseph Glickman Hillel Center adjacent to UCSD, Federation’s Community Security Director supported our work to ensure we were as safe and secure as possible. Having someone to call to ask questions and support our safety needs is

something I will never take for granted. It’s a huge gift and asset to us and all our Jewish community organizations.”

In addition to the Community Security Director, we know that it takes effort from all of us in the face of rising antisemitism to keep our community safe. With this in mind, just last month we celebrated nine local synagogues that completed the Jewish Community Security Institute (CSI) that we run in partnership with ADL San Diego. The CSI provided high-level tactical and strategic best practices to enhance the synagogues’ approach to security. Leaders learned about operationalizing threat assessments, reviewing manuals and protocols, the role of trainings and drills, the importance of situational awareness and safeguarding against cyber-attacks. Importantly, the CSI also fostered dialogue between organizations to learn from each other too, creating a better networked and connected Jewish community.

Now, all nine synagogues are compiling annual security plans to comprehensively address their security needs — and Jewish Federation awarded $10,000 grants to each synagogue to help implement these plans.

Federation does this work with committed local partners and with the steadfast support of Jewish Federations of North America. This year, JFNA will partially match new and increased donor contributions to local Federation, which will be directed towards security. Our goal is to raise $400,000 to achieve the full matching opportunity.

We embrace the need to do more to serve our community, which we know we can do with the generous support of community members. Of course, our efforts safeguarding our community are just one part of our work this year. As we demonstrated with our response to the war in Ukraine, Hurricane Ian, and other international tragedies, Federation is uniquely equipped to respond quickly when crises emerge. We have the infrastructure and partners on the ground to support Jews and others with basic human services, emergency aliyah and other needs that arise. We don’t know when and where our work in this area will be called on next, but we are ready.

While the scourge of antisemitism will not dissipate anytime soon, we are committed to not letting it stop vibrant local Jewish life. Federation is here to help schools, camps, synagogues and other settings provide safe environments for all who want to come and learn, practice and celebrate together. A

Local Offerings

The Old Globe

Visit theoldglobe.org for more information.

NOV. 12–20: Measure for Measure

A Shakespeare dramedy from The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program.

La Jolla Playhouse

Visit lajollaplayhouse.org for more information.

NOV. 15–DEC. 11: As You Like It Produced in association with Diversionary Theatre, the show features a cast of trans, nonbinary and Queer performers.

co-director of

San Diego Symphony

Visit theshell.org for more information.

NOV. 6: FitFest

NOV. 12: Emanuel Ax Plays Beethoven NOV. 17: Payare Leads Brahms’ Symphony No. 1

North Coast Rep

Visit northcoastrep.org for more information.

THRU NOV. 13: Into The Breeches!

female-led comedy set in 1942.

Cygnet Theatre

Visit cygnettheatre.com for more information.

NOV. 13, 6:30 p.m.: Out Night @ Cygnet

a pre-show mixer and happy hour with theatreloving members of the LGBTQIA community.

Coronado Playhouse

Visit coronadoplayhouse.org for more information.

NOV. 4-DEC.4: Big Fish

A musical about a father’s past and his tall tales. Based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the beloved film directed by Tim Burton.

San Diego Natural History Museum

Visit sdnhm.org for more information.

NOV. 9. 6:30 p.m.: Special Nat Talk: Watch “La Recua” and Meet the Director

Watch the award-winning film and enjoy a Q&A with director Trudi Angel.

San Diego Museum of Art

Visit sdmart.org for more information.

NOV. 12, 1:30 p.m.: Guelaguetza: On the Steps at SDMA Featuring folklórico dance and music inspired by Indige nous Oaxacan arts and culture.

Devastating

meet.

thousands

Jewish Book Festival at LFJCC

LFJCC’s Center for Jewish Culture is hosting its first Book Festival Nov. 6-12. All access passes are available for $90-$100 (depending on membership). The Tapestry Keynote speaker is Zack Bodner. Featured titles include “The Antiphonary of Love: The Call of the Scroll,” “Modern Kosher,” and “The Modern Loss Handbook.” The genres represented span food, historical fiction and nonfiction.

