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Andrea (Andi) K. Frimmer, M. Ed. the “Get Your Kid into College” Lady andi@Prep4CollegeNow.com 760.877.7200 www.Prep4CollegeNow.com 2 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
Senator Marty Block Chair, California Legislative Jewish Caucus
at Beth Israel, 9001 Towne Center Drive, San Diego
5•17•2015
Sunday, May 17, 2015
take a seat, make a difference
g n i r p s gala 5:30 p.m. Silent Auction, Cocktails, Hors d’oeuvres and Sumptuous Dinner Sampling 7:00 p.m. Live Auction of gift items and artist-created chairs, and Performance by Entertainer & Comedian Paul Reiser 8:15 p.m. Dessert Reception Dressy Casual Attire Cocktails, Dinner & Dessert al Fresco Open to all. RSVP at www.cbisd.org/event/spring-gala
Honorary CommiTTee anD CommuniTy Business parTners Dan and phyllis epstein esther Fischer pauline Foster alan Haubenstock Brian Haubenstock & lori shearer marge and Jerry Katleman gail and Jim malkus meg and Jess mandel Ted and anabel mintz susan shmalo and gene Hamilton Carswell Jeff and Karen silberman
Intelligent, Innovative Investing
elizabeth and mitch siegler Cindy and lorne polger
eVenT Co-CHairs april Fink Cindy polger molly schneider eVenT CommiTTee loretta adams merle Brodie Britney ewing Jessica Fink Carol Fox marcia Fram Joanne gimbel maureen glaser rachel goldenhar peter gordon ellen gordon Kelly greene anita Hosenpud marge Katleman Heather Keith Terry Klitzner
9001 Towne Centre Drive
gail malkus Heather mcCracken-Cohen Janet perlman Cassidy robins michael rosenblatt Brad shuman elizabeth siegler anne simon Karin Toranto linda Valfer Tammy Vener meg mandel, president rabbi michael Berk rabbi arlene Bernstein rabbi Jordie gerson lesley mills, executive Director Karen shein lynn sampson Heather Taylor Williams
san Diego
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CHair arTisTs rachel Berkowitz Terri Bignell Cathy Carey ann Chait Kelly greene Karen Depodesta Joanne Hein paul Kaufman Hollis litrownik lesley mills and our youth from the Bill and sid rubin preschool and lee and Frank goldberg Family religious school Confirmed as of March 19, 2015
www.cbisd.org
858.535.1111
Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 3
CONTENTS
April 2015 Nisan/Iyar 5775
42
COVER STORY: Art and humanities in the Holocaust - how 150 prisoners found the strength to perform Verdi’s “Requiem” for Nazis.
31
PASSOVER: Persian Passover traditions and the Iranian Jewish exodus of 1979.
34
FOOD & WINE: Salerno Winery in Ramona is part winery, part sculpture garden thanks to Jaime Caljón and his extensive art collection.
54
ART: Witness the transformative power of Matisyahu in San Diego this month.
4 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
Income Generation in Retirement Our conversation on retirement income can help you move from “Can I retire?” to “How can I make the most of my retirement?”
38 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: 38 FOOD & WINE:
68 SYNAGOGUE:
While most people understand the importance of saving for retirement, the concept of retirement income planning may be less familiar. Retirement income planning is a holistic process to help address key retirement decisions, effectively manage risks, and efficiently provide ongoing income to meet both the clients’ current and long-term retirement needs. We can support you by providing the guidance needed to make better, more informed choices to help provide a retirement as flexible as you are. As experienced advisors, we take the time to understand your unique goals to help create a plan tailored for you – one that will modify and change over time.
Temple Emanu-El in gold
KFP Ratatouille
40 FOOD & WINE:
Jewish food takes Poway by storm
46 YOM HA’SHOAH:
Cathedral in St. Louis with Jewish connection set in stone
50 YOM HA’ATZMAUT: JNF to host fourth annual “Love of Israel Brunch”
52 YOM HA’ATZMAUT:
Details on the new way for San Diego to celebrate Israel
57 ART:
Plein air art in Escondido
60 HEALTH:
Krav Maga, what it is and what it isn’t
63 HEALTH:
Jewish cardiologist directs new Scripps hospital
66 HEALTH:
Jonathan Eig wrote the book on birth control
Around Town 10 Mailbag 12 Our Town 14 Event Recap 70 What’s Goin’ On 76 Calendar In Every Issue 8 The Starting Line 18 Parenting 20 Israeli Lifestyle 22 Dating 24 Aging 26 Spirituality 28 Israel 72 News 75 Diversions 81 Desert Life
Jeffrey R. Liber, CFP®
Donald Lincoln, CFP®, CIMA® Alissa La Clair
Senior Vice President-Investment Officer First Vice President-Investment Office CA Insurance Lic # OC28496 CA Insurance Lic # 0821851
858-523-7989
Jeffrey.liber@wfadvisors.com
858-523-7925
Don.lincoln@wfadvisors.com
Karynn Chavira
Registered Client Associate-Officer Sr. Client Associate – Se Habla Espanol CA Insurance Lic # 0118483 858-523-7913 858-523-7904 Karynn.chavira@wfadvisors.com Alissa.laclair@wfadvisors.com
Buying or Selling a Home? Call us Today!
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Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 5
Larry M. Katz Certified Public Accountant
• Income Tax Preparation • IRS and State Audit Representation • Litigation Support Services • Forensic Accounting Services • Business Consulting Services
www.sdjewishjournal.com April 2015 • Nisan/Iyar 5775 PUBLISHERS • Dr. Mark S. Moss and Mark Edelstein
Since 1983
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF • Natalie Jacobs CREATIVE DIRECTOR • Peter Talhamé
3070 Racetrack View Drive Del Mar, CA 92014 858.461.0115 lkatz@lkatzcpa.com www.lkatzcpa.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR • Tina B. Eshel ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR • Eileen Sondak ADVERTISING & OFFICE MANAGER • Ronnie Weisberg
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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS/ARTISTS Vincent Andrunas, Ediz Benaroya, Leigh Castelli, Leetal Elmaleh, Pepe Fainberg, Steve Greenberg, Pat Krause, Paul Ross (Senior Travel Photographer), Angela Sissa, Daisy Varley, Nicholas Patton, Sheri Liebovich ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES David Silver (Account Executive), Nancy Segal (Account Executive), Alan Moss (Palm Springs) SAN DIEGO JEWISH JOURNAL (858) 638-9818 • fax: (858) 638-9801 5665 Oberlin Drive, Suite 204 • San Diego, CA 92121 EDITORIAL: editor@sdjewishjournal.com ADVERTISING: sales@sdjewishjournal.com CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS: publisher@sdjewishjournal.com ART DEPARTMENT: art@sdjewishjournal.com LISTINGS & CALENDAR: calendar@sdjewishjournal.com
WHEN YOU NEED A RABBI Congregation B'nai Tikvah, Carlsbad
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tori Avey, Betsy Baranov, Linda Bennett, Abby Walker, Leah Singer, David Ebenbach, Judith Fein (Senior Travel Correspondent), Michael Fox, Jennifer Garstang, Amanda Kelly, Brie Stimson, Miki Lamm, Pat Launer, Curt Leviant, David Ogul, Pamela Price, Sharon Rosen Leib, Nikki Salvo, Andrea Simantov, Jon Schwartz
SDJJ is published monthly by San Diego Jewish Journal, LLC. Subscription rate is $24 for one year (12 issues). Send subscription requests to SDJJ, 5665 Oberlin Drive, Suite 204, San Diego, CA 92121. 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 ©2015 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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Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 7
THE STARTING LINE by Natalie Jacobs Editor of the San Diego Jewish Journal editor@sdjewishjournal.com
Our Darkest Hours
A
s editor of a Jewish magazine, it sometimes feels like everyday is Holocaust Remembrance Day. We get lots of calls from local survivors with heartwrenching stories to tell. There’s always an email from a nonprofit organization telling us about a new Holocaust education program or a trip to Poland. And then there are the newsletters from all the other media outlets, sharing their features and op-eds about the Shoah and the importance of contemporary Jews maintaining a connection to history so that it will not be repeated. From a strictly journalistic perspective, the sheer number of stories that can be told about the Holocaust is incredible. Take, for example, this month’s cover story. Even with all the Holocaust information coming my way, I still learned something completely new this month about Jews during the years 1941-1945. What I learned is this: there were thousands of Jewish prisoners at a concentration camp in northwestern Czechoslovakia who managed to stage plays, host lectures and create art under the most grueling and demoralizing conditions. To think, I sometimes complain of writer’s block or low creative energy. You’ve got some nerve, was something of a mantra for me during the weeks spent preparing this issue. But then I realized we all fall prey to feeling sorry for ourselves, of forgetting how far we’ve come or opting for the easy way out. That’s why these stories are so important – because things may be good now, but what will happen to us, how will our individual souls respond when things are not good, when things are, in fact, horrible? Soon there won’t be anymore first-person narrators to remind us of this particular past, and we’ll be squarely in charge of the future. Can we handle it? There’s no other choice. 8 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
Even with all the Holocaust information coming my way, I still learned something completely new this month about Jews during the years 1941-1945. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Since January, there has been an outpouring of media coverage about different groups commemorating this milestone. As the NPR reporter Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson notes in her coverage of a survivors trip to Auschwitz earlier this year, “It is likely the last decade anniversary where significant numbers of actual survivors of Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps will attend.” Yom Ha’Shoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, is officially scheduled for April 16. Various organizations in San Diego and beyond have special events planned throughout the month. We’ve got information and related stories sprinkled throughout this issue to mark the occasion, and more details can be found on our website. For our part at the Journal, we’ll keep telling stories of the Shoah beyond the national and international days of remembrance, and even after this big anniversary passes, because there’s always more to explore. And if we’re not talking about it, who will? Join the conversation with us online, on our website sdjewishjournal.com or on Facebook (facebook.com/SanDiegoJewishJournal) and Twitter (@SDJewishJournal). A
FYI
As part of their Holocaust education unit, the Lemon Grove Academy is raising funds to send their 8th grade students to the Museum of Tolerance. Learn more about their program and consider making a donation at gofundme.com/oz3r6k.
Yom Ha’atzmaut
Powered by Jewish Federation
Sunday, April 26 NOBEL ATHLETIC FIELD
9am: Friendship Circle Walk Registration 10am: Friendship Circle Walk Begins 11:30am–2pm: Israel Fest Community Corner
This year we will have a Community Corner! Local organizations and merchants have the opportunity to drop off and display information about their organizations. There will be plenty of table space, so no need to pre-register!
Activities
Friendship Circle Walk Henna Tattoos & Crafts Face painting Entertainment & Games Music Dancing Food Trucks
Learn more at jewishinsandiego.org/israelfest
We’re Listening!
>> mailbag
Let us know what you’re thinking.
MAD ABOUT “MEASLES”
CORRECTIONS In our Simchas section in the March issue, the person in the photo on pg. 51 was midentified as Charles Handler. The person was Nathan Rockman, a guest at Charles Handler’s Bar Mitzvah on Dec. 20, 2014, at the Hard Rock Hotel. Included above is a picture of the actual Charles Handler. In the Mailbag section in March, Dale Haynes was incorrectly attributed to two letters. The second letter, “Ger Toshav Get Status Too” was from Mark L. Haiman. Also in the March issue, some details about Jordan Schnitzer were incorrectly noted. An updated version of the article can be found at sdjewishjournal. com. SDJJ regrets these errors.
Send us your comments: editor@sdjewishjournal.com 5665 Oberlin Dr., Ste 204 San Diego, CA 92121 10 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
Dear Editor: I am writing a response to Sharon Leib’s article in which she endorses government mandated measles vaccinations for all children and removal of the personal belief exemption [“Measles Madness, March 2015]. I am a graduate of a major university and medical school in Israel with a graduate degree in microbiology and immunology. I performed several years of research at the medical school and worked extensively in medical and scientific editing with my Israeli colleagues. Today I am a clinician that serves the geriatric population. It is shocking that Ms. Leib would be given a forum to voice her nonmedical opinion. She references [three] relatives in the medical field in order to corroborate her opinions. These relatives are not scientists as she claims, but medical doctors with a derogatory view of patients who refuse to have their kids vaccinated. It is unprofessional for medical doctors to stereotype their patients, to report these opinions to a relative, and to allow these stereotypes to be published. Why do Ms. Leib’s physician relatives feel so threatened by the non-vaccinating parents in their practices? Could it be that these intelligent parents object to the lack of informed consent surrounding vaccinations and they find that the risks do not outweigh the potential benefits? The highest percentage of parents who refuse to vaccinate live in the most exclusive zip codes: Del Mar, Encinitas, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Silicon Valley. Nonvaccinating parents are physicians, engineers, scientists, and business people, the most astute members of society, the type that know at least as much about vaccine safety as the health care workers that are being paid to promote vaccinations. As long as the personal belief exemption exists, this is an argument that the government is going to lose. What is the government’s goal in
requiring mandatory vaccinations for all children? Could it be public health? Absolutely not. We have open borders. If the government were concerned with herd immunity, it would vigilantly defend the sanctity of our borders. Unvaccinated foreigners easily penetrate our borders. If public safety is not the issue, then who are the interested parties? When the facts don’t add up, it is usually wise to follow the money trail. There are billions of dollars in profits that will be reaped by the pharmaceutical industry. The collusive nature of big pharma with government is behind this bill. Special corporate interests lobbied to pass this bill, circumventing the bests interests of the public. If we want our children to inhabit this land of liberty, we must protect our rights. Whether you believe vaccinations are effective or not, we must safeguard our rights to make our own medical decisions and educate ourselves regarding the potential risks versus effectiveness of vaccinations. Sylvia Rogers San Diego
SCHOOLING BIGOTRY Dear Editor: This morning, I read of yet another act of anti-Semitism at one of this country’s absolute jewels of public education, UCLA. During an interview on Feb. 10 for a seat on the student Judicial Board, candidate Rachel Beyda was asked: “Given that you’re a Jewish student and very active in the Jewish community, how do you see yourself being able to maintain an unbiased view?” While the obvious bigotry of this question offends me deeply as a Jew, my decision to speak out goes far beyond this not-so-subtle attack that manifests in a variety of forms against Jews across campuses throughout the nation. No, today, I am far more offended as an American and as one who values what this great country represents. While this unabashed proclamation of anti-Semitism
exemplifies a growing trend in what is becoming socially acceptable on today’s campuses, the student who posed the question may – or may not – issue the standard apology to those “I may have offended.” Well, apologize or not, you offended me, not particularly as a Jew, but more as an American. For starters, these questions are a brazen violation of the spirit, if not the very text of the U.S. Constitution. To even entertain this question as one appropriate for a public body, student or otherwise, demonstrates a deep ignorance of the civic foundation on which this country was founded and, more importantly, has evolved to expand the rights of and protections for other Americans as well. While the question at hand targeted the candidate’s Jewish heritage and community involvement, I am not the only one who should fear the audacity that the statement embodies. If asking whether being a Jew would cloud one’s judgment, what about asking if they were a Christian. Muslim. Buddhist. Atheist. Heck, why not ask if other characteristics would influence their perspective, like being Black. Latino. Asian. Native American. Even White. Substitute any of these classifications for Jew and you can get a sense of what real bigotry looks like. To even intimate that one’s life experiences do not influence their perspective, or that the resulting diversity of opinion is deleterious, demonstrates a dangerous position that, unfortunately, is far too common on campuses today. To imply that the differences that shape us as humans contains an unacceptable bias equates to a position that opinions that vary at all from the speaker’s are to be summarily and justifiably dismissed. As an American, I cannot and will not accept this shameless attack on the values that we hold so dear. Today, I choose not to be silent. Brian Tauber San Diego
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND 4TH ANNUAL LOVE OF ISRAEL BRUNCH SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015
Registration: 9:30 am • Breakfast & Program: 10:00 am
HILTON LA JOLLA TORREY PINES
10950 N. Torrey Pines • La Jolla, CA 92037
“THE U.S.- MIDDLE EAST RELATIONSHIP” Featuring Guest Speaker: Jay Footlik Former Special Assistant to President Clinton and CEO of Global Policy Initiatives Jay Footlik is the founding president and CEO of Global Policy Initiatives (GPI), a political and policy development consultancy. Footlik served as Special Assistant to President Clinton in the White House, helping build support for a range of domestic and foreign policy issues. He also served as the president’s liaison to the American Jewish community. He is a frequent speaker on topics ranging from U.S. politics and presidential elections to foreign policy and the Middle East, and has lectured extensively to audiences throughout the world. Footlik has also appeared on television and radio, including Al Jazeera English, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS and others.
Complimentary Event • Open to the Community • Dietary Laws Observed jnf.org • 800.JNF.0099 Event Chairs: Myra Chack Fleischer • Lauren Lizerbram • Bill Miller RSVP by April 22, 2015 at jnf.org/sdbrunch or contact Stacey Lewis at slewis@jnf.org or 858.824.9178 x964.
jnf.org • 800.JNF.0099 Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 11
our
TOWN BY LINDA BENNETT & BETSY BARANOV l BETSY1945@COX.NET PHOTOS COURTESY JCC
Patron Party
The JCC Patron Party was held at the beautiful Del Mar Country Club on March 7. Cocktails, cuisine and entertainment plus couture fashion from Neiman Marcus were the highlights of the evening. Chairpersons were Danielle and Brian Miller. Some of attendees enjoying were Hanna and Mark Gleiberman, Sharon and David Wax, Elyse Sollender and Mark Lohkemper, Sylvia and David Geffen, John and Sally Thornton, Jessica and Rich Effress, Deb and Scott Eisendrath, Barbara Bloom, Juli and Howard Bear, Julie and Mitch Dubick, Sharon and Eric Goodman, Adam Jacobs, Zita and Morris Liebermensch, Carole Laventhol, Hermeen Scharaga, Candace and Isaac Lagnado, Cindy and Wayne Schwartz, Susan Shmalo and Gene Carswell, Suzi and Bernie Feldman, Sonia and Andy Israel, Lori and Ken Polin, Lee Goldberg, Fran and Phill Ginsburg, Barbara and Mathew Loonin, Charlene Seidle, Michael Sonduck and David Zeligson, Rusti Bartell Weiss, Marla and Gordon Gerson, Emily and Dan Einhorn, Sherry and Lawrence Delsen, Cindy and Laurence Bloch, Theresa Dupuis and Gary Kornfeld, Bernard and Vitti Baruch, and, of course, JCC President Larry Katz, Michael and Myrna Cohen, Jessica Levy, Ana Kozlowski to name just some in the about 200-person crowd. It was a lovely and successful evening, raising about $400,000 for the JCC’s people and programs!
Birthdays...
Happy 83rd Birthday to Teddie Lewis Pincus! Happy birthday to Rose Friedenberg, she will be 96 on April 19!
From top: Sharon and David Wax • Larry Katz and Michael Cohen • Michael Bartell and Melissa Garfield Bratell • Brian and Danielle Miller, Sharon Goodman and Eric Goodman.
12 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
San Diego Jewish Academy Class of 2014, By the Numbers
38
number of students in SDJA’s class of 2014
202
number of college acceptance letters received
100
percentage of the class of 2014 accepted to a 4-year college or university
4,878,000 dollars awarded through
$$$$$$$$$$
71
merit scholarships
Tour SDJA Today Contact us today to schedule a private tour. 866-765-7516 admissions@sdja.com | sdja.com Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 13
the SCENE BY NATALIE JACOBS l EDITOR@SDJEWISHJOURNAL.COM l PHOTOS BY BOB ROSS
Seacrest Village’s Annual Gala
A true who’s-who of San Diego’s Jewish community gathered for a delightful evening in honor of Seacrest Village Retirement Communities for the annual Women’s Auxiliary Gala. This year’s theme “Emerald City” encouraged some guests to sparkle in green gowns, while some from the Seacrest staff even wore ruby red slippers. More than 300 guests gathered at the glittering Hyatt Regency at Aventine where more than $425,000 was raised to purchase 60 medical surgical beds and to fund charitable care at Seacrest. Dan Cohen, CBS News anchor, served as Master of Ceremonies and Stokes Auction Group led a rousing round of bidding before the whole crowd was invited onto the dance floor where the Eve Sellis Band entertained into the night. Congratulations to Seacrest on another successful fundraising gala. We’ll see you next year!
Top: Linda and Shearn Platt. Clockwise from middle: Robert Haimsohn, Pam Ferris, Rusti Bartell Weiss, and Dan Cohen • Eddie Goldberg, Anne Nagorner, Lee and Frank Goldberg, and Suzi and Bernie Feldman • Valerie and Harry Cooper, Sheryl White, and Colette Royston • Sheila and Jeff Lipinsky.
14 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
DURING PASSOVER, WE...
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WHAT IF YOU ALSO...
TELL YOUR STORY
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ENSURE JEWISH TRADITIONS
The Foundation can help you plan gifts from your estate for Jewish agencies, day schools and synagogues so they thrive for generations to come.
WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?
Contact Elise Wald, JD, LLM, Charitable Planning Officer, at the Jewish Community Foundation or your favorite Jewish organization to plan your legacy today. www.jcfsandiego.org • 858.279.2740 Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 15
be SEEN NATALIE JACOBS l EDITOR@SDJEWISHJOURNAL.COM l
PHOTOS BY BOB ROSS
Heartfelt Thanks
On Feb. 28, Scripps Hospital welcomed more than 900 supporters into the new Conrad Prebys Cardiovascular Institute in La Jolla for its “State of the Heart” donor thank-you gala. Throughout the evening, guests were taken through the then-unopened facilities before being treated to an elegant dinner and live entertainment by William Close and the Earth Harp Collective. Ticket prices and a live auction resulted in another $3 million raised for the new heart hospital. Scripps began moving patients into the Cardiovascular Institute in early March.
Top: Mayor Kevin Faulconer with wife Katherine. Clockwise from middle: Gary Fybel, Conrad Prebys, Debbie Turner, Chris Van Gorder, and John Engle • Helene and George Gould • Dr. Steven Higgins and wife Susan, and Tammy and Cameron Rooke • Dr. Paul Teirstein and wife Jackalynn Wilson.
16 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
“Unrelentingly funny.” — THE BOSTON GLOBE
“A hilarious hit!” — CHICAGO DAILY HERALD
APRIL 15 – MAY 10, 2015 BY Paul Slade Smith DIRECTED BY Matthew Wiener
It’s the perfect setup for a laugh-filled evening at the theatre. An embezzling mayor, his female accountant who can’t stay dressed, two undercover cops, nefarious hit men, and of course, videotape. In this side-splitting escapade, playwright Paul Slade Smith has reinvented the in-onedoor innuendo, and out-the-other-door comic shtick. A zany San Diego premiere that will leave you howling with laughter.
BOOK NOW! 858-481-1055 NorthCoastRep.org Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 17
parenting
MUSINGS FROM MAMA by Sharon Rosen Leib srleib@roadrunner.com
Erna’s Glass
W
hen Erna Finci Viterbi, z”l, died suddenly in February, San Diego’s Jewish community lost its most generous and emotionally intelligent woman. Our hearts go out to the Viterbi, Smargon and Finci families grieving their beloved and irreplaceable matriarch – a wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt beyond compare. Those of us privileged to know Erna lost a role model who demonstrated how to live with wit, warmth, resilience and grace. My family owes our presence in San Diego to Erna and Andrew’s son Alan. We moved here after my husband became his business partner 19 years ago. Shortly after we arrived, Erna invited us to celebrate Passover at their home in La Jolla. At the time, we had two toddler daughters, aged 2 and 1. I fretted over what to bring and how to keep the girls in line. We showed up with a vase full of roses cut from our yard and the two girls wearing clean diapers and presentable dresses. Erna ushered us in with her lilting Italian accent capable of disarming everyone from the crankiest toddler to the toughest Israeli sabra. I scanned their stunning home for destructible items and gasped when I saw them everywhere. Erna collected contemporary art glass – striking, colorful, freestanding pieces scattered throughout the living and dining rooms. Within minutes, Oldest Daughter reached for a yellow, fused-glass platter. I grabbed her hand and said, “Please, look with your eyes. Don’t touch with your hands!” Erna saw my discomfort and wasted no time putting me at ease. “Don’t worry, Sharon. They’re just my tchotchkes and don’t break easily.” Still, I wondered about the glass – at the time she had four grandchildren under the age of seven. But of course any of Erna’s material objects were immaterial relative to those beloved children. 18 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
Throughout years of boisterous Viterbi Passover Seders teeming with children, Erna became the universal, meta grandma. She always had charming words of endearment and impish smiles for the kids and kind, yet mischievous and teasing words for their parents. She clearly sided with the kids. Her own childhood was roiled by the traumas of World War II. In 1941, seven-year-old Erna and her family fled their tight-knit Sephardic community in Sarajevo just steps ahead of Nazi invaders. When they reached Italian-occupied Montenegro, she heard shells exploding. Italian authorities transported the Fincis to Northern Italy and placed them under village arrest. After the Nazis seized Italy, the Fincis went into hiding with the assistance of kind Italian villagers, and eventually made their way to Switzerland. In 1950, they landed in Los Angeles where Erna met and married the brilliant Andrew. Several years ago, Andrew and Erna hosted an event for the USC Shoah Foundation (a cause close to Erna’s heart) at their expansive new home in Rancho Santa Fe. When I greeted Erna, I teased her a little, “Nu? Such a big house for the two of you.” “I needed a bigger place for all my tchotchkes,” she said, grinning and shrugging as if saying, “I know it’s a little absurd but I’m happy.” Sure enough, the art glass had multiplied – gleaming colorfully in all the public areas. “That’s a heck of a lot of tchotchkes,” I teased again. She laughed. While saying shiva prayers for Erna, I looked around at all that gorgeous glass – fragile but strong just like her. The little girl forced out of Sarajevo grew up to build a safe haven for her family and, through her extended largesse, the greater Jewish community. Erna’s glass remains in its fullness and force. Her generosity of spirit soars. May her memory forever be a blessing. A
FYI
The Jewish Community Foundation has established the Erna Finci Viterbi Memorial Fund. The funds donated will be advanced to causes that were important to her. Donors can also support the USC Shoah Foundation’s Erna Viterbi Memorial Education Fund.
GAYLE BLATT
FREDERICK SCHENK
WISHES YOU A
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10th Annual Lights of Ohr Shalom Sunday, May 3 at 11:00am
Another Listing by Lisa
Ohr Shalom Synagogue warmly invites the community to join us in honoring Lou Dunst Holocaust survivor, businessman, humanitarian and philanthropist at a luncheon at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, downtown. For more information and/or to participate in the Tribute Journal being created in Lou's honor, call the office or visit our website.
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israeli lifestyle
LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE by Andrea Simantov
andreasimantov@gmail.com
Language 101: Welcome to Love
W
hen my stepdaughter and son-in-law need a well-deserved weekend alone, my husband and I stay in their large, child-friendly house and do the grandparent thing. My secret pleasure is puttering in their well-appointed kitchen instead of my pre-state scullery. Their house is crammed with toys, games, non-nutritious snack food, and resembles Disney World. Neighborhood friends come over and the kids attend youth meetings and play groups while I read books, take walks and keep things orderly. It is easy being a grandma on the foreign turf. One day, however, the dreaded call came. 20 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
“The girls want to stay with you for Shabbos.” Clearly someone dialed the wrong number because no one under the age of 58 could possibly find our home scintillating for even 25 minutes, much less 25 hours. We have two bedrooms, the second of which is stacked floor to ceiling with cartons that represent yet-tobe-unpacked parts of co-joined lives. Low-fat, no-sugar, mostly veggie cooking and our no-tvor-DVDs rule over Shabbos are not very kidfriendly. Add to that the fact that our home is nestled between two of Jerusalem’s most dangerous eastern neighborhoods – we’re careful when crossing streets (Border Patrol jeeps drive
fast) and because of the spotty security situation, children don’t play in the streets unsupervised. In my own defense, I did manage to creatively raise six children by cutting sandwiches into teddy-bear shapes, pre-freezing juice boxes for picnics, supervising themed birthday parties and spearheading more craft projects than I can remember. Schoolbags contained hidden encouragement notes stating things like, “I’m proud to be your mom” and/or “I believe in you!” Many nights I’d fall asleep with a freshly showered tadpole or three, dozing off to the prose of “Goodnight Moon,” “A Napping House” or “Corduroy.” So why the hesitation? These kids don’t speak English! My Hebrew is good enough as long as three or four bilingual adult sabras are nearby for translation purposes. But with a husband in synagogue most of the day, and me unable to tell the “Stone Soup” story in Hebrew without making it sound like the Charles Manson trial, being alone with these kids is a task that leaves me feeling uneasy. The three who were coming don’t read yet which meant – gasp – interaction! Did I say, “Help!”? No, I said “Ok.” And guess what? We had a blast. There were mattresses on the floor (the dog joyfully slept with the kids) and we had a tea party on the patio – using real bone-china and cloth napkins. I unpacked a stack of my children’s favorite books and the girls performed the stories of their imaginations. Some interpretations were spot-on; others were better. Junk food wasn’t missed as we dined on homemade apple-chips and prepared a sumptuous Kiddush with fresh tahini, roasted beets, gravlax and organic crackers. We made Ants on a Log with black raisins and peanut butter I’d whipped up just before they arrived. The moral of the story: Love doesn’t need words and fun transcends language. The size and/or condition of one’s home is equally unimportant. Indeed, insight can be discovered when fear is tossed aside, making room for wisdom. A
Voices From The Past, Lessons For The Future: Creating A World Without Hate
Anti-Defamation League San Diego proudly presents the San Diego premiere of
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The Defiant Requiem is a moving multi-media concert-drama revealing the powerful story of Holocaust prisoners and a contemporary message of hope. Murry Sidlin, Creator/Conductor Featuring the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale
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SUPPORTING JEWISH SINGLE PARENTS 9TH ANNUAL
Family Camp Weekend 2015 Friday, April 17 – Sunday, April 19
Play. Relax. Rejuvenate.
Join Supporting Jewish Single Parents, a program of Jewish Family Service, and Camp Mountain Chai for our 9th Annual SJSP Family Camp Weekend. Come meet new friends, strengthen family relationships, and enjoy a great outdoor experience. • Shabbat services • Family evening programs • Traditional camp activities for current kindergarten & older • Child activity program for current pre-k & younger • Break-out sessions for parents • All family meals and snacks included! Register by April 6, 2015
Registration & Information www.jfssd.org/camp • (858) 499-1330
Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 21
dating
PLAYING WITH MATCHES by Jennifer Garstang jenscy@gmail.com
Cats, Dogs and Dating
H
e loves to cuddle, listens to everything you say, and comforts you when you’re sad. He’d be the perfect man...if only he were human. As wonderful as our pets may be (and as much as we see them as little fuzzy, scaly, or feathered people), we humans generally need companionship from our own species, too. Being a single pet-owner presents a unique set of challenges in our dating lives. For one thing, some romantic options are made automatically. For instance, if I’d met a great guy who was deathly allergic to my cat, guess who’d get the boot? Fortunately, most of the time, your pet isn’t going to be a deal-breaker. Even if your date doesn’t yet get along with your fuzzy/scaly/feathery friend, your romantic relationship may still be able to purrsevere (see what I did there?). The key is to follow a few basic guidelines: 1. Respect your date’s feelings. Pet owners are a little meshugenah. I wouldn’t be surprised if the most frequently-used word in my vocabulary is “Kitty!” Now, if you’re dating another animallover, he/she probably shares your craziness (my boyfriend spontaneously exclaims “Kitty!” as much or more than I do). But if your date hasn’t grown up with animals, or had bad experiences with former pets, they might think it’s a little odd that you’re throwing your dog a Bark Mitzvah. No matter how your date feels about your pet, it’s important to acknowledge and respect those feelings, just as it’s important that they acknowledge and respect yours. 2. Make gentle introductions. Your date probably won’t instantly fall head-over-heels for your pet. My boyfriend didn’t begin our relationship with the overwhelming desire to scoop my cat up in his arms. It might take your pet some time to 22 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
warm up to your date, too. That said, you can take steps to help their relationship along. For instance, not only is it a mitzvah to feed your animals before you feed yourself, it’s also a good idea to feed your animal before your date arrives so you can enjoy a calmer critter. Give your date guidance on how to interact with your pet, and gently encourage (but don’t force) your pet to approach...or keep it in check if it tends toward over-enthusiastic greetings. If your S.O. (significant other) is amenable as things progress, you can even have them take over some of the fun care activities like feeding and playtime to help strengthen their bond with your S.A. (significant animal). 3. Train and clean up after your pet. You may love your pet unconditionally, but if you want your date to love it too, then make sure it’s objectively loveable. If your fershtinker growls, bites, and pees everywhere, then even the most adamant animal lover may ultimately say “either the pet goes, or I do.” So keep your fur-baby’s habitat clean, and more importantly, if your Pomeranian piddles on the rug, don’t blame your date for “scaring her.” You can coach your date on how to interact with your animal, but ultimately, your pet’s behavior is your responsibility. If you must, seek out expert advice on how to properly train and care for your pet. Balancing pets and romance isn’t always easy. As long as both partners are willing to put in a little extra effort, having both in your life can be incredibly rewarding. My kitty enriches both my life and my relationship. A
Did you know?
The Gotthelf Gallery at the JCC has a new show up through May 27. “Seeing is Believing: A Reinvention of Articles of Faith” explores how symbols become embedded in pop culture. Gallery open Sun-Fri 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
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THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMITTEE OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO INVITES YOU TO OUR ANNUAL LUNCHEON IN SUPPORT OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
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Featuring Greg O’Brien, author of On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s Tuesday, May 12 • 11:30-2:00pm
Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla • 3777 La Jolla Village Dr. • La Jolla 92122 Greg O’Brien, an award-winning political writer and investigative reporter, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2009, after losing both his mother and grandfather to the disease. Acting off of long-term memory and skill, coupled with well-developed journalistic grit, O’Brien decided to tackle his diagnosis and imminent decline by writing frankly about the journey. On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s offers an illuminating blueprint of strategies, faith, and humor needed to fight this disease; a day-to-day focus on living with Alzheimer’s, not dying with it—a hope that all is not lost when it appears to be.