Jewish Play Series at LFJCC

J Plays, a series of play readings, starts on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.. Each play will highlight a 20th century Jewish playwright and have readings with San Diego actors. The series is in collaboration with Roustabouts Theatre Co. The first reading starts with Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple.” Local actor and director Samantha Hope Goldstein will lead a talkback discussion following the reading. Senior Rabbi Matt Marko of Tifereth Israel Synagogue will have a role in the reading.

Governor Signs New Law For California’s Water Conservation

Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to incentivize creating drought-tolerant landscaping by exempting them from taxation. Drought-tolerant landscaping helps combat drought and helps conserve water.

Water efficiency incentives have shown that the rebates have helped low and medium-income families as they make up 68% of the rebate recipient households.

Temple Emanu-El Celebrate Marriage of Rabbi

Temple Emanu-El’s board of directors invites their congregants for a special Shabbat and aufruf to celebrate the marriage of Rabbi Ben on Nov. 4. Aufruf is Yiddish for “calling up.”

The couple will be called up for the blessing and oneg. Rabbi Benj is engaged to David Greco. Rabbi Benj has been the Associate Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El since 2017.

a p e s t r y

A Community Celebration of Jewish Learning

e can’t wait to welcome you to this year’s Tapestry Reimagined: An Experiential Day of Jewish Learning. For this year’s program, we chose to focus on a new model based on experiential learning, offering a series of workshop-based classes from comedy to meditation to arts & crafts, still with some of the traditional educational sessions you’ve come to love. The weekend kicks off on Saturday night with Community Havdalah, leading into keynote speaker Zack Bodner, author of Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish Peoplehood, setting the tone for a Sunday full of exciting, interactive, and engaging learning.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12

p.m.

p.m.

p.m.

p.m.

and reception

with Zack Bodner

Havdalah Dinner (additional price)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13

10:00 a.m.

a.m.–12:00 p.m.

p.m.

p.m.

and light refreshments

Session 1: Select one class to attend

Session 2: Select one class to attend

reception

Keynote Speaker: Zack Bodner

Jewish and the Meaning of Life

you ever wondered how to live a more meaningful life? Have you ever wondered what is the meaning of life? Well, we have! And if you’re like us, you’ll want to join Zack Bodner, author of the book Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish Peoplehood and CEO of the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto, as he leads us in a conversation and workshop to help us answer the questions WHY, WHAT and HOW to do Jewish in the 21st century.

11:00 a.m.

• Israeli

• Supporting Self

• The

• Jewish Humor:

• Telling

p.m.

Eshkol

Susan Freeman

Spiritually: Experiencing the Multi-Dimensions of

Heidi Gantwerk & Darren Schwartz

Joke

• Jewish Mindfulness

• Jewish

• JFEST’s BESTS!

p.m.

• Israeli Jewelry

• America/Israel:

• The Future of

• Jewish Humor:

• Telling

Todd Salovey

Pat Cohen

Panelists

Samantha Goldstein

Donald Harrison

Dr. Oded Shezifi

Select one class to attend

Rachel Eshkol

Miri Ketayi & Doron Malka

San

• Jewish Mindfulness

• Jewish

History of

Non-Fiction

Pat Cohen

Joke

Heidi Gantwerk & Darren Schwartz

Samantha Goldstein

Donald Harrison

Dr. Oded Shezifi

Butternut Squash & Radicchio Salad

Celebrate the fall with this autumn-inspired salad! Butternut squash is roasted with harissa until sweet and caramelized and is tossed with bitter radicchio, fresh parsley and a creamy tahini dressing. Drizzled with date syrup, or silan, this salad is the perfect dish for Thanksgiving.

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• 2 tsp. harissa seasoning

• 1 tbsp. sesame seeds

DRESSING:

• ¼ cup (60ml) tahini

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• 3 tbsp. (45ml) apple cider vinegar

• 1 tbsp. (15ml) maple syrup

• 1-2 tbsp. water, as needed

• Sea salt and pepper, to taste

SALAD:

• 1 head radicchio

• 1 cup (35g) parsley, chopped

• 2 green onions/spring onions, chopped

• ¼ cup (30g) pumpkin seeds, toasted

• 2 tbsp. (40g) date syrup

PREPARATION:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

2. Add the butternut to a baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil and season with harissa seasoning, sesame seeds and salt.