“It’s as if he has willingly dropped himself into a mental tornado so that he can tell us what it looks like from inside. You have never read a book quite like it, and probably never will again.” —William Martin, New York Times best-selling author
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Questions? Call (858) 637-3350 • $48 prior to May 1 • $55 thereafter Generously underwritten by Caryl Lees Witte THANK YOU FOR YOUR SPONSORSHIP First American Trust • Hope Village • Linda & Ed Janon • Mimi & Jim Lee • Cheryl & Gary Levitt • Russell Torres Ratner & Fidelity Pinchman, National Title APLC
Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 23
aging
OLDER, WISER, BETTER by Jon Schwartz
jonaschwartz@hotmail.com
Ten Tips for Aging
I
n this piece, I want to remain consistent to the theme of Passover while discussing a topic related to aging. Instead of coming up with the “10 plagues of aging,” which sounds much too morbid, I would like to offer “10 tips for aging.” A few years ago, I read a wonderful book called, “The Blue Zones,” written by Dan Buettner, a writer and explorer for National Geographic magazine. Its advice has stuck with me. The book came about when Buettner came across a study that showed five areas across the world where individuals were living the healthiest, longest lives. Buettner went on to call these five areas “Blue Zones,” and traveled to each one to explore their secrets. Today in America, average life expectancy is 78 years. In these Blue Zones – Ikaria, Greece; Loma Linda, Calif.; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Okinawa, Japan; and Sardinia, Italy – people are living, on average, up to 90 years and are 10 times more likely to make it to 100 than those who live elsewhere. After spending considerable time in each region, Buettner compiled a list of 10 commonalities. Working from his list, here are my 10 aids to help you embrace aging: 1. Move naturally: The world’s longest-lived people do not necessarily work out for an hour a day and then sit. Throughout the day, they are constantly moving naturally. Granted, many of them worked as life-long farmers and herdsman, so there was little time for stagnation. Find ways to incorporate some action into your day like dance, yoga, gardening or walking around the neighborhood. Keep moving! 2. Purpose: People in the Blue Zones carry a high sense of purpose. These societies value the elderly with great dignity. No matter what age, we all need to feel there is a purpose with each day. 3. Down-shift: Stress leads to chronic inflammation, associated with every major agerelated disease. What the world’s longest-lived people have that we don’t are routines to shed that stress. We all must learn how to down-shift and 24 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
relax. Some find meditation helpful. 4. 80 percent rule: “Hara hachi bu” – the 2,500-year-old Confucian mantra chanted in Okinawa before meals reminds these Japanese to stop eating when their stomachs are 80 percent full. Portion control seems to play a factor in health and longevity. 5. Eat plants: Plants are a major staple in the Blue Zone diet. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains are predominant, where animal protein is consumed only on rare occasions. 6. Drink wine: People in all Blue Zones (except Adventists) drink alcohol moderately and regularly. Moderate drinkers outlive non-drinkers. The trick is to drink 1-2 glasses per day (no more), with friends and/or with food. 7. Belong: All but five of the 263 centenarians interviewed belonged to some faith-based community. Denomination doesn’t seem to matter. Research shows that attending faith-based services four times per month will add 4-14 years of life expectancy! 8. Loved ones first: Successful centenarians in the Blue Zones put their families first. Prioritizing time can have tremendous long-term health benefits. 9. Hang with the right crowd: Longevity is correlated to families and friends who share healthy living habits. These healthy habits are contagious, thus, it is essential to spend time with the people who inspire you to be healthy and happy. 10. Optimism: The people in these cultures see the glass as half ful. For me, every major Jewish holiday serves as a great time of reflection. During my Passover Seder, not only do I plan to think about the 10 plagues of many years ago, but I also want to look forward and think about these 10 aging tips and how I can improve on each of them (except for number 6, I’m already pretty good that one). Wishing you and your family Chag Sameach Pesach! A
Did you know?
San Diego Symphony announced its Summer Pops season, which includes LeAnn Rimes, Ben Folds, Burt Bacharach, Esperanza Spalding and Jason Alexander. Single tickets go on sale April 13. Visit sandiegosymphony.com for more information.
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spirituality
THE ARTIST’S TORAH by David Ebenbach ebenbach@netzero.com
Free to be Obligated
O
ne of my fond memories of living on the Upper West Side of New York was the end of Passover, which manifested itself clearly: a long line of people winding out the front door of Sal & Carmine’s pizza, desperation in their eyes. To be sure, Passover is a kind of endurance test. Of course there’s the food issue, where the desire for carbs intensifies all week long, and then there are visits with family and all the accompanying complicated dynamics of the Seder table. But, ideally, the experience goes beyond these more immediate concerns. By the end of Passover, hopefully we’ve spent eight days intensively considering one of the central paradoxes of Jewish life: we are free, but we also have obligations. And hopefully we carry these considerations with us into the rest of the year. We find a parallel in our Torah readings for the month of April. The first two Shabbats we read special Passover readings, and then we return to our usual cycle – but, as we return, still recovering from our eight intense days of Passover, we read these words in the portion: “Sh’mini: And it happened that on the eighth day…” (Lv 9:1). Aaron and his sons have just finished their own eight-day endurance test, in their case a purification ritual to ready them for the priesthood. And that’s the point – the eight days are not an end unto themselves, but preparation for the sacred tasks that happen afterward. The same is true for us; Passover is not an end but in fact a beginning. Aaron and family begin their post-purification life with ritual sacrifices. In other words, they concretely demonstrate their dedication to a life of purpose by giving up something of personal value. As it happens, there are elaborate rules for how these sacrifices must be done. This is our first demonstration of how the paradox can look in action: Aaron and his sons are genuinely, personally eager to take on these roles and are able 26 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
to adopt them because of the freedom they now enjoy. That said, they can’t do their work in any old way they see fit – they have to do it right. In case we don’t get it yet, the Torah shows us what happens when the new priests go their own, problematic way: “And [Aaron’s sons] Nadab and Abihu…offered strange fire in front of the Lord, which G-d had not commanded them. And there came forth fire from before the Lord, which consumed them, and they died before the Lord” (Lv 10:1-2). There’s been a great deal of debate over the years about what exactly Nadab and Abihu did wrong (Did they use the wrong incense? Were they drunk? Were they portraying themselves as the highest authorities?), but the theory that interests me the most suggests that they were too zealous, that in their enthusiasm they got too close to G-d’s burning power. Zeal fuels many of history’s great projects, but it can also go wrong in many ways, can end up making us violent and destructive toward others and toward ourselves. Above all, this reminds me of the struggles of the painter Amedeo Modigliani. This man once said “I need a flame in order to paint, in order to be consumed by fire” – and he also once said “Your duty is never to waste yourself in sacrifice. Your real duty is to save your dream.” Unfortunately for him (and for us), Modigliani gave more weight to the former statement, and was dead by the age of 35. We can only hope that our lives are driven by passion, and that we are free to pursue that passion. But we must also hope that there are constraints on our passions, so that we direct our energies well. We are free to do what we want, sure, and consumption is okay if we’re talking about Sal & Carmine’s pizza – but on a larger scale we are meant to devote ourselves to creation rather than destruction, to life rather than death. We are meant to use our freedom to choose the obligations that give our lives value. A
This
month’s Torah portions April 4: Pesach (Exodus 12:21-51) April 11: Chol HaMo’ed Pesach (Exodus 33:12-34:26) April 18: Sh’mini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47) April 25: Tazria/Metzora (Leviticus 16:1-20:27)
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ISRAEL
MARCHING THROUGH AUSCHWITZ AS A SOLDIER IN UNIFORM FIDF supports program to bring soldiers face-to-face with history
PHOTO COURTESY FIDF
BY NATALIE JACOBS
Israel Defense Force soldiers hear one Holocaust survivor’s story on a recent visit to Auschwitz as part of the Witnesses in Uniform program.
A
lthough it’s difficult to think about, most Jews feel that it’s important to be reminded of the Holocaust. That’s true even for Israeli soldiers. We in the U.S. might think the Holocaust is somehow more prevalent in the minds of Israeli citizens, but the fact is, if it’s not something you personally lived through, the Holocaust is still something that happened a long time ago in a far away place. While there are high school programs that bring Israeli students to the sites of former concentration camps in Poland, many students can’t afford to go. For high-ranking members of the Israel Defense Forces, there is a program that offers the opportunity to walk through the memory of the Shoah with fellow soldiers. Established in 2001, the IDF’s Witnesses in Uniform program sends delegates of highranking soldiers to Poland. In 2014, the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces got involved and funded their own trip for soldier delegates. A Holocaust survivor who shares his/her personal story with the group, which can also include family members of fallen soldiers, accompanies each delegation. “The majority of these commanders are of the 28 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
rank Major and up,” the FIDF national office said in a statement, “and come from all the elite branches of the military. These commanders represent the ideals of the IDF and return to their units with a deepened sense of purpose.” In early March, the FIDF brought one former Witness in Uniform to San Diego for a parlor meeting hosted at the La Jolla home of Alysa and Steve Kaplan, and a series of speaking engagements with local middle school students. Captain Neil (the IDF does not allow reporters to use the first names of active-duty soldiers, or to show pictures of their faces) of the Israeli Navy joined the officer’s training course a little more than six years ago, when he was 18. With that, Neil committed to seven years in the military, well beyond the compulsory three years that are required of all Israeli males (two years for women). He will complete his active duty this November. “In the every day work, we get very exhausted and sort of forget why we’re doing what we’re doing,” Neil says. “Being in Poland is really a good reminder of our meaning, historically – where we stand in the chain of history and not just thinking about today but thinking about
memory and our past and why we still need to defend Israel.” He was part of the FIDF Witnesses in Uniform delegation in 2014. In his group was the mother of a fallen soldier, a Holocaust survivor, and IDF soldiers with whom he never would have come in contact during his work with the Navy. “There’s a lot of pride to be there [in Poland] in uniform, to be marching in Auschwitz where Jews used to be marched to their deaths and now to be marching in uniform it’s just a completely different experience,” Captain Neil recalls. “It is important for these representatives of Israel to bear witness,” the IDF statement said, echoing Captain Neil’s experience, “and to see up close what one participant called ‘the proof of the magnitude of what happened there – what human beings are capable of doing to other human beings.’” Learn more about the FIDF Witnesses in Uniform delegations, and get updates on when the next IDF soldier will be in town, at fidf.org/ sandiego. A
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PASSOVER
PERSIAN PASSOVER AND A BRIEF HISTORY OF JEWS IN IRAN A story of unique food, lots of love, and unexpected fun BY TINA B. ESHEL
PHOTOS BY STEVEN ROSS
A traditional Passover table for Sima Ross and her family always includes scallions, soaked almonds and walnut, and a special Persian version of charoset.
W
hen Moses led the Israelites out of enslavement in Egypt, the Torah tells us that they wandered in the desert for 40 years. It is said that this was the time needed for that generation to shed the cloak of bondage and servitude so that the children of the Pharaoh’s slaves could walk into the Promised Land with the pride and confidence that eluded parents and grandparents. A new version of the Exodus and reemergence has unfolded in recent decades, but instead of mass migration from Egypt, Iran was the starting point. Persian Jews have lived in present-day Iran since Babylonian times 3,000 years ago. In the mid 20th century, they numbered about 150,000 in the region. A small but significant part of the culture in what was
then known as Persia, the Persian Jewish history is a colorful one. First off, modern life in Iran didn’t always require Jews to keep quiet about their faith. Under the relatively progressive Pahlavi Dynasty, which ruled from 1925-1979, 80 percent of Iran’s Jews were middle class citizens and 10 percent were in the economic upper eschelons. Many Persian Jews worked in academia, science, and medicine during these years. Things changed rapidly and dramatically with the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Within months, a vast diaspora of Persian Jews fled their homeland to settle primarily in the United States, but some also went in lesser numbers to Israel and Europe. Now, almost 40 years later, the children of these immigrants are
American citizens who are working to maintain a connection to their familial homeland. Sima Ross was born in Shiraz, Iran. She was 15 when her family left and resettled in Minnesota. Eventually, she came to settle in San Diego with her husband and their three children. Ross is an inerpreter with U.S. Department of Justice and Homeland Security working with the federal courts. But her passion is food and she has run a successful catering company, Sima’s Gourmet Catering, in San Diego for years. “I’ve been told I’m San Diego’s best kept secret,” Ross says in her soothing sing-song voice with lilting accent. Ross recently shared memories about her childhood in Iran during those golden 1970s over a delicious pre-Passover meal. We salivated Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 31
Handmade rug depicting a young Persian girl in traditional dress carrying a vessel of water for the washing of the hands. atop the flavors of eggplant, saffron-infused rice and the Persian version of charoset called “hallegh” while she spoke. One thing Ross noticed early in the U.S. was that her new American Jewish friends did not share the same excitement for her favorite holiday – Pesach. “They called it a ‘crumby’ holiday due to the matzah crumbs and not being able to eat normal bread,” Ross recalls. While American Jews lament their lack of levened bread, Persian Jews follow slightly different rules for Passover. “Our staple is rice. If they would take that from me on Passover, I would not be happy either,” Ross admitted. Persian rice is enjoyed year round and prepared in many ways from “breakfast to lunch to dinner to dessert. You can have rice with a variety of stews, with different beans and herbs. Crunchy rice. Rice in soups and rice in dessert such as rice cookies or rice pudding with saffron.” Because of its ubiquity in the Iranian diet, rice is allowed during Passover for Persian Jews. As she’s speaking, we are enjoying crunchy rice sprinkled with the bright yellow of Iran’s 32 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
famous spice, saffron, listening as Ross describes her family’s traditional dishes. She speaks of things like pomegranate walnut Jeweled rice
chicken called “fesenjoon;” celery stew with beef called “khoresht karafs;” seven-herb stew with beef called “ghormeh sabzi;” and eggplant with split pea and beef called “ghaymeh bademjoon.”
For our meal, she brought a vegetarian dish of long strips of eggplant in a creamy red stew, served with a bed of saffron rice and a simple salad with tomatoes and Persian cucumbers. How can something so simple taste so good? “There’s a saying that if you are invited to a Persian dinner and there is no rice, it was burned,” Ross says with a smile, something of a signature as she speaks about her favorite holiday. “For the most part, our Seders are the same,” she says. “We recite the story of Passover and read from the Haggadah. However, the difference is in the use of some foods and traditions as well as the recipes.” We eagerly dip our matzah into the Persian charoset, which is ground to symbolize dirt (but tastes nothing like it) as she continues. “Persian charoset is more aromatic, involving more ingredients,” she adds. Persian Jews also eat special cookies and saltwater-soaked nuts during this time of year. “Soaked almonds, soaked walnuts, sohan [slivered almond honey brittle]. Walnut cookies, coconut cookies and roasted seeds and nuts [are] some of the special things.” Then there are some of the more unusual
A holiday party catered by Sima’s Gourmet, features brie cheese with pear sauce accented with pistachios.
Fig with goat cheese and arugula on toasted baguette.
rituals that contribute to what Ross calls the “controlled chaos” of the Persian Passover Seder. First, during the reciting of the 10 plagues, Persian Jews cover the table and all of the food with a second tablecloth. This is to insure that the food doesn’t get “contaminated” by any of the plagues. The Persian Seder “not only recounts our people’s struggles and victories but also hints at a future filled with hope, fun and even love and romance,” Ross explains. Romance? She elaborates: At one point during the evening, the young eligible women in attendance walk around the table with a vessel of water and a towel, helping the guests to wash their hands. “This way,” Ross says, “she is not only helping with the Seder tradition, but also gets close enough to some of the guests to be able to sneak a close peak if they have a young son.” This “clever yet discrete” tradition has been part of
Persian Passovers “for many years,” Ross says. Nothing quite compares to what comes next. A big platter of green onions look appetizing enough…except, we cannot eat them. These onions are for flogging. “During the reading of the Dayenu, everyone young and old gets a hold of a green onion…we wait patiently to get to the reciting of the word, ‘Dayenu.’” That’s when the semi-formal Persian Passover turns into mayhem. “People jump up from their seat and begin hitting each other with green onions,” Ross says. “Some people say this is the one time of year to get back at your parents even it is for a few seconds of fun. Some people say it is to feel the lashes that our ancestors endured as slaves in Egypt. It is not really known as to when our why this tradition started,” though it’s customary, she concludes. If nothing else, it brings a little
levity into the ceremony. Today, Ross keeps this fun alive for her own well-attended and delicious Seders. “When we invite guests for the Passover Seder, we ask them not to wear white without saying why,” she giggles. “Our [first-time] guests are shocked.” But by the end of the meal, she says, the guests proclaim, “By the way, we already know we don’t have any plans for next year!” Knowing that most Jews do not allow rice onto their Seder tables, Ross replaces the rice with quinoa (which is Kosher for Passover for Ashkenazim), when she is hired to cater a nonPersian Passover. “I don’t make this adjustment only in my Persian meals during Passover,” she explains. “I also replace the pasta with wide ribbons of matzo in baking eggplant parmesan and replace bread crumbs with potato flakes in many recipes that need breading.” Today, Ross caters about two to three events per month and is known for creating menus that are both exquisite in flavor and presentation. Her specialties are in the Persian and Mediterranean traditions, and delicious gluten-free and kosher options as well. The lineage of Persian Jews goes back thousands of years to the time of King Hashverosh and Queen Esther. “For the most part, until the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Jews in Iran enjoyed … a very rich culture and lived in harmony with Muslims and other minorities,” Ross explains, getting back to history. “I feel very fortunate to have lived in Iran at the time that I did. Here at home, I enjoy sharing my beautiful memories with my family and friends.” With that, she surprises us with a final thought: Given a choice, Ross says, many Persian Jews would have preferred to stay in Iran. Even today, as their American-born children make strides in the United States and Iran appears to keep leaning more toward extremism, there’s a sense of longing for a homeland these immigrants can still vividly remember. As American as their children are, there is a sadness for these younger generations of Persian Jews who will never have personal memories of their native lands. But the traditions of Persian Passover keep them connected in some ways, and the best hope is that these Persian Americans will keep wacking their famillies with green onions and eating creamy hallegh in honor of the Exodus – that of the Egyptians in the Torah and that of the Jewish Iranians in 1979. A For more information visit simascatering.com.
Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 33
FOOD & WINE
PHOTOS BY JOHN M. PRYOR
A panorama view of the Salerno Winery captures Jaime Caljón’s majestic sculptures in what looks to be their natural habitat.