3. Roast for 20-25 minutes, or until tender and golden. Set aside.

4. Meanwhile, make the dressing: whisk together the tahini, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup and water until the consistency of heavy whipping cream. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Combine the radicchio, parsley, butternut, onions and pumpkin seeds in a serving bowl. Drizzle with tahini dressing and date syrup.

6. Enjoy!

Alice Morawetz - Encinitas

Joel Cohen - Spring Valley

Eleanor Adams - Chula Vista

Norman Feitelberg - San Diego

Irving Lefberg - San Diego

Lewis Robinson - San Diego

Marilyn Shelden - San Diego

Gerrard Salomon - La Jolla

Molly Zoll - Cardiff By The Sea

Esther Katz - Poway

Arlene Schloss - San Diego

Craig Lambert - San Diego

Barbara Hausen - Carlsbad

Norman Essakow - San Diego

On

Members

Robert Schaffer - San Diego

Chara German - San Diego

Alan Haubenstock - La Jolla

Yefim Tselniker - San Diego

Leonard Friedberg - Encinitas

Barbara Lubin - Mission Viejo

Claudia Libenson - Coronado Laura Rothstein - San Diego

Judith Martin - West Bloomfield, MI

Sylvia Arkin - San Diego

Hilah Shenhav - Princeville, HI

Jean Field - La Jolla

Adeline Hale - Encinitas

their memory be a blessing.

AM

We

MORTUARY

Episode three of “The Patient,” the wellreceived psychological thriller series on Hulu about a serial killer who kidnaps his therapist, involves a flashback to an Orthodox wedding.

Ezra, son of the protagonist therapist Alan Strauss and Reform cantor Beth Strauss, is marrying an Orthodox woman named Chava. Guitar in hand, Beth sings “Dodi Li,” a traditional Jewish wedding song, knowing that women are not allowed to sing in the presence of men in this Orthodox community. As she performs, some men get up to leave. Ezra and his bride stay but look uncomfortable.

The moment gets at the tension that Ezra’s transition out of the Reform

lifestyle of his upbringing and into Orthodoxy has wrought within the Strauss family. But the scene was not originally written this way.

Although the show’s creators Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg are both Jewish, they weren’t aware of the Orthodox prohibition against women singing in front of men and had first written the moment as a nice memory of a mother singing at her son’s wedding. The show’s consultant, Rabbi Menachem Hecht, a teacher at the Modern Orthodox YULA yeshiva high school in Los Angeles, informed the duo of the rule — which thrilled them because they said it made the scene more interesting and complicated. The final product got across

the viewpoints of both denominations in a fair way, Hecht said.

The scene and the consultation behind it points to the level of Jewishness that Fields and Weisberg wove into the fabric of “The Patient.”

The pair, who also created the acclaimed Cold War spy drama “The Americans,” have spoken at length about their Jewish backgrounds — Fields as the son of a Reform rabbi and Weisberg as the son of Reform parents who attended a Conservative Synagogue. A

Hulu’s ‘The Patient’ gets at a dynamic rarely seen on TV: Orthodox-Reform tensions

ASK MARNIE

What Jewish History Forgot: “Denks” Giving

My dear San Diegans: The turkey, the stuffing (OK) and the canned cranberry sauce — with ridges. Such is the ecumenical nature of the U.S. Thanksgiving. While most gentiles (and many Jews) think of T-Bird Day as pure Americana, yet this holiday, all red, white, and bluish is also a little Jewish. Let’s look.

Did you know that the first acknowledged Thanksgiving was in 1621 (some sources cite 1623) when the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast. Some Jewish historians claim it was originally thought of as a day of fasting, introspection and prayer, parallel to our Yom Kippur.

But more...

Look to Sukkot

Who knew that the first U.S. Thanksgiving was copied directly from the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Both holidays are a festival of thanksgiving to G-d, the giver of the Fall harvest, however as the seasons differ between Israel and New England, Sukkot precedes Thanksgiving by several months.

Lost Tribes & Festivals?

The Japanese perform the honored Gion festivals on July 17. This has always been performed on the 17th day of the

7th month, mysteriously matching the day when Noah’s ark drifted ashore the mountains of Ararat. The Bible records, “the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat” (Genesis 8:4).

How does this relate to Thanksgiving?

Though there is no biblical record, ancient Israelites might have had a thanksgiving feast on this day each year. But since Moses, it was replaced by the Feast of Booths (Sukkot).

Gobble, Gobble Gevalt!

If you’re a purist, quick! Stop the stuffing, the trussing, and the “turkey” trottin’!

Ya’ got the wrong “boid.” No. Actually, right bird, wrong name. How? The first European to set foot on American soil, Luis de Torres, who sailed with Columbus in 1492, in a letter home, described the exotic animal life in the New World, among them “a peacock.”

He wrote in Hebrew, and the word for “peacock” is “tukki” — transformed by Europeans into “turkey.” Therefore, every Thanksgiving Americans are feasting on a misnamed fowl!

A Thanksgiving Mitzvah

On Coming to America

“[My parents] spoke in Yiddish, I answered in English. I learned how to be American at school and in the movies. And about being a Jew and a socially responsible human being at home... We had to explain America to our parents, ‘Hey, this is Thanksgiving and this is what it means. It’s like our Sukkot.’ We helped our parents learn how to live in this country. On the lower East Side, there was an old saying, ‘In America, the children raise the parents’”

— Rita Fecher, artist, teacher, filmmaker, “Because God Loves Stories.”

proudly proclaimed over its doors, was Jews’ Hospital (in Hebrew, Bet Holim). Originally it tended only to Jews, accepting others in emergencies. This changed as a result of the Civil War, Draft Day and Orange Day Parade riots. By 1886, to clarify it served all in the community, the hospital was officially renamed and now is one of the most prestigious hospitals and learning institutions in the world covering some

On Thanksgiving in 1853, the cornerstone of the first Jewish U.S. hospital was laid in New York City. Completed on June 8, 1855, the name, continues on page 45 >>

An Award-Winning Realtor Who Lives and Breathes San Diego Real Estate Bringing a Superior Level of Service

Whether you’re looking to upgrade to a beachfront

in La Jolla or seeking to sell your modern condo in North Park, Joel Blumenfeld has you covered. The native San Diegan and Blumenfeld Group founder leverages his wealth of first-hand knowledge and his

expertise to help clients achieve their goals.

“I know the city very well, and I love it here,” he says. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else or do anything different than working in real estate here. I have a passion for it.”

Advice continued

city blocks. The new name? New York’s prestigious Mount Sinai Hospital!

The Great Debate!

A great almost unknown fact by most of us is also a riot. Since 1947, every year before Thanksgiving, students and faculty at the University of Chicago listen to scholars, mathematicians, university presidents and even Nobel Prize winners debate the same critical question: Which is better: the latke or the hamantaschen? The great debate has forced scholars to examine, for example, the cosmic and mathematical significance of the shapes and qualities of both delish dishes. Hegel, Freud, Marx and somehow even Plato get all rolled up in the fray. All of which proves that we Jews love argumentation almost as much as eating, and when we can combine them? Ai Ai Ai — a joy! This boggles my mind, as latkes can be heavy, light, bland, small, huge, dry. Yes, there’s an inconsistency problem with the latke. Then again the hamantaschen could be filled with apricot jam, chocolate, strawberry, followed by raspberry, poppy seed filling, date and prune filling (lekvar), apple, peanut butter or Halva.

And We Shall Shop in This New Land

For most Americans, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, with Santa’s “arrival” as the finale, kicks off the Christmas shopping season. Of course, this legendary parade is hosted by a Jewish department store! (Macy’s was founded by Isidor Straus, who, with his wife, perished on the Titanic.) By the end of World War II, department stores owned by Jewish families sprawled from sea to shining sea. Macy’s competitor, Gimbels, was also a Jewish establishment. A

DIEGO PREMIERE

That time-honored adage, “The Show Must Go On,” takes on new meaning in this endearing and moving comedy set at a small American playhouse in 1942. With the actors and director o at war, a group of passionate women face the daunting challenge of preserving the theatre’s reputation for mounting outstanding Shakespearean productions. Crammed with laughs and an abundance of visual humor, their fierce determination and unbridled enthusiasm will have audiences cheering as they prove that art and community triumph.

THE TORONTO STAR

wonderful

that will have you laughing out loud.”

THE VISTA PRESS

theatrical home run!”

CHRISTENE MEYERS, CRITIC