A MEXICAN AND AN ITALIAN
WALK INTO A WINERY... Ramona’s Salerno Winery has a multi-cultural musical and artistic sensibility BY PAT LAUNER
S
un and stately cypress trees. Al fresco pizza, sculpture, music and vino. Benvenuto a Italia? Nope…Ramona! Salerno Winery is a great escape on a sundrenched day, a little taste of Italy nestled in the hills of the historic Ramona Valley American Viticultural Area east of San Diego. Former opera singer (basso profundo) Herman Salerno and his wife Rose came to the area in 1998, with 23 years of winemaking experience under their belts. Upon release of their first wine in 2005, Salerno Winery earned an International Medal. Since that time, they’ve been honored with more than 63 local, national and international awards, and they sell out their offerings every year. Favorites include the Malbec and Petit Syrah, as well as the Riesling and Port. At age 80, Salerno, who hails from Reggio di Calabria (the “toe” of the Italian peninsula), still bakes the pizza and sings with the resident band on occasion. There are scads of regulars on a bright Sunday, lounging on the patio, drinking and eating and having a grand old time. Most are amazed by how much the place has changed 34 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
in the last few years. And that’s where the Jewish connection comes in. The Jewish Mexican and the Italian Winery Jaime Chaljón, a Mexican Jew, became friends with Herman Salerno about 15 years ago. He recently became co-proprietor of the winery and helped dramatically renovate the property, adding a sculpture garden with 90 pieces from his personal multimillion dollar collection. But that’s getting ahead of things. Let’s go back to Jaime’s start in Mexico City. “My ancestors were from Istanbul, Turkey,” Chaljón say, by way of email and a translator. “A long time ago we lived in Spain. But Queen Isabella expelled the Jews; if we had stayed, we would have been killed. So we went to Turkey, where we were welcome. When the Second World War started, my ancestors didn’t want to go to war, so they left.” In Mexico City, where Chaljón grew up, his family was not religious, but they “attended temple on major holidays and Friday nights, respected the Jewish traditions, and sent me to
Jewish schools.” His Bar Mitzvah was “very beautiful and very big because of our relationship with the community. We had a lot of guests, a lot of partying, and a lot of happiness. I think the Bar Mitzvah is an important change in the phase of your life.” Chaljón went on to study business in college, and after graduation, started working in his father’s two small mattress stores. But Chaljón, being the businessman he was, started coming up with ideas for expansion. “My father used his experience, good name and credit, and I, my new ideas and desire to grow. He was very supportive of me and we grew.” This early expansion ultimately evolved into 200 stores and 2,500 workers, which Chaljón still manages with his son, his mother-in-law (who works in advertising) and “other executives.” His foray into tzedakah (charity) began when his children were six or so, nearly 30 years ago. “I started contributing at my children’s school. It started with small donations because I was just
starting out and grew as business prospered.” He “was a strong leader,” he confesses, who became PTA representative and eventually, President “and made important decisions as I would do for a business. I became a leader for children’s education and afterward, with partners, I built a big temple and community center.” He describes the temple as “one of the most beautiful centers in the world.” These days, Chaljón is a member of a small Sephardic congregation in San Diego: Beth Eliyahu Torah Center – Chabad of Bonita. What brought him here is a sad story. “I came to San Diego after the death of my 19 year-old son, Moisés, in Mexico City,” Chaljón says. “That was the principal reason that I left the country that I love so much. I didn’t want to be in a place of high crime. I came here 15 years ago, looking for a place to live, relax, work, and collaborate with the community. And I thought that San Diego, where there was an important Jewish community, activities are relaxed, and it is close to Mexico, would be ideal. I could open stores in Tijuana. I wanted peace and tranquility. I am here because of destiny.” And it was here that he was destined to meet Herman Salerno.
who love sculpture, music and good wine.” In addition to nature and wine and The Good Life, opera was another commonality between Salerno and Chaljón.
Chaljón and Salerno “I started going to the winery regularly,” Chaljón recalls. “The idea was to get together with a group of friends in a nice place, listen to music, drink good wine, be in nature. Also, I needed a space to place my sculptures because they don’t fit in my house. I tried to open a museum in downtown San Diego, but that didn’t work out. So I thought the winery would attract people
“My connection with the opera world started when I was a student,” Chaljón recalls. “I attended the opera, ballet and the symphony in Mexico City. Here in San Diego, I had the opportunity to meet great opera singers that sang at Salerno’s.” Salerno, who had performed operatically in South America, Europe and the U.S. (at the Philadelphia Opera House for seven years),
“Amor” by Abel Ramirez
opened an Italian restaurant, Verdi, in San Diego, where he often entertained patrons with a group of fellow singers. Two longtime colleagues – tenor Jorge D’Soria and baritone Salvador Padilla, are now regular entertainers at the Winery, singing romantic and spirited songs in Italian, Spanish and English. Drinkers and diners sometimes take a turn at the mic. “When I heard the singers at Salerno’s,” Chaljón says, “I began to dream that it would be a good space for young singers to start singing in public. The goal is to have the Winery be a cultural destination, a space where different artists could show their work and people could play music and sing.” (On the day I was there, a woman was selling her jewelry.) With a lifelong love of the arts, Chaljón began to invest in the principal artists of Mexico. Sculpting a collection “For me,” Chajón rhapsodizes, “sculptures in bronze or marble are alive. They have power. I started falling in love with figurative art, not abstract, mainly the human body and animals. Every sculpture I’ve collected expresses something to me. It’s not a piece of stone. It has sentiments; it’s alive.” Being a collector, Chaljón has learned, is “a little aesthetics, a little power. Buying something from an important artist that you like is a big challenge. Where to install it? How does it fit in? A lot of my art collection was stored in warehouses for a long time, unseen. I have one piece that was in storage for 20 years! “But now I have the Winery and people can see them, enjoy them and appreciate them. Few people that go to the Winery have an idea Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 35
“Spirit Monumental” by Jorge Marín
of the value of the art. This is the work of the most important artists of Mexico and other countries. I focus on sculpture because I like it the most, but occasionally, I buy paintings, too. I am soon going to have a wonderful painting in the Winery, by Armando Romero, who is very successful in Paris and other places in the world. At Sotheby’s, he is considered one of the biggest artists.” Chaljón travels widely, and sees many works of art. There’s a sculpture garden in Oslo, “probably one of the most beautiful gardens with sculptures in the world.” And that’s been his inspiration for the Winery. “A woman asked me why I have so much invested in art, and why I wouldn’t sell the pieces. Apart from the satisfaction they give me, the sculptures get more precious with time and are available now for many people to enjoy. I search all over, but I always go back to the artists that I found first. There are less than 20 that I like.” Some of his favorites are Jorge Marín, whose pieces at the Winery include “an angel riding a horse, with his face covered with a mask. “It has a lot of detail,” Chaljón says. “He’s a great sculptor. And his brother, Javier Marín, transmits strength, expression in his work. He works with power. Jorge has more detail.” Many collectors, Chaljón acknowledges, donate their art to museums “to make them eternal. “But instead of giving them to a museum, I cultivate this growing space that will allow young artists to promote their work. It’s zero business for me. It is going to have a cost to me and my family, but it is going to be altruistic, for the benefit of the artists.” More sculptures keep being added. Chaljón’s only condition is that the work conform to his taste: “humans or animals, life forms, figurative, and some aesthetics. In five years, I hope that Salerno would have around 200 acres of land [he currently has 6.5 acres, 4.5 of which are 36 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
“Libertad” by Enrique Alvarez
vineyards], with space for events, and a big hall for celebrations.” At present, the Winery doesn’t have a permit for events, but Chaljón is working on that. He’s planning to install a full-service restaurant as well (currently, only pizza is available on the informal outdoor patio). He’s also getting directly involved with the wines. “I think that the Salerno wines are good wines, but compared with the great wines from Europe, or Napa or Paso Robles, I think we are still a little behind. But that’s where I start. Making decisions, bringing managers, consultants. If I have to bring vines from Bordeaux, I will bring them. There is nothing that is going to stop me. Salerno has gotten a lot of awards. But we’re making an effort to make things even better. We are not looking to make 10,000 bottles a month, but we are looking to produce one of the best wines in the world, in a pleasant and artistic location. “Salerno Winery is going to be an alternative form of entertainment,” Chaljón proclaims. “Where you can taste good wine in the country – closer than Temecula – and listen to music, and stroll through a beautiful space surrounded by masterpieces. I think it’s a great destination.” Many regular and first-time patrons agree. They get a family feel from the place, and love being able to meet the vintner. “We first came five years ago, and got to know the family,” said one woman enthusiastically. “We left with fresh oregano from the garden, and that fabulous fresh bread. The pizzas are amazing, too,” she said, laughing it up with three female friends. “It’s great. There’s bocce for the kids while we drink the wine. The Malbec is my favorite; it has Herman’s picture on the bottle.” There’s also a sculpture of Herman Salerno fronting the tasting patio, with his beloved
“Archivaldo” by Jorge Marín
black Labrador retriever, Pinot Noir (now age 14). Some of the other sculptures are classical in style, some more whimsical, ranging from mythic characters to elephants, lions, nudes and lovers. “It’s a casual place,” says another woman. “Not pretentious. It’s so nice to have the proprietor/ winemaker here. It’s such a special place, to have art like this at a winery. It’s not zoned for weddings, but it would be perfect. We can’t wait to come back for the ‘Wine-tasting while you Paint’ experience.” “The pizza is awesome,” says Mike. “There are five Neapolitan varieties. The whole atmosphere is cool. Jaime is cool himself; last time I saw him, he was wearing a very sporty, bright purple outfit with white shoes. He rocked it! I love that they grow their own basil and tangerines and lemons and onions. And make the bread! And the wine, of course. I like the Duet, but I’m drinking Petit Syrah today. My neighbor here likes the Port. We drove in from Clairemont, with a friend from L.A. and my sister-in-law from Arizona. We love to bring people here. It’s a great outing.” That’s music to Jaime Chaljón’s ear. “I started not only because of my friendship with Mr. Salerno, but also because of the fondness I have for the place, where we’ve spent a lot of happy moments. I love the closeness, the open land, the trees. It’s my destiny.” A Salerno Winery is located at 17948 Highway 67 in Ramona. Hours are Monday-Thursday by appointment; Friday-Sunday 11 a.m.-dusk. salernowinery.com.
yom HaSHoaH Day of Holocaust coMMeMoration Sunday, april 19, 2015
2:00PM in Pan Pacific Park
museum pRoGRams @1:00pm
The Art and Life of David Labkovski
Return to Wielopole: The Teitelbaum Family Journey
Keynote SpeaKer MayiM BialiK invocation by Rabbi sHaRon bRous, ikaR RemaRks by mayoR eRic GaRcetti consul GeneRal of isRael DaviD sieGel Holocaust suRvivoR eva bRettleR
All events free to the public Museum open from 9:00am-5:00pm 3G and The Legacy of Memory
Programs to follow Jewish World Watch Walk to End Genocide in Pan Pacific Park
100 S. The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90036 323.651.3704 | www.lamoth.org M-Th 10-5 F 10-2 Nisan •S-S Iyar10-5 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 37
FOOD & WINE
in the kitchen WITH
TORI AVEY
SPICY SMOKY RATATOUILLE CASSEROLE
R Tori Avey is an awardwinning food writer, recipe developer, and the creator of the popular cooking website toriavey.com. She writes about food history for PBS Food and Parade. com. Follow Tori on Facebook by searching for “Tori Avey” and on Twitter: @toriavey.
atatouille is historically known as a “peasant dish.” It originated in Provençe in the southeast region of France. It was typically served during the summer, when farmers had an abundance of fresh vegetables on hand. The name comes from the French cooking term “touiller” meaning “to toss.” In its most basic form, a tomato base is tossed and cooked with loads of fresh vegetables – eggplant, zucchini, squash, tomatoes. It can all be thrown together in a pot or the vegetables can simmer on top of the sauce. The original concept is simple and tasty, and lends itself to all sorts of creative additions. Last year, I decided to develop an entrée for my vegetarian readers who wouldn’t be eating meat during the Passover holiday. I wanted something special – simple, comforting food elevated to a new level. It was also important that it be filling enough to stand as a main course and unique enough for a holiday meal. My mind kept returning to ratatouille. Inspired by a lovely recipe by Bruno Albouze, I created my own twist on the raratouille theme – a spicy, smoky version influenced by Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. The shakshuka-style tomato base includes lots of garlic, peppers, smoked paprika and fresh herbs. The addition of seared mushrooms gives the base a more substantial, meaty texture. Thinly sliced vegetables are layered on the top in a spiral-like pattern which makes for a gorgeous presentation on the dinner table. The casserole is finished with a sprinkling of olive oil, garlic and herbs, then baked covered in a slow oven and finished uncovered at higher heat. This gives the flavors time to develop; the spices in the sauce spread through the vegetables and the garlic roasts on top. It’s a colorful dish, visually appealing with complex layers of flavor. Please note: I love the flavor of smoked paprika in this recipe, but you may have trouble finding a Passover kosher-certified version. If it proves troublesome, regular sweet paprika can be used as a substitute.
SPICY SMOKY RATATOUILLE CASSEROLE SAUCE INGREDIENTS 2 lbs vine-ripened tomatoes, roughly chopped ½ lb button mushrooms, sliced 2 carrots, minced 2 ribs celery, minced 38 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
1 onion, minced 1 yellow bell pepper, roasted and chopped, skin, seeds and stem removed 1 red bell pepper, roasted and roughly chopped, skin, seeds and stem removed 1 anaheim or poblano pepper, roasted and roughly chopped, skin, seeds and stem removed 1 chili pepper, roasted and roughly chopped, skin, seeds and stem removed 8 basil leaves, minced ¼ cup olive oil, divided 2 tsp crushed garlic 1 tsp salt ¾ tsp smoked paprika ½ tsp paprika (also known as sweet paprika) ½ tsp cayenne (use less if spice sensitive) ½ tsp oregano
SLICED VEGETABLE INGREDIENTS
TOPPING
4 Roma tomatoes (approx 10 oz), sliced very thin 2 small zucchini (about 8 oz), sliced very thin 2 small Japanese eggplant (about 5 oz), sliced very thin 2 small yellow squash (about 5 oz), sliced very thin 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp crushed garlic Salt and pepper 1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped 2 tsp fresh chopped basil You will also need: Tongs, large mixing bowl, plastic wrap, sharp knife (serrated preferable) or mandolin, food processor, 11-12 inch round sauteuse pan or heavy bottom skillet, parchment or lid Servings: 8-10 Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes Kosher Key: Kosher for Passover, Pareve It’s important to have your vegetables chopped, sliced and fully prepared before you begin. There are a few different ways to roast the peppers. With this dish, I usually throw them directly on the burner of my gas stove and let them cook until the skin chars and blisters. With tongs, carefully turn the peppers so that they roast evenly on all sides. The peppers are done roasting when they are soft and starting to collapse. Transfer the roasted peppers to a large mixing bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the
PHOTOS BY TORI AVEY
peppers to steam for 15 minutes. You can also steam them in a paper bag if you prefer. While the peppers are steaming, prepare and chop the rest of your ingredients. The Roma tomatoes, zucchini, Japanese eggplant and yellow squash should be sliced very thin. This is best done with a sharp serrated knife or a mandolin. It does take a bit of time, but the result is worth it. Once your peppers have finished steaming, peel off the skin and remove the seeds and ribs under cool running water. Roughly chop the peeled peppers and set aside. In a food processor, combine the chopped vine-ripened tomatoes, chopped peppers, basil, 2 tsp crushed garlic, salt, smoked paprika, cayenne, paprika and oregano and pulse until you have a rough puree with texture. Taste the mixture; add additional spices and salt to taste, if desired. Note that the flavors will develop more during cooking – don’t overdo the spice, you’ll taste it more when the dish is completely cooked. Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a sauteuse pan or heavy bottomed skillet over medium high until hot. Spread out the sliced mushrooms in a single layer in the pan. Let them stand without stirring for 2 minutes until they are golden brown on the bottom. Begin stirring the mushrooms; continue stirring for another 2-3 minutes till they are nicely browned throughout. Remove mushrooms from the skillet and set aside. Add the remaining 2 tbsp of the olive oil to the pan and sauté the minced onions, carrots and celery, scraping up any brown bits as you stir. Cook until the largest pieces of carrot and celery are soft and the onions are caramelized. Add the mushrooms back to the pan along with the tomato mixture and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer, then turn off the heat. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Start to layer on the sliced vegetables by
first overlapping them in a circle around the outer edge. Layer them close to each other; don’t worry, you should have plenty of veggies to cover the whole surface. Continue the same pattern until all of the sliced vegetables have been used. If you have extra vegetables, you may want to double the layer in the center circle. In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp of olive oil with 1 tsp crushed garlic, salt and pepper. Mix well and drizzle over the top of the sliced vegetables. Sprinkle the top lightly with salt and pepper, then sprinkle the fresh thyme over the top of the dish. Cover the pan with a lid or a layer of parchment paper. Bake for 90 minutes. Remove the the lid or parchment and increase the heat to 350 degrees F. Cook for an additional 45 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil. Serve hot over cauliflower couscous, mashed potatoes or your favorite starch. This dish takes a long time to prep, but the good news is you can prepare pretty much the whole thing up to two days in advance. Slice the vegetables (a mandolin will speed up this process) and place them into plastic zipper bags. Roast the peppers and make the tomato-pepper sauce, then place in a sealed Tupperware. Mix the olive oil and garlic mixture and chop any herbs for garnish. Refrigerate all of the ingredients. That way, all you’ll need to do is assemble and cook on the day you serve. You may want to extend the baking time at 300 degrees by 10-15 minutes if the sauce is cold when it goes into the oven. I don’t recommend freezing this dish, as the vegetables will become very mushy when reheated. A
IKWTA
Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 39
FOOD & WINE
MEET ME AT THE COMMUNITY TABLE Explore the food, folklore and flavors of the San Diego Jewish Food Festival BY TINA B. ESHEL
T
he laws of kashrut have influenced Jewish food throughout history and in turn, food has influenced Jewish life and community. In some cases, Jewish food even reaches across cultural borders to connect Jews with their non-Jewish neighbors. Consider the cuisine of Italy. Rome is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in Europe with Jewish families residing there since the second century B.C.E. In her book, “Cucina Ebraica: Flavors of the Italian Jewish Kitchen,” author and celebrated chef Joyce Goldstein traces “the saga of Italian Jews through their food. Their history – and their cuisine” through “a fascinating mélange of Middle Eastern, Spanish, and Sephardic influences,” she writes. Her book is a mouthwatering collection and a favorite tome of mine; I purchased it years ago when I was on a spiritual quest involving food and culture. Learning that my family of origin (dad was Italian) was somehow linked to my chosen tribe (Jewish) through food brought me unexpected delight. Through research for the book, Goldstein discovered that many Italian dishes have Jewish roots. How is this so and, one could even ask (without really expecting an answer), why do the Italians get the credit for some of the world’s favorite dishes when they were ostensibly invented in Jewish kitchens? The first question is easier to answer. At least three waves of Jewish immigration to Italy are well documented. After the destruction 40 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
of the second temple, Jewish prisoners of war settled in Rome. Ashkenazim came to Central Europe in the early 14th century and Sephardim came after they were kicked out of Spain. All this migration meant that recipes were adapted community to community. Eggplant was introduced into recipes during the Middle Eastern migration. Pumpkin was brought to Italy from Spanish Jews who were expelled during the Inquisition. And carciofi alla giudia, a famous dish in Rome, translates to “Jewishstyle artichokes.” Jewish cuisine has always been about feeding hearts and souls, as much as bodies. From pastrami sandwiches in Katz’s Deli in New York City – the site of the infamous scene in “When Harry Met Sally” – to sweet or savory kugels, matzah ball soup, latkes, shakshuka, Israeli salad or crunchy rice (called “tahdig” and popular among Persian Jews), for us, food is central to life. You can get a slice of that Jewish food pie at the fifth annual San Diego Jewish Food Festival on April 19. The day-long festival, from 11 a.m.6 p.m., will feature cuisine from around the world, including Europe, Israel and the broader Middle East, and more (we’re hoping to find some Italian Jewish treats on the menu). Multicultural dessert items are promised as well. The festival, hosted at Temple Adat Shalom in Poway, has put North County Inland and Jewish cuisine on the food festival map with celebrity chefs and many non-Jewish foodies attending. Chef Stanley Ginsberg of New York
Bakers, Chef Jeff Rossman of Terra American Bistro and Chef Elizabeth Podsiadlo, the Opera Singing Chef, will join more than 40 arts and crafts vendors and musical performers for what is described as,“a fabulous day of dining, entertainment and shopping to stimulate the senses … offering aromas, flavors and sights that take you back to the comfort of Bubbe’s kitchen.” Diane Hillman, program co-chair, expects the festival to bring more than 2,000 people from across the county. “A lot of the cooking happens in the last two days with prep work happening two months in advance,” Hillman says. She explains that hundreds of volunteer hours, the cooperation of two Poway-area synagogues (Adat Shalom and Ner Tamid) and the generous sponsorship of many Jewish and non-Jewish owned businesses, make the festival possible. “People can expect to try a variety of Ashkenazi and Sephardic favorites and even take food home,” she says. “Most of our servings are enough for a meal with room for dessert. … We even have a professional baker heading up our desserts. We make New York Cheesecake like it tastes in New York. Apple strudel like it tastes in Europe. And it’s all homemade.” You don’t have to be Jewish to appreciate the significance of traditional foods or how they have evolved with different cultural infusions throughout history. You just have to be hungry and willing to try new flavors. Find a complete menu, buy your tickets, and even get yourself a cookbook of favorite recipes from the San Diego Jewish Food Festival at sdjewishfoodfest.com. A
Chag Sameach from SEACREST VILLAGE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES
seacrestvillage.org seacrestathome.org
Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 41
COVER STORY/YOM HA’SHOAH
The Holocaust and the Rebellious Power of
rt
Residents of Terezin concentration camp accomplished amazing artistic feats, not least among them a choral performance of Verdi’s “Requiem” BY NATALIE JACOBS
PHOTOS COURTESY DEFIANT REQUIEM FOUNDATION
Conductor and educator Murry Sidlin, creator of the “Defiant Requiem” concert-drama, will conduct the San Diego Symphony and master choral in a special performance on May 7.
I
t could be said that there are two types of people in the world – those who are able to use tragedy as creative inspiration and those who let it eat at the essence of their souls. The residents of Terezin (Theresienstadt), a concentration camp in northwest Prague, were the former. “Notable musicians, writers, artists, and leaders were sent there for ‘safer’ keeping than was to be afforded elsewhere in Hitler’s quest to stave off any uprisings or objections around the so-called civilized world,” according to the Jewish Virtual Library. This, anyway, was the intent publicized by the Nazis. Pulled from their homes in Prague – where arts and culture were vibrant aspects of Jewish 42 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
life in the early 1900s – this creative class of Jews was forced to live and work in the dreary ghetto without explanation, cut off for years from to the outside world. The town, which was built for 5,000 people before the War, is said to have housed 55,000 Jews at once at the height of the War – more than 155,000 passed through the camp in the four years of its operation. Incredibly, despite the cramped and wretched conditions, these thousands of Jews found small ways to express their frustration, sadness, confusion, and even rebellion through the arts and humanities they knew best. Throughout the course of Terezin’s existence, from 1941-1945, there were 2,400 lectures given by 530 prisoners. There were almost
1,000 concerts hosted in four years – from choral and chamber music to performances of contemporary works composed within the camp’s walls. The residents performed operas and theater. They made art and designed costumes and wrote satire. They even attended services in an underground, make-shift sanctuary hosted by resident rabbis. All this while sleeping practically stacked on top of each other, with countless numbers perishing due to malnutrition, exhaustion, or murder at the hands of the Nazis. Murry Sidlin first learned the story of Terezin in fall of 1994, from a book he found at the bottom of the sale table at Bryn Mawr Books in Minneapolis, called “The Music of Terezin.”
Terezin prisoner Edgar Krasa (second from the left) with wife Hana and their two sons and grandson (second from the right). “I opened the book at random to a chapter entitled Rafael Schächter,” Sidlin recalls. “It was a three-page chapter, it only summarized his early life.” The conductor had never heard of Schächter, who, he learned from the book, was a prodigy from Romania, where Schächter was born, to Prague, where he coached a small opera company and later lead the Czech Opera. Schächter’s career was cut short when the Nazis began rounding up the Jews in Prague in 1939, shutting down the once-thriving Jewish arts community. When he came across the book, Sidlin happened to be on his way out of Minneapolis, relocating to Portland, Ore., for a position as Resident Conductor with the Oregon Symphony. Once there, he also took on a position at a small college outside Portland – Pacific University – where he pursued resident Holocaust scholars to find out more about the music of Terezin. Specifically, what was eating at Sidlin most about his discovery of Schächter was a small note about composer Guiseppe Verdi’s funeral mass “Mess daRequiem” (referred to simple as Verdi’s “Requiem”). “The last paragraph said that he [Schächter]
put together a volunteer chorus of 150 singers and he taught them Verdi’s ‘Requiem’ by rote,” Sidlin says. “The question popped out immediately – why would a group of people in prison for being Jewish reach out to a work of the Catholic liturgy to sing a major composition?” Not to mention the sheer difficulty of the piece, which is in Latin and is 84 minutes long, and the fact that the Terezin prisoners were rehearsing after 10-12 hour workdays while subsisting on one bowl of broth per day. “The Verdi ‘Requiem’ is one of the major works in all the repertoire for chorus and orchestra,” Sidlin explains. “It was performed all over the world at the time [and still is to this day]. It may be a composition second only to the Messiah as far as the number of performances it gets annually. Everybody does the Verdi ‘Requiem.’ But the point is, why would they do the Verdi ‘Requiem’?” To begin answering this question, Sidlin consulted the Pacific University Holocaust scholars to at first verify the story of art and music at Terezin. The scholars taught Sidlin how to search for the information he needed. Eventually, Sidlin found Edgar Krasa, Schächter’s roommate and a member of the Verdi “Requiem” volunteer chorus in Terezin. Krasa was, and still is, living in Newton, Mass., with his wife (who was also in Terezin, though the two didn’t meet until after they were released). Sidlin and Krasa spoke several times, over the phone and in person, Krasa introduced Sidlin to other surviving members of the Terezin chorus and Sidlin finally got his answer. “I found out some important things that the chorus now repeats as a kind of mantra: ‘We can
sing to them things we cannot say to them,’” Sidlin says. “If you read the text as a prisoner, not as a Catholic, aha, then the secret comes out as to why they did it. Because the text says things such as ‘liberame’ which really translates as ‘Deliver me, oh lord.’ But what if they were saying ‘liberate me, oh lord?’ “It says, ‘nothing will remain un-avenged,’ of course that’s G-d talking to the individual, but what if it’s G-d talking to the Nazis – ‘nothing will remain un-avenged,’” Sidlin continues. “They were raising their fists and they were responding to the worst of mankind with the best of mankind.” Schächter’s chorus of 150 concentration camp prisoners did finally have a chance to raise their fists, through song, directly at the Nazis when a propaganda performance was staged at Terezin for the International Red Cross in June, 1944. The Nazis, in an effort to play up the artistic natures of their captives, made the camp look like a paradise of song and creative expression for the six hours that the humanitarian aid group visited. The Nazis produced a propoganda film about the visit, and then sent all of the actors to the Auschwitz gas chambers. From there, Terezin prisoners were sent by groups of 1,000 on trains to Auschwitz. In total, 88,000 were deported from Terezin, most of whom died in gas chambers or on death marches (as was the case with Rafael Schächter, in late 1944). “There was, at the end of the war,” Sidlin says, “this kind of mistaken notion that the Jews were like lambs to the slaughter – that they went without uprising, that they went without shaking their fists, with the exception of a few places like the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. But there are all kinds of ways to resist and in this case, the prisoners of Terezin resisted by choosing the best of life against the worst of life. That defiance, that was resistance and that inspired many of them.” After uncovering all of this information about Terezin, and meeting with the survivors, Sidlin was left wondering what to do with the stories he had amassed. “I didn’t go into this with any sort of preconceived notion,” Sidlin says of his years spent gathering information on Schächter and Terezin. “I wanted to validate the story. I wanted to verify it and once I did, then the question was, what to do about this? Is it a magazine article? Is it a book? Is it a play with music? Or is it music with the story being told? I didn’t know.” In 2002, nearly 10 years after he first read the “The Music of Terezin,” Sidlin premiered the first “Defiant Requiem” concert-drama in Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 43
“Defiant Requiem” performed at the Lincoln Center in New York City in April, 2013.
Portland. During the performance, a chorus sings the entire Verdi “Requiem,” but between movements, the story of Schächter and Terezin is told through actors and multimedia elements. Throughout his career as a conductor, Sidlin made many guest conductor appearances at the San Diego Symphony and became close with Joan and Irwin Jacobs and Warren and Karen Kessler. As he worked through the story of Terezin and oscillated between ideas, Sidlin joined the major San Diego Symphony supporters for dinner in Aspen. When they asked what he’d been working on of late, he told them the story of Rafael Schächter and the performance of the Verdi “Requiem.” “Like everybody else,” Sidlin recalls, “they did not know the story, did not know this took place. This was a different kind of perspective on how prisoners reacted. Both the Jacobs and the Kesslers were astonished at all this.” Sidlin says the two couples encouraged him to keep thinking of ways to get this story out to a broader audience, which encouraged him to keep at it. In 2006, Sidlin received a grant to bring the “Defiant Requiem” performance to the grounds of Terezin, for Terezin Commemoration Day. As part of the grant, Sidlin was able to bring a film crew “in case” he made a documentary about the story of arts and humanities at Terezin. Eventually, he did that too. “Defiant Requiem” the movie, released in 2012, has toured to international film festivals and is now streaming on Netflix. While the story of Rafael Schächter and his volunteer chorus is the focal point of the film – which does feature scenes from that 2006 performance in Terezin – the documentary tells the whole story of art at Terezin, with visuals of the artwork and reenactments of the theatrical productions, as 44 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
well as the culminating performance of Verdi’s “Requiem.” The concert-drama is still touring as well, and the Anti-Defamation League will bring it to San Diego for a special one-time performance on May 7. “It’s really outside the box for us,” says Tammy Giles, ADL San Diego director. “When you think ADL, you don’t really think the Symphony. We traditionally don’t do an annual ADL gala, we just do them when it’s appropriate. So when we saw this project [“Defiant Requiem”], I really thought that it was such an amazing way to bring the community together to see something that was beautiful, hopeful, sad, all of those things at the same time. To be able to bring this to San Diego, I feel, is an honor.” All proceeds from tickets, which range in price from $30-$175 (sponsorship levels start at $5,000), will go to the recently established ADL fund “Lessons from the Holocaust: Changing Hearts and Minds,” housed at the Jewish Community Foundation. Giles says this fund was created to support ADL San Diego’s education efforts in perpetuity. This event will mark the official opening of the fund. In the film, members of the volunteer chorus speak at length about the power of their performance of the Verdi “Requiem.” Perhaps the best answer to the question of how these 150 prisoners were able to pull off such a feat is this: “When you are more a soul than a person, you can be nourished by heavenly music. The soul doesn’t need anything else.” A Purchase tickets to the May 7, 7:30 p.m. performance “Defiant Requiem:Verdi at Terezin” at sandiego.adl.org/event/defiantrequiem/.
Honoring Erna Viterbi As co-chair and underwriter for the “Defiant Requiem” concert-drama in San Diego, Erna Viterbi’s presence will surely be felt at the performance in early May. “This event was something that was very near and dear to Erna’s heart,” says her daughter-in-law, Caryn Viterbi, who co-chaired the event with Erna until her sudden passing in late February. “She felt privileged to be involved and I felt privileged to work with her on it.” Erna and Caryn worked on the event for nearly a year, bringing Jewish and non-Jewish people and organizations together to give a voice to the memory of the Holocaust in San Diego. “She was a very passionate and wise woman,” Caryn says of Erna. “I clearly wish that she could have seen this come to fruition but I know that she would be proud to have been a part of it, and to see San Diegans have a chance to experience this inspirational and moving concert-drama.”
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YOM HA’SHOAH
JEWISH CONNECTIONS FOUND IN ORNATE CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL St. Louis is home to a Catholic community with religious acceptance built into church walls
PHOTOS BY PAUL ROSS
BY JUDITH FEIN
The Arch of Triumph displays some of the largest mosaics in the Western Hemisphere and took 76 years to complete. Among the figures celebrated are Abraham, Moses and Isaac.
A
s Holocaust Remembrance Day approaches and massacres carried out in the name of religion seem to be proliferating around the world, the words “never again” echo in my brain. What, in fact, can be done to stop atrocities committed because someone wears a prayer shawl, prays in a pew, eats kosher or halal, or wears a headscarf, skullcap, or cross? In recent days, Muslims have been showing up in synagogues, carrying signs proclaiming that Islam accepts the rights of other religions. Earnest conversations about religious tolerance have, perhaps surprisingly, hit the mainstream airwaves through television shows and radio programs. Every time I hear those words 46 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
“religious tolerance,” I think about St. Louis and something important I learned there recently which put a whole new spin on the concept. I was in St. Louis to speak about my latest book at the Jewish Book Festival there, and my host, Julie, graciously shuttled me around to some of the local sites I wanted to visit. I found it odd that she asked me twice if I wanted to tour the Cathedral, and twice I replied that I didn’t. “Is there something special you want me to see there, Julie?” “Not really. But it’s very beautiful.” The third time she asked, I stopped resisting and agreed. It was, quite literally, shocking to enter the building. I gaped at the sheer volume of
the Cathedral that houses the largest collection of dazzling mosaics in the Western Hemisphere; it was reminiscent of Hagia Sophia, the great Byzantine church in Istanbul. Everywhere I looked there were vaulted ceilings, arches, domes, and rose windows executed by Tiffany and Company. A guide named Larry Borowiak appeared as though he had been waiting for us, and asked if we wanted a tour. As I nodded enthusiastically, Julie introduced me, and when she introduced herself, the guide’s face lit up. “Is your husband by any chance a lawyer?” he asked her. “Yes…” “I worked with him at the legislature. He’s a
terrific guy. And you’re Jewish, right?” “Yes…” “Would you like me to point out some of the Jewish features of the Cathedral?” “Of course,” we said in surprised unison. “Many people say our Cathedral is a testament to religious tolerance, but that is not accurate. Tolerance implies a kind of condescension. I’ll tolerate you. You’ll tolerate me. I’ll put up with you. You’ll put up with me. Religious acceptance and inclusion are the real spirit we try to embody,” Borowiak said. He proceeded to tell us about the unusual history of the Cathedral and its unexpected inclusion and celebration of Judaism. “This was supposed to be the largest Cathedral in the U.S.,” he began, “but then a tornado came and flattened 20 percent of the city. They had raised a million dollars for the building, but they gave money to those who needed it, and had to scale back the size of the building.” He stopped in front of a half-round wall, called a lunette, which depicted a religious figure identified as Cardinal Joseph Ritter (18921967). After Ritter was appointed Archbishop of St. Louis by Pope Pius XII in 1946, “one of his first acts was to desegregate the Catholic schools of St. Louis. He declared his belief in the equality of every soul before God,” our guide explained. Apparently, hundreds of Catholic white supremacists threatened to sue the Archbishop for such a bold move, but he would not back down. He said that any Catholic who sued him would be excommunicated. And he didn’t stop at the Catholic schools. He went on to desegregate the Catholic hospitals in the city. He participated in all four sessions of the second Vatican Council in Rome, from l962-1965, where he was allied with the similarly progressive Richard James Cushing, the Archbishop of Boston. “Cushing’s sister Dolly was married to a Jewish man, and Cushing found him to be a fine, good human being. Cushing reasoned that his brother-in-law was beloved by G-d, and would be accepted in Paradise. In other words, Paradise was not reserved exclusively for Catholics. Cushing forged important and lasting relationships with Jews and Protestants. He, like Ritter, was committed to equality. Ritter was a great champion of civil rights and social justice,” Borowiak explained. I looked up at the mosaic depicting Cardinal Ritter. To one side of him were a nun and a gaggle of multi-racial children. On the other side, there were four figures; one was an African American man, and another was a rabbi wearing
A Magen David is emblazoned above this statue of Mary in a design by Louis Tiffany.
a tallit or prayer shawl and carrying a Torah. Behind them was the Vatican. I asked Borowiak about it. “During the Second Vatican Council, the Church needed to address the Holocaust. And of course there was the issue of Jews being accused of deicide – of killing Christ. Cardinal Ritter
and Cardinal Cushing were on the committee together that drafted the declaration that absolved Jews of blame in the killing of Christ. It proclaimed G-d, not man, as the judge, and they both were important leaders at Vatican II and were instrumental in lifting blame from the shoulders of the Jews.” Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 47
The imposing Neo-Byzantine and Romanesque Revival-style Cathedral Basilica sits not far from the Mississippi River and dates from 1914.
“It’s very touching to see the inclusion of a rabbi in a mosaic in a Cathedral,” I commented, and an exuberant Borowiak announced that the rabbi was only part of the story. He pointed out the vaulted lunettes, or halfmoon shapes, that depict The Last Supper, which he referred to as the Seder. I blinked a few times, wondering if I was hallucinating, at the sight of Jewish stars atop the heads of the diners. “We embrace and honor Judaism as the foundation of Catholicism. We acknowledge our Jewish ancestry. It is very important to us. When the Pope visited here in 1999, a rabbi was invited to the prayer service. Her name is Susan Talve.” I smiled. Not only a rabbi, but a female rabbi. This tour was getting better and better. “This is the Arch of Creation,” Borowiak said, continuing our tour. “It is where order was made from chaos. It is read from right to left, like Hebrew, in honor of Jews who preceded us in the faith. Each circle represents a day of creation. And the Arch of Triumph represents the Old Testament saints – Noah, Abraham, Melchizedek, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Solomon, Ezekiel. On the other side are the post-resurrection saints.” The farther we walked into the church, the more Jewish references our guide pointed out. We admired the mosaics depicting Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac. “Old Testament,” Borowiak said. “Hebrew Bible,” I added, smiling. 48 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
The cathedral is 365 feet in length, seats 2,500 and, at full capacity, can accommodate twice that number.
In the Chapel of the Blessed Mother, designed by Louis Tiffany, a star of David was placed above the statue of Mary. “It recognizes Mary’s heritage from the house of David,” our guide explained. “And look over there,” he said, pointing to a mosaic of Mary being presented to the ancient Temple, with her parents Anne and Joachim. “A nice Jewish girl,” I commented, and Borowiak grinned. “There are so many connections between us and Judaism,” he said. “Barnes Hospital was combined with the Jewish hospital here in St. Louis. Patients and their families of all faiths come here to the Cathedral to pray or give thanks.” I noticed that other visitors and a few international tourists in the Cathedral were now tagging along on our tour. They were clearly fascinated by the Jewish-Catholic connection as well. Our guide led us to the mosaic of the young Jesus being presented to the High Priest of the Temple, and when he was ready to move on, I caught his eye. “Would you like to know more about the High Priest?” I asked. Borowiak’s head bobbed enthusiastically. “The name in Hebrew for High Priest is Kohan Gadol. And if you look closely, you will see that he is wearing an ephod, or apron, which was a sacred garment.” I looked around me. I wondered if I had
overstepped the boundaries of a visitor, but two men were eagerly taking notes. “And you can see the breastplate, or hoshen, the Kohan Gadol is wearing. On it are 12 precious stones. Each one represents one of the 12 tribes. It is called the Urim v’Tummim. Only the High Priest could wear this magnificent and potent garment. And it was used for divination and prophecy.” “Urim v’Tummim,” our guide repeated. And then he expressed his feelings with one word, “Wow!” He turned to me and asked, with moving humility, “would it be okay if I incorporated that information into my tours? Ephod. Hoshen. Urim v’Tummim. Kohan Gadol.” “Of course. I certainly can’t speak for all Jews, or even any Jews other than myself, but I believe it would be an honor for you to share it.” The little followers we had gained and our open-hearted guide were clearly excited when we looked up, together, at the ceiling in the Transept of Resurrection. There was Mary, kneeling, in front of her son Jesus. The name “Mary,” appeared next to her. And to the side of Jesus was the word, “Rabboni.” They all turned to look at me. “It means ‘My Rabbi,’ “ I said, glad my days in Hebrew school had paid off. When the tour was finished, we all shook hands and thanked Borowiak for his insight. We often think of religious tolerance as a contemporary construct, but this Cathedral and the stories of its mosaics make clear that traditions of acceptance and understanding go back longer than we might initially assume. On this Yom Ha’Shoah, we might invite all to follow the examples of the Archbishop of St. Louis. “Is this Jewish tour a regular feature at the Cathedral?” I asked Borowiak before saying our final goodbyes. “No,” he replied. “But I am happy to do it if visitors request it. It can be available on a ‘Just Ask’ basis.” “Just ask, just tell,” I quipped. Borowiak grinned. “Urim v’Tummim,” he repeated for the last time. “Prophecy. Divination. I like that.” A IF YOU GO: Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis 4431 Lindell Blvd (314) 373-8200 Guided tours are available weekdays between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Contact the tour office at (314) 373-8241 for tour reservations or to make sure no other church activities are scheduled if you wish to go on a self-guided tour.
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Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 49
YOM HA’ATZMAUT
FOR THE LOVE OF ISRAEL
Jewish National Fund brings Middle East policy expert and actor Jay Footlik to San Diego
PHOTOS COURTESY JNF
BY BRIE STIMSON
Attendees and distinguished speaker from last year’s “Love of Israel Brunch” from L-R: Kim Miller, Gil Tamary, Caroline Miller, and Bill Miller.
E
ach year for the past four years, the Jewish National Fund has hosted a “Love of Israel Brunch” to bring the community together in support of Israel and to raise funds for their seminal work there. This year, the event’s guest speaker, Jay Footlik, will cover the timely topic “The Middle East Peace Process: Where to Now?” For a preview of what San Diego audiences can expect from the CEO of Global Policy Initiatives and former special assistant to President Bill Clinton, I spoke with Footlik about his broad experience. He was in a taxi at the time, en route to the New York City premiere of the show “Dig,” for which he is an advisor. He had just returned from an unintentionally extended trip to Prague and a brief layover at his house in Washington D.C. before making his way out to snowed-in NYC. It was clear from that start that Footlik is a man of varied talents. He is an expert on the Middle East, an orator, and, surprisingly, an actor who once worked alongside Michael J. Fox in the ’80s comedy “Teen Wolf.” This (somewhat) hidden past encouraged the producers of “Dig” to give Footlik, a consultant on the Israeli thriller, a small but substantial two-episode part on the show. He plays Dennis Barnet, the president’s Middle East envoy. 50 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
“Dig,” which premiered on the USA Network on March 5, stars Jason Isaacs and Anne Heche. The story follows Peter Connelly, an FBI agent investigating the murder of a young American. Connelly starts to uncover a 2,000-year-old international conspiracy and must solve the mystery before its dangerous prophecy comes to fruition. The plot may have sounded familiar to Footlik, who, in the early ’90s, joined Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign. “I started reading about this young governor who was running for president ... The experience of the attempted Nazi march in Skokie, Ill., had a real impact about the importance of being involved in the community at a political level. That was all occurring when I was about thirteen preparing for my Bar Mitzvah.” Once Clinton was elected, Footlik moved from campaign staff to White House staff. “I served as special assistant to President Clinton in the office of public liaison,” he explains. “That position was really meant to help build support for presidential initiatives both domestic and foreign policy related ... One of the things that was fascinating for me was ... the peace process at the time was in high gear. My first trip to Israel was with President Clinton.”
That visit to Israel, in 1994, was the first of many for Footlik. He eventually left the administration and moved to Israel in the late ’90s for two years, during the Second Intifada. In 2003, he returned to the United States to take a senior position on Joseph Lieberman’s presidential campaign and then as John Kerry’s senior Middle East advisor during his presidential run. Since 2008, Footlik has had his own consulting practice, Global Policy Initiatives, where he works with different countries, nongovernmental organizations, and companies on policy-related issues, specifically regarding Israel and the border region. “There’s a nice sort of corridor between the U.S. and Israel when it comes to a lot of creative talent in television and film work,” Footlik says, referencing his work on “Dig,” which is filmed partially in Jerusalem. “What Israel is lacking is a permanent film incentive which would enable a lot of the studios to bring additional film production actually to Israel.” He says an Israeli film incentive program would provide numerous benefits to the country. Footlik suggests an influx in Israeli film production would create jobs, elevate local businesses, and increase tourism. From his taxi in New York City, Footlik spoke briefly about the speech Netanyahu made to congress in March, criticizing President Obama’s efforts to broker a nuclear deal with Iran saying, “I think on both sides there were probably better ways to have communicated those concerns.” To finish out our conversation, I asked if he thought the Clinton administration’s peace efforts had made a positive impact today. “I think the world is different now than it was 25 years ago ... it’s a harder notion than it was a while back.” At the Jewish National Fund “Love of Israel Brunch,” Footlik plans to focus on the positive things happening in Israel, like global technology advancements, agribusiness, biotech, and, of course, film and television opportunities. A The fourth annual “Love of Israel Brunch” will take place at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines on May 3 at 10 a.m. For tickets and more info, visit jnf.org/ about-jnf/events/2015/san-diego-love-of-israel. html.
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YOM HA’ATZMAUT
A NEW DAY FOR ISRAEL IN SAN DIEGO Jewish Federation announces changes to Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration BY NATALIE JACOBS
PHOTO BY JESSI PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO BY ATRUAX PHOTOGRAPHY
Family fun was found at every corner of last year’s San Diego Celebrates Israel festival. Federation promises more at revamped Israel Fest.
52 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
vendor/community organization booths. “All of these changes are taking place because the event had become too expensive to continue in the prior format,” Federation CEO Michael Sonduck said in an email statement to community leaders in February. It makes sense. Although Federation made it look easy, there were merchants who came in all the way from Israel, along with every Jewish nonprofit and community group you could think of, even a petting zoo and an acrobatics show last year. And someone at Federation had to manage all of the logistics. If you have memories of walking through rows of booths, exploring spice vendors and garlic merchants, trying on rings and dresses while your kids ran around waving the Israeli flag, hold onto them, but look forward to making new memories this year. The day will still feature family-friendly entertainment with live music, bounce houses, face painting and interactive games. There will also be kosher and vegetarian food trucks on hand, but attendees are encouraged to consider bringing blankets, chairs and food for a picnic lunch. The Jewish singer-songwriter Craig Taubman will perform. Though things may look a bit different on the surface, Sonduck promises that the spirit of the event remains the same. “Israel Fest will be a day of Israeli food, dancing, family, music and entertainment,” Sonduck says,
“a celebration of Israel and our connection to the Jewish state. We hope you’ll enjoy the new programming, encourage participation and come together as a community in support of Israel.” A Israel Fest takes place Sunday, April 26 at the Nobel Athletic Field, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Friendship Circle Walk will kick off the day, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. The walk starts promptly at 10 a.m. To register yourself or a team for the walk, visit friendshipwalksd.org. For more information on Israel Fest at large, visit jewishinsandiego.org.
PHOTO BY JESSI PHOTOGRAPHY
T
here have been more than a few concerned whispers from curious Jewish San Diegans for the past few months. The question that passed covertly through lips at lectures and breakfasts across town was whether or not Federation would host the annual Yom Ha’Atzmaut event “San Diego Celebrates Israel” again this year. Many had never considered that they wouldn’t, but when people discussed the closure of the event as a real possibility, it seemed reasonable, though unfortunate. For the past 10 years, Federation, along with pretty much all of the Jewish organizations in town, invited the community out for a day of Israel-loving in honor of Israel Independence Day (Yom Ha’Atzmaut). There was hundreds of vendors, live entertainment, activities for kids and a parade. For the past four years, the day kicked off with the Friendship Walk SD, the largest fundraiser of the year for the San Diego chapter of the Friendship Circle (this will be Friendship Circle’s seventh year for the walk, prior to the Israel Day festival, it was hosted elsewhere). At last, we can confirm that Federation will still help San Diego celebrate Israel this year, but the day will look a bit different than it has in years past. First, they’ve changed the name to “Israel Fest,” which does roll off the tongue a bit easier than “San Diego Celebrates Israel.” Federation has also shortened the event from all day to a few hours (11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.), and removed the
Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 53
ART
THE CHIEF OF TRANSFORMATION
Matisyahu, possibly the world’s most famous Jewish musician, has come a long way in his personal, musical, and Jewish life
PHOTO COURTESY MATISYAHU
BY SHARON ROSEN LEIB
M
atisyahu will be here in San Diego for one day. And that day is coming soon – Sunday, April 19 when he’ll be headlining the Shir Energy Music Festival at Temple Solel in Cardiff by the Sea. The acclaimed reggae star continues to peel back layers of identity, reflecting his evolution Jewishly, musically and personally. At 35, he’s attained wisdom as a father of four and managed to remain a sought-after recording artist. Matisyahu has a hard-to-define, genrejumping style all his own. He freestyles, beatboxes and sings in English, Yiddish and Hebrew. His music melds dub and dance hall with traces of electronic, Middle Eastern and liturgical. At live performances, he reaches out and physically 54 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
connects with audiences – dancing, crowd surfing and pulling fans up on stage. Somehow it all works. By mixing it up while keeping his music and message authentic, Matisyahu has earned two gold records, was named Billboard’s top reggae artist in 2006 and has about 1.75 million Twitter followers. And then there’s the matter of his appearance. When Matisyahu’s first major album “Shake Off the Dust” was released in 2004, and with it the infectious single “King Without a Crown,” he was a practicing Hasidic Jew who joined the Lubavitch movement at age 19. He performed wearing a black hat and coat, fully bearded with tzizit and pais swaying to the beat. By 2009, when his second major album “Light” was
released featuring his mega-hit “One Day,” he sported a more modern Hasidic look – the beard a little less bushy, the pais a little shorter and his facial features more discernible. In December 2011, shortly after he and his family moved from Crown Heights, Brooklyn, to Los Angeles, he tweeted a picture of himself clean-shaven with a message that he would henceforth identify himself on his own terms. His 2012 music video “Sunshine” features him cavorting in the Israeli desert with short, lightened hair and a kipot. Which brings us to his current album “Akeda” released in 2014. In the video for the album’s hit song “Hard Way,” Matisyahu appears bare-chested with closecropped gray hair. Again, his evolution works.
He’s being true to himself and invites us along on his ride to spiritual self-discovery. The chorus to “Hard Way” – “Who am I to say, I know nothing it seems, until it’s way too late. I’m learning this the hard way” – speaks to the universal quest to establish our unique identities. In February, he published a personal essay titled “Akeda, the Binding and Unbinding...the Long Walk Back” on Medium. The essay details his tough road to adulthood including an adolescent drug habit, a religious/ spiritual identity crisis and a marriage ending in divorce. Clearly, he has learned things the hard way. For the essay’s epigram, Matisyahu includes the final line from the song “Hard Way,” – “Who’s gonna make you happy when you’re your own worst enemy?” – an existential question sure to resonate with those who’ve battled personal demons. To start out the essay, he launches into his personal history with a hairraising line for parents: “When I was 14 I started smoking pot and having sex.” As an alienated, lonely teen, Matisyahu found solace in Bob Marley and his music. Marley’s words about Exodus and Zion inspired him to join a teen trip to Israel. Thus began a spiritual quest progressing from dropping acid at Phish concerts, to practicing Lubavitch Chasidic Judaism in Crown Heights, to self-discovery through music. To prepare for his performance in San Diego, I interviewed Matisyahu about his journey. My questions and his condensed responses follow.
ISTOCK PHOTO
SDJJ: What struck me about your powerful essay is the painful, universal truth that we do have to learn things the hard way. Do you ever think about that in terms of your own kids? What are your hopes/dreams for them in light of your evolution as a musician/human being? Do you wish you could spare them some of the pain you experienced? Matisyahu: Well, I have mixed feelings on this. I hope they can learn things in a more patient, balanced way – in a more mature way. On the other hand, there is definitely something exciting and sexy about extremes and pain and intensity – a certain soulfulness and character born out of struggle and pain. But I don’t wish that on anyone – certainly not my kids. My number one instinct as a parent is to spare my kids from pain and suffering. However, I know that I can’t control that. There is a letting go that needs to happen as a parent – a surrender. I try and put my energy into being a loving and accepting father – a support for my children. To give them the space to go on their journey
Matisyahu performed at Glavclub in Moscow in December, 2014.
and offer love, support and wisdom where I can. I think parents’ number one mistake is thinking or spending too much time hoping their kid will be this or that. SDJJ: What about music as a redemptive force in your own life? Matisyahu: Music is the highest. It’s an amazing tool. In Kabbalah, its source exists in heaven next to the chamber of t’shuva (the return to G-d). The Jewish G-d is the G-d of freedom. Our coming together as a nation is entirely based on us being slaves who are led to freedom. So yes, I believe music and redemption can go hand in hand. At least in my life they have. SDJJ: What do you have to say to those who are upset because they perceive you as having rejected your Judaism? Matisyahu: I don’t have time or energy for it. These are very shallow people who in life just
look at the surface and those are the type of people who were judging and creating heartache for me and people like me my whole life. They feel they know something and have the right to judge. Anyone who has listened to my latest music or knows me knows that is not the case. Judaism is more alive inside of me then ever. SDJJ: Any words of wisdom for aspiring young Jewish musicians? Matisyahu: Listen to Matisyahu. It’ll teach you something and if not it will at least make you feel better. A Matisyahu headlines the Shir Energy Music Festival on April 19, with more than eight other Jewish performers on the bill. Tickets are on sale now – $36 for adults, $15 for children aged 13-18, kids 12 and younger are free. Visit shirenergymusicfest.net. Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 55
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ART
ART AND NATURE “EN PLEIN AIR”
Conservation and nonprofit groups join forces to curate an art exhibit to save San Diego County’s diverse and natural beauty BY AMANDA KELLY
PHOTOS COURTESY CALIFRONIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS, ESCONDIDO
“In Laguna Canyon,” by William A. Griffith
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here are many ways to appreciate nature, not least of which is through art. To encourage a deeper connection to the San Dieguito River corridor, the California Center for the Arts, Escondido partnered with the Plein Air Painters of America (PAPA) to curate a local exhibition called “Art in Nature: Legacy of the Land.” The show, which is part of the partnerships’ Art in Nature Alliance programming, kicked off with a gala on March 21 and will be on display at the Cal. Center for the Arts until May 3. The exhibition features more than 100 paintings (all for sale) by PAPA members. The focus of the show is coastal, rural and urban landscape scenes along the 55-mile San Dieguito River corridor. The keynote speaker at the gala was
internationally-known art expert and Executive Director of the Irvine Museum, Jean Stern. Stern was born into the art world – his father, a European Jew, was an art dealer in Casablanca, Morocco, until the Moroccan Revolution forced his family to flee to the United States in 1955. Through the course of his life, Stern has viewed thousands upon thousands of paintings. He has researched and authored several books and essays on California Impressionism specifically. In his speech in late March, Stern spoke about collecting art and the value of having artwork in one’s home. He offered information that enhanced the viewing experience of the artwork in the Cal. Center gallery, and also helped the audience understand the technical aspects of choosing a good painting.
“I want them to feel secure that if they know the ground rules they can pick a good painting and if they love it, they will buy it and they will live with it happily all their lives,” he says of his advice for budding art collectors. As an individual who has collected art for more than 30 years, Stern also acknowledges the inherent connection between collecting art, specifically landscape paintings, and the deeper appreciation that this cultivates for the natural environment. “There’s a kind of a miniature back-to-nature movement that’s very soothing to the human spirit,” Stern, who played an instrumental role in curating the exhibit, says. California contains seven specific climatic zones from coastal shores and deserts to high Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 57
ART
“Golden Meadow,” by Ned Mueller
“Lovin La Jolla,” by Joan LaRue
mountain environments. This offers such an array of opportunity for landscape painters that Stern calls California “the painter’s paradise.” While California Impressionism may have hit a high note in the mid-1970s, there are still many important contemporary landscape paintings inspired by California’s diverse and beautiful land. San Diego County itself is also unique in it’s landscape variety. In fact, the County is considered one of the most biodiverse in the continental United States. The habitats that form the shorelines, marshes, valleys and mountains from coast to peak are the underpinning of what comes to mind for most of us when we think about why we love Southern California. But natural beauty is always at risk in a continuinously growing metropolis. That’s where the efforts of conservationists and nonprofits like the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy come into play for San Diego County – they intend to protect the beauty and diversity of the land for future generations. For the “Art in Nature” exhibition, 35 percent of art sales will go to the Conservancy and its efforts to preserve a 94,000-acre river park that encompasses the San Dieguito River Watershed from the headwaters at Volcan Mountain in Julian to the San Dieguito Lagoon in Del Mar. This connection between art and nature preserves the landscape in more ways than one. “There is a union between people that want to conserve the land and people that want to paint it,” Stern says. “The land needs the artists because the artist makes the land available to all these other people that can’t be there. They see how beautiful the land is. The land needs the artist to tell people it’s gorgeous. So there is a symbiosis between the artist and the people that are interested in conserving the environment.” Stern maintains that there is something unique about a Southern California landscape painting. He points to the lighting, which is a very specific type called a Mediterranean light. Southern California geography generates very intense, pure colors that enable artists to see further and retain
a stronger sense of light when painting outdoors. A plein air artist completes a small “wet painting” in open air where the effects of natural lighting are at their best, but also most ephemeral. The artist then returns to his or her studio with the wet painting and uses it to create a larger work. In an exhibition of plein air painters, the initial sketches are often placed side-by-side with the larger work so viewers can witness the evolution of an Impressionist painting. “Impressionism is an approach to art that encompasses plein air as one of its tools,” Stern elaborates. The term “plein air” originates from the French phrase “en plein air,” which translates simply to “outdoors.” In the 1850s, French artists were the first to paint in this manner and thus generated the namesake. Prior to this, and before the invention of the collapsable paint tube, artists painted solely indoors. Stern describes plein air painting as a vehicle for landscape Impressionism, not a destination. “You use it to get to the perfect plein air painting,” he says. As for the art buyer, collecting is an art and a science, Stern says. He often lectures on how one can develop an acumen for selecting good artwork; however, the most important component, he and other art-collecting experts
58 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
“Past Tense, Julian,” by Joan LaRue
“Sycamore in Autumn,” by Edgar Payne say, is that the individual simply loves the art piece and wants to live with it. “The first rule is if you like it, then buy it,” he says. “People know what they like and they don’t need to explain it to anybody.” For Stern, a person doesn’t own artwork, he or she is simply the caretaker, preserving the piece for his or her lifetime. Exceptional art remains long after its original caretaker is gone, he says. Some collectors make the mistake of assuming that the value of artwork is strictly monetary. Stern cautions against this view, saying that the real value of art is its power to inspire an individual. Although art is no substitute for real experiences in nature, Stern suggests that art can be “a little anchor that one can reach for.” Art can take the mind away from everything. Art can release the burden of everyday life and reconnect us to those essential and natural elements that make us human. As Stern describes the blue sky, green grass, and beautiful blue ocean that feature heavily in a California Impressionist painting it is as if he is lost in these very places he describes. “These colors and these environments are very reaffirming to the individual because it brings them back to nature,” he says. “Nature is very important.” It is routine to become disconnected nowadays, to be swept up in the responsibilities that the world requires of us. If nature and art have anything in common, it is that they offer something transcendant to those who experience them. Landscape paintings provide a private and unique catharsis, a release from the ebb and flow of everyday life, and nature, in real life, can do that too. Stern attributes the pleasure one experiences in viewing art to psychological and visual cues that induce positive effects. “Art reaches your soul directly,” he says. “It reaches the spirit and the humanity in all of us. It makes it better. It enriches your life.” A For more information on “Art in Nature: Legacy of the Land,” visit artinnaturealliance.org.
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Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 59
HEALTH
KRAV MAGA: WHAT IT IS AND ISN’T Warrior Elite’s Drew Goodwin breaks it down BY NATALIE JACOBS
PHOTOS COURTESY COURTESY WARRIOR ELITE
Participants in a recent urban assault workshop in Downtown San Diego explored various real-life defense tactics in the Warrior Elite studio and in the street.
K
rav Maga is not a sport. There are no weigh-ins, international competitions or black belts. Krav Maga is also not something you do for fitness and it’s definitely not something to be taken lightly. People – civilians – come to Krav Maga (the Israeli self-defense method developed in the mid-20th century for the IDF) to learn how to defend themselves in reallife situations. There are still Krav Maga trainings for military and law enforcement in Israel and across the globe, but many who come to Krav Maga schools these days are just like you and me. Some have been mugged or attacked on a city street. Others have been victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. Others still have just been watching the news and are concerned about a rise in extremist threats. “It’s not fancy,” says Drew Goodwin, owner and chief trainer of Warrior Elite Krav Maga. What Krav Maga is, though, is a defensive tactical system designed to teach people how to be more aware of their surroundings, and, surprisingly, to first try to avoid the threatening situation all together. Once it’s clear that the attack is happening, Krav Maga teaches students 60 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
how to use what’s at their disposal – their legs, the palms of their hands, and what are known as “common objects” (anything quickly found in their viscinity) – to successfully escape the threat. It’s not about beating the attacker to a pulp, it’s about escaping to safety. So it might look scrappy, but it is more appropriate to real-life situations than say Brazilian Jui Jitsu or traditional martial arts. “The increase in video taping has shown people what fighting actually looks like,” Goodwin,
who operates two Warrior Elite studios, one in Rancho Bernardo and one Downtown, says. “People are realizing they aren’t ready for that.” Goodwin and his Warrior Elite schools are members of the International Krav Maga Foundation (IKMF), based in Israel, which monitors global attack trends. Goodwin is also the IKMF California Director. As the methods of attack change, from country to country and from year to year, the IKMF adapts their training to address those new kinds of attacks. “In Brazil, they have a very specific type of attack,” Goodwin explains. “And in Africa, for example, they use machetes that they hide behind their back. How do you defend against a machete attack?” When car-jacking became popular in the U.S., Krav Maga worked to develop tactics that could help students in that situation. IKMF is now seeing a rise in knife attacks in the U.S. and are adapting their training methods accordingly. Goodwin came to Krav Maga 12 years ago, when his kids were attending the JCC’s Nierman Preschool. A trained EMT, he is currently going back to school to get a bachelor’s degree in emergency management and homeland security. The Rancho Bernardo location of Warrior Elite has been running for five years, while the Downtown studio was opened this past October. Goodwin travels to Israel twice a year to keep upto-date on the training methods and recommends that people who are interested in studying Krav Maga make sure the studio they choose has a connection to Israel. For Krav Maga, “it’s important to have the context,” he says. A Learn more at warriorelitekravmaga.com.
It’s not manna from heaven, but this Passover, provide something just as crucial to the survival of the Israeli people.
In a country where terrorism and sporadic rocket barrages are an all-too-frequent occurrence, your gift to Magen David Adom ensures Israel’s national paramedic organization has the medical supplies it needs to save lives. So this year, while you recount the story of the Jews’ redemption from slavery, your gift will help modern-day Israelis survive the threats they face today. Thank you for making a gift today. And we wish you and your family a Pesach kasher v’sameach.
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Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 61
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62 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
HEALTH
EIGHT YEARS AND $456 MILLION LATER Scripps Health opens Prebys Cardiovascular Institute in La Jolla, to be largest in California BY NATALIE JACOBS
PHOTOS COURTESY SCRIPPS HEALTH
The new Prebys Cardiovascular Institute, located at 9896 Genesee Ave., opened for patient care in early March.
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hink for a minute about what it might be like to walk through an empty hospital. You could go the zombie apocalypse route for this fantasy and imagine you see smoking X-ray machines blown into dark corners, wires firing occassional electrical impulses from walls that are barely intact, dust and debris everywhere. In this scene, you’d undoubtedly feel the past and present lives of this hospital combine in an eerie way to create an uncomfortable kind of sadness. Or, when thinking about yourself walking through an empty hospital, you could imagine it’s a brand new, unopened facility completely unmarred by the difficulties of daily doctor/ patient life. It would feel clean in the sanitary way that hospitals are supposed to feel clean, all of the equipment would be state-of-the-art and likely robotic, and every sound would echo. In this scene, it would be the present and the future that you sense as you walk through the vacant
halls and operating rooms and recovery rooms, and you might feel an uncomfortable kind of intrigue. While the first scenario is strictly the stuff of imagination, the second is very real. On Feb. 18, I was invited to tour the newly completed Scripps Health Prebys Cardiovascular Institute, with Scripps Chief Executive Gary Frebyl, a member of Congregation Beth Am. On March 8, the hospital began admitting patients. There are 95 beds spread across five floors, including some isolation rooms and two-room suites for patients who require extra security or privacy (Mother Teresa was once a Scripps patient). There’s a nursing station within 60 ft. of each room, and special considerations were made so patients could easily get between the bed and the bathroom. All of the necessary equipment and plug-ins were considered and installed to create maximum efficiency for doctors and nurses. The
hospital has four operating rooms, two hybrid operating rooms and three cardiac catheterization labs. Until now, the Scripps cardiovascular team has been spread across two locations. Under the medical direction of Dr. Paul Teirstein, Scripps has become well-known for its specialty in cardiac care, especially for the interventional cardiology program which Teirstein was brought on to build-up 28 years ago. This is where minimally invasive techniques replace the need for open-heart surgeries. These procedures include implanting stents and replacing heart valves – in most cases, this can be done through a catheter inserted into a patient’s leg. In the nearly three decades since Dr. Teirstein began studying and utilizing these procedures, the numbers of open heart surgeries have significantly declined. “My dad is a doctor,” Teirstein says, “and he Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 63
Featuring both OR and leading-edge real-time procedural imaging technologies, hybrid operating rooms can be used for catheterization procedures or surgeries.
cautioned me that [interventional cardiology] might not be around. He wasn’t so sure I should spend a couple of years learning this new specialty that might not even survive.” To date, Dr. Teirstein says he averages about 1,500 noninvasive procedures per year at Scripps Green Hospital. He expects this number to double in the new facility. Overall, Scripps expects all noninvasive procedures to grow at the Cardiovascular Institute with the combination of cardiac efforts of both Green and Memorial hospitals. “This will be the biggest heart center in California, in terms of volume,” Teirstein, who holds 23 patents related to opening up blocked coronary arteries without major surgery, says. The pace of innovation in the medical field is increasing rapidly. Although the current Scripps facility at Green Hospital in Torrey Pines was upgraded about seven years ago, Teirstein says it’s already outdated. Included in the $456 million price tag for the new Cardiovascular Institute is state-of-the-art equipment like a giant X-ray robot and a three-tiered wireless infrastructure (to support three different levels of wireless device use within the hospital). But they’ve also taken into consideration that things will change just as quickly, if not more quickly, in the next 10 years. To ease the transitions down the road, Teirstein and the physicians involved in the design team requested cath lab shell space be built into the 64 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
plan. These rooms will be used for storage until they’re needed at a later date. “These are $2 million rooms, each one of them [the cath labs],” Teirstein says. “If you want to remodel it, you’ve got to take it down and not use it for six months. So what do you do? You go to the shell space and you build that one up and you make the old one the new shell space. So there’s a lot of thought that went into this.” So much thought, in fact, that the architects, HOK in Los Angeles, built a life-sized mock-up of each room-type in the Scripps parking lot on Genesee Ave. before finalizing the blueprints. Those on the cardiovascular team were invited to walk through the rooms and give advice on how to improve the design, down to the smallest detail, from switches and valves to hook-ups and machinery, even wall colors and decorative art were considered. Dr. Teirstein and his physician colleagues Patient room
started talking about the new hospital facilities eight years ago. From there, it took one year for initial planning, three years of architectural rendering, and three years of construction. Conrad Prebys, the construction and property management tycooon turned prolific philanthropist, donated $45 million to the cardiovascular institute project. It’s the largest single sum Prebys has ever donated, and the largest gift Scripps Health has ever received. Dr. Teirstein explains that there are three main components to “a first-rate, world-class program:” patient care, which includes leading physicians and caring staff; research and innovation, which, for Scripps, takes the form of clinical research trials; and teaching, which keeps older doctors on their toes and introduces the hospital to a wide talent pool for when openings become available. While it may be a bit strange to walk through an empty hospital no matter why it’s empty in the first place, it’s undeniable that medical need is skyrocketing. As Dr. Teirstein says, you don’t want to get sick but if you’re going to get sick, you want to do it at a place that offers the best technology and the most knowledgeable staff. His goal is that the Prebys Cardiovascular Institute will be that destination. “We got to start from scratch with a blank slate and build it the way we want it,” Dr. Teirstein says. “I think that’s an important thing to do in your career. It’s a long-lasting impact.” A
Happy Passover from JCo Please join us for a • Spiritual • Creative • Fun
2nd night Seder experience Everyone is welcome and we are “kid friendly” There is no cost! For all the details and to register go to: www.jcosd.com
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Performed with Full Live Orchestra! JCC BOX OFFICE: (858) 362-1348 www.jcompanysd.org Thank You to our Season Sponsors: Melissa Garfield Bartell & Michael Bartell Monica Handler Penner & Amnon Gires and Family David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre • Potiker Family Arts & Culture Complex Viterbi Family Galleria • Foster-Ratner Performing Arts Education Center Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center • JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037-1348
Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 65
HEALTH
THE BIRTH OF A REVOLUTION
Jonathan Eig explores the pioneers who brought the birth control pill to life BY JUNE OWATARI
O
ctober celebrated the release of Jonathan Eig’s “The Birth of the Pill,” a book about four rebels – feminist Margaret Sanger, Catholic doctor John Rock, Jewish scientist Gregory Pincus and philanthropist Katharine McCormick – who went against the mainstream to develop an oral contraceptive that eventually helped countless women take control of their reproductive health. For Eig, “The Birth of the Pill” is a departure from his previously published works. Although also historical nonfiction and biographical in nature, Eig’s books have focused on Al Capone, Lou Gehrig and Jackie Robinson. So why the interest in women’s reproductive systems? “I wanted to push myself,” Eig says. “I don’t want to be hemmed in by the preconceived notions about what a guy should write about.” He also found the story more complicated than his other publications, as he had to intertwine four different main “characters,” with nearly eight decades of history (though he mentions that “all the action” occurred in a span of seven years). Further complicating the 66 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
matter, Eig is not a scientist. “So I had to really work hard to understand the chemistry and biology.” Eig also wanted – needed – to be sensitive to women, who were obviously most effected by the advent of the birth control pill. He admits that before his research, he didn’t really think much about the truly revolutionary conesquences of the pill. “I know very progressive women in my life: my wife and mother, my friends…but I took birth control for granted,” Eig says. “I didn’t think about it as a factor that so powerfully changed the world.” So what brought it to his attention? In an interview with Salon, Eig talks about his rabbi who gave a sermon about the pill, saying it was the most important invention of the 20th century. He wanted to know if his rabbi was right. So starts Eig’s journey. “Being Jewish really makes you ask questions,” he says. “As you study, you have to analyze and not just accept the rules. You have to challenge authority and not just accept the easy answers.” In fact, he thinks that scientist Gregory Pincus may have driven himself to develop the pill as a way to challenge the status quo. “I think that was rooted in his Jewishness.” Plus, Eig says about his research, “I was curious.” So for four years, Eig put his head down, researched, and ultimately wove together a story of four brave people who changed women’s lives. Now that the book has been released, he’s been speaking at events and visiting bookstores and colleges, which he enjoys. When he’s working on a book, he says, “I feel
like I’m off an island,” so the promotional blitz is a welcome relief. Besides, “I like talking about the books and answering questions.” Part of that blitz was the San Diego Jewish Book Fair last November, where he discussed his just-released book at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center. It was at the Book Fair that Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest approached Eig to be the keynote speaker at their 52nd Anniversary Dinner on April 7. Hosted at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, the dinner will help support Planned Parenthood’s mission to provide access to reproductive health care. Since birth control is such an integral part of that reproductive care – whether it be defending women’s to access it (especially in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision) or educating about proper use – Planned Parenthood is closely tied to the revolution that Eig charts in his book. “The audience will know the history,” Eig says, so his talk won’t focus on that, “but the pill was really a story about rebellion, about people taking chances on something the world didn’t want them to do, about standing up for what they believed in.” He feels that Planned Parenthood and their supporters will understand that. “The fight is still going on,” he says, and donors are an integral component to the fight. Just look at Katharine McCormick, who funded the pill research and eventually left millions to several feminist and medical causes after her death. “Someone had to write the check,” he says. Without this incredible commitment from McCormick, Eig says, the pill never would have come to be. “You can make a difference,” Eig says. “A handful of people can change the world.” A Learn more about the Planned Parenthood annual dinner and how you can support at plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthoodpacific-southwest/.
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6930 Alvarado Road (I-8 at 70th St) San Diego (619) 265-0218 Sunday-Thursday: 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. www.dzakinsdeli.com Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 67
SYNAGOGUE
TEMPLE EMANU-EL CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY “Gala of Gold” takes place May 9
PHOTO COURTESY TEMPLE EMANU-EL
BY TINA B. ESHEL
Last year's annual gala took place at the synagogue with former childhood member David Geist and a duet performance with Rabbi Devorah Marcus.
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on’t tell the congregation at Temple Emanu-El in Del Cerro that Jews in San Diego are unengaged and unaffiliated; the Temple’s 470 member families are too busy connecting with one another to notice. This Reform synagogue located in what is affectionately known at Hanukkah Hill – the area north of Interstate 8 and west of Highway 15 – is thriving. The proof: they’re about to celebrate 50 years with “Gala of Gold” on May 9 at the Mission Valley Marriot. I spoke with Jim Lewis, Temple co-president, about his 13 years on the board (he never would have predicted it!) and his role in helping to build a vibrant Jewish synagogue that puts people first. We start with the Gala’s huge goal of raising $100,000 through ticket sales, a silent auction and more, for Temple Emanu-El’s Torah school. “Like all religious schools, Emanu-El also relies on support from the community to help give our children a Jewish education,” Lewis says. “Quality Jewish education comes with a cost, and the fees that we are able to collect are not sufficient to fund this endeavor by itself.
68 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
Our main mission is to ensure that our children have a solid foundation and positive experience in starting their Jewish journeys. We have an outstanding education program that starts with our preschool, and continues through our Torah school and community Jewish high program. To keep and attract the talent that we enjoy, we are obligated to these fundraisers to help us fulfill our mission. In recent years, we have also had to help an unprecedented number of families with scholarship assistance, and this event helps us do that.” Like many of the middle-aged Jews in his generation, Lewis was unaffiliated until his daughter was born in 1995. “When she was two months old, her mother and I went shopping for a spiritual home for her to learn about her Jewish identity and education. I had been raised at Congregation Beth Israel when it was still in the Bankers Hill area, where Ohr Shalom currently resides. I had a fine Jewish education and upbringing, but between the distance from the current Golden Triangle location and the sheer size of their community, I decided that I wanted to explore
other alternatives.” The Lewis family was immediately drawn to Temple Emanu-El by the warmth of the community and its rabbi at the time, the nowretired Marty Lawson. “It is very important to me that the community that I belong to is pluralistic, welcoming, egalitarian, and diverse. No community, before or since, has ever inspired me the way Emanu-El does, and that is why we continue to stay active there, and intend to for many years to come.” The temple is often praised for the outreach to interfaith couples and is often called a “destination community” for those who travel to the synagogue from all across the county, in order to call it their spiritual home. Lewis underscores that visitors are always welcome. “For the community at large, I can only suggest that people come visit and find out why we feel the way we do. For our members, the level of haimishe and intimacy is something that is truly unique. “We have continued the legacy of Rabbi Lawson (who continues to be an active participant and Rabbi Emeritus) with Rabbi Devorah Marcus, who is just finishing her second year as our spiritual leader. She is a great fit for our community, and her humor, passion, intellect, and leadership is a great reflection of our congregation. Rabbi Marcus is only the third Rabbi we’ve had in our 50 years, behind Rabbi Lawson and Rabbi Morton Cohn, z”l, and we have every hope that she, too, will be our leader for many, many years. “We’re different,” he continues, “we have fun, and we love our community.” A Temple Emanu-El’s “Gala of Gold” will celebrate that group love by honoring the entire congregation at its anniversary celebration. For more information and to buy tickets, visit teesd.org.
the Jacobs & cushman san Diego FooD bank invites you to ouR
2014 Winner Best Deli
2015 Gala Saturday, May 2, 2015
restaurant • delicatessen • bakery • fountain 6930 AlvArAdo roAd (I-8 at 70th Street)
SAn diego • 619/265-0218
Sunday-Thursday 7 am-9 pm • Friday & Saturday 7 am - 10 pm.
www.dzakinsdeli.com
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• 134 Great Sandwiches & Burgers • Pastrami • Blintzes • Lox • Chopped Liver • Matzo Ball Soup • Rugalach • Other Delicious Desserts
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Title Sponsor
Join us for an evening of delicious cuisine brought to you by our most celebrated hometown chefs For tickets visit www.SanDiegoFoodBank.org/Foodtasia
FRIENDS OF SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER AT TEL HASHOMER
EVENTS
2015
We invite you to come and learn from the leading minds in medical, clinical, and research innovations spearheaded in Israel’s Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer.
Dr. Amir Onn, Head, Institute
Dr. Amir Tirosh,
of Pulmonary Oncology, Sheba Medical Center & Program Director, Sheba- MD Anderson Cancer Center Sister Institution Program
Head of Endocrinology Institute
Sheba Medical Center’s International Impact on Cancer Research and Care: From Reach to Recovery April 15 & April 16 | 7:00pm
Dr. Michal Beeri, Director of the Joseph Sagol Neuroscience Center &
Professor Amir Roz, Professor, Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University
The Secrets of the Brain Fall and Winter Dates TBD Stay Tuned
45th Anniversary
What’s Making Us Sick? The Truth About Food Additives, Diabetes, and Obesity July 29 & 30 | 7:00pm
FRIENDS OF SHEBA
Gala
Rosanne Ziering, Chair Steve Hitter, Chair
Honoring
Dr. Amitai Ziv, Founder and Director, National Medical Simulation Center (MSR)
OUR LOCAL HEROES
National Medical Simulation Center: Combat Pilots do not Train In The Air, Why Should Medical Practitioners Train on People? Fall and Winter Dates TBD Stay Tuned
For Pre-registration or to become further involved contact Adi Hepner, Development Director at adi@shebamed.org or 310.935.0135.
OUR PAST BOARD PRESIDENTS
and
OUR HEROES IN ISRAEL
the wounded soldiers, terror victims, and the medical staff that works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure their care
NOVEMBER 15, 2015
Beverly Wilshire Hotel
Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 69
WHAT’S
GOIN’
D
ON?
Spring in Bloom
by eileen sondak • nsondak@gmail.com
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” will continue its extended run at the Lamb’s Players Coronado home until May 31.
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rt Alive is returning to the San Diego Museum of Art – a sure sign that spring has sprung. This exhibition is just one of many exciting entertainment choices on tap in April. The Old Globe will unveil the offBroadway hit, “Buyer and Cellar.” San Diego Repertory Theatre will unwrap the world premiere of “Uncanny Valley.” North Coast Repertory Theatre will unleash the hysteria of “Unnecessary Farce.” The Lamb’s will give “Freud’s Last Session” a new staging. The San Diego Opera will present two special events, and the San Diego Symphony will continue its season of music making.
70 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
The San Diego Museum of Art will kick off the 34th year of “Art Alive” – an exhibition that combines the art of flora and fauna design with artworks from the museum’s permanent collection – April 24-26. About 100 floral designers will transform the galleries with living works of art that complement the paintings and sculpture from the permanent collection. The San Diego Opera will continue celebrating its 50th anniversary in style, with a “Celebration Concert” on April 18-19. This special concert, starring six opera greats (including Lise Lindstrom and Stephen Powell) performing an array of popular arias, will
be held at Symphony Hall. Another exciting offering from the company is “El Pasado Nunca Se Termina (The Past is Never Finished),” featuring Mariachi Vargas. This new mariachi opera is headed to the Civic Theatre April 25 for two perfomances. The Old Globe’s White Theatre will have audiences rolling in the aisles with “Buyer & Cellar,” a work described as “a slice of absurdist whimsy.” This fictional comedy features a diva (Barbra Streisand) and her memorabilia, stored in the cellar of her Malibu mansion. The comic work will be performed April 4-May 3. The Globe’s Main Stage continues to
PHOTO BY KEN JACQUES
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PHOTOS COURTESY SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART
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Juan Sánchez Cotán, Quince, Cabbage, Melon, and Cucumber, ca 1602. Oil on canvas. Gift of Anne R. and Amy Putnam, 1945:43. Floral interpretation by Sidney Heffner.
“The Godfather Live” on April 24 (with the orchestra accompanying the Oscar-winning film). Pianist Conrad Tao takes over the keyboard on April 27. Tao’s three-piece program includes works by Gordon and Bartok, plus his own “Iridescence for iPad and Piano.” La Jolla Music Society is featuring an eclectic mix, starting on April 10 with pianist Danil Trifonov at Sherwood Auditorium. The Jazz Series at the Balboa Theater on April 11 will focus on the legendary bluesman Buddy Guy. Michael Feinstein will mark the centennial of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ birth with “The Sinatra Legacy” on April 25 at Symphony Hall. Prize-winning cellist Han Bin Yoon will perform at TSRI on April 26 to round out the month. The Lamb’s will give audiences a chance to be a fly-in-the-wall for “Freud’s Last Session.” The fascinating play pits Sigmund Freud against
Canaletto (Giovanni Antonio Canal). The Molo from the Bason of San Marco, Venice, ca. 1747-1750. Oil on canvas. Gift of Anne R. and Amy Putnam, 1942.132. Floral interpretation by Thomas Bui and LaVonne Crawford.
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show off the enchanting theatrical spectacle, “The White Snake.” The show, based on a Chinese fable about a gentle snake that turns into a beautiful woman, features live music and stunning visuals, and is recommended for all ages. The production stays put through April 26. Broadway-San Diego will add “Mamma Mia!” to its lineup at the Civic Theatre April 3-5. The ever-popular musical is based on ABBA’s greatest hits. North Coast Rep will present the San Diego premiere of “Unnecessary Farce,” a relentlessly funny play about an embezzling mayor, his female accountant, undercover cops, and a nefarious hit man. The madcap comedy takes its cues from the classic French farces with innuendo and fast-paced escapades. The show opens on April 15 and runs through May 10. On April 26, NCR will feature entertainment by Ben Vereen at its annual “Spotlight Gala,” taking place at the Del Mar Country Club. Cygnet is reviving the glorious musical comedy, “My Fair Lady.” The classic will delight audiences at Cygnet’s Old Town Theatre through April 26, with its wonderful songs and captivating characters. Supporters of the troupe will celebrate at its annual fundraising bash on April 19 at the Marine Room. San Diego Rep is featuring a brand new work at the Lyceum Space April 11-May 10. “Uncanny Valley” sounds a lot like sci-fi, but it could be a window into the near future. The story revolves around a neuroscientist (played by Rosina Reynolds) and her quest to create a nonbiological being. The San Diego Symphony will start the month off on April 4 with Douglas Fairbanks in the vintage silent film, “The Three Musketeers.” “A Tribute to Dean Martin,” starring Deana Martin, arrives at Symphony Hall April 10-11, and Lila Downs performs on April 17. Look for
C.S. Lewis in an exhilarating conversation that is both funny and profound. You can catch this at the Lamb’s Coronado home April 10-May 17. The Lamb’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” was extended through May 31 at the Horton Grand Theatre. California Ballet is conjuring up the charming story ballet, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” for a weekend run at the Civic Theatre April 11-12. The Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla has an unusual offering – “Laugh-In: Art, Comedy, Performance.” The show (featuring 20 artists) explores the recent interest in comedic performance in and as contemporary art. It will keep ’em laughing until April 19. The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is highlighting two IMAX films: “Humpback Whales” and “Journey to Space.” The museum has several permanent exhibitions, including “Don’t Try This at Home,” “Tinkering Studio,” “Block Busters,” and “Origins in Space.” In addition to “Art in Bloom” the SDMA is featuring two interesting exhibitions. “Devine Desire: Printmaking, Mythology, and the Birth of the Baroque” comprises more than 70 exquisite engravings from the late 16th and 17th centuries. The show will remain on view through June 30. “Lalla Essay di: Photographs, 2005-13” consists of 10 large-scale photographs exploring women in the Arab culture. The photographs will be ensconced through Aug. 1. The San Diego History Center’s latest exhibition is “Ingenius! The World of Dr. Seuss.” This show, featuring artwork by Theodor Geisel, will be on view throughout 2015. The History Center is focusing on “Presidio to Pacific Powerhouse: How the Military Shaped San Diego.” It will be on display throughout the year as well. “Placed Promises” is a permanent exhibition chronicling the history of the San Diego region. A
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N news
Art Scholarships Deadline Approaches
NPR’s David Greene to Speak at Temple Solel
The Oceanside Cultural Arts Foundation’s Performing Arts Scholarships are open for applications until April 27. Presented annually to graduating high school seniors seeking to further their education in theatre, music, or dance, students from throughout North County are eligible. Interested students can get further information at ocaf.info. Email ocaf@ocaf.info to obtain application specifics details.
ArtWalk Returns to San Diego
Mission Federal ArtWalk in Little Italy will celebrate its 31st anniversary at this year’s festival April 25-26. More than 350 fine artists from San Diego, and throughout the United States and Mexico, will return to India Street to showcase their art from all mediums including painting, jewelry, sculpture, photography, metalwork and more. Also included in the free festival will be live music, dance and interactive art activities for kids. Prior to the festival, ArtWalk hosted the “Artie Awards” to honor local artists whose work will be available at the festival. Included in the list of 10 honorees was La Mesa-based Jewish artist Christine Schwimmer, an abstract figurative artist whose paintings are often of faceless human forms. Schwimmer is known for mixing paint directly on the canvas and using fabrics, charcoal and scratching techniques to create texture in her work. Find more information on Schwimmer and all the artists to be featured at ArtWalk on artwalksandiego.org.
David Greene, co-host of NPR’s Morning Edition, will speak at Temple Solel on April 13 at 7 p.m. as part of the Center for Jewish Culture’s Distinguished Speaker Series. Greene will discuss his book “Midnight in Siberia,” a narrative that covers contemporary Russia and its people’s relationship to their past. After he spent two and a half years as NPR’s Moscow Bureau Chief, Greene traveled across the country by rail to speak with ordinary Russians about how their lives have changed in the postSoviet years. Tickets available at tickets.lfjcc.org.
Adopt a Family Hosts Annual Fundraiser
The Adopt a Family Foundation’s annual fundraiser will take place on April 18 at Green Acre. With the theme “One People, One Song,” music will be the focal point of the evening with Toda Mundo performing their blend of Middle Eastern music, Spanish Rumba, Reggae and Samba. CBS News 8 anchor Dan Cohen will emcee the fundraiser, co-chaired by Sheryl Goodman and Doris Elihu. Dinner will be followed by a silent auction and a portion of funds raised will support music therapy for the children of Sderot, Israel, who have been effected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Tickets and more information at adoptafamilyfoundation.org.
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Lou Dunst Honored for Charitable Giving
Police Chief to Speak at Beth Israel
On Sunday, May 3 at 11 a.m., Temple Ohr Shalom will honor long-time San Diego resident, major humanitarian and Holocaust survivor, Lou Dunst, at their 10th annual Lights of Ohr Shalom event to be held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, Downtown. Dunst, a supporter of dozens of San Diego nonprofits, Jewish and otherwise, has a motto for personal loans: “no interest, no due date.” Tickets can be purchased at ohrshalom.org.
Federation Hosts Yom Ha'Shoah Event in La Jolla
The Men’s Club of Beth Israel San Diego will host Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman at their April 15 Dinner Forum. Chief Zimmerman’s presentation will include an update on the police department as well as crime trends in San Diego, especially relevant in the wake of recent reports on officer-involved shootings and racial data on traffic stops. Zimmerman will also share her journey from undercover police officer to Police Chief. This dinner program is open to the entire San Diego community. R.S.V.P. at cbisd. org/event/mcforum-zimmerman or call at (858) 900-2598.
In commemoration of the Holocaust, the Jewish Federation of San Diego County will present a special Yom Hashoah program at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center on Sunday, April 19. The theme of this year’s annual event is “From Auschwitz to Activism – 70 Years on From the Holocaust.” The event begins at 11:30 a.m. and is free and open to the public. Special tributes will be conducted for survivors and their families. The program will feature keynote speaker Dr. Steven Windmuller who will discuss global anti-Semitism and what it means when we say “never again.” This event has been held in San Diego for more than three decades, and is a collaboration of the San Diego Rabbinical Association, Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, the New Life Club, the Lawrence Family Jewish Community, the Center for Jewish Culture, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Community Foundation, and the Anti-Defamation League. For more information contact Linda Feldman, Director, Jewish Community Relations Council, at (858) 737-7138.
La Jolla Playhouse
Local Theatres Host "Remembrance Readings"
In association with the National Jewish Theater Foundation, local theater groups will host "Remembrance Readings" for Yom Ha'Shoah. On April 13, The La Jolla Playhouse will showcase a reading of "Intelligence-Slave" by Ken Lin. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Readings of other Holocaustrelated works will also take place The Old Globe, North Coast Repertory, San Diego Repertory and Lamb's Players. Based on a true story, Lin's play takes place near the end of World War II, in an abandoned salt mine. It tells the story of the "intelligence-slave" charged with creating the world's first hand-held four function calculator, intended as a gift for Adolf Hitler. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Visit lajollaplayhouse.org for more information.
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Dead Sea Scrolls in Los Angeles
Brandeis Nat'l Committee to Host Author Lunch
The California Science Center in cooperation with the Israel Antiquities Authority has brought the largest exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls ever mounted outside of Israel, to Southern California. This special exhibition features more than 600 artifacts, sections from the Scrolls never seen before in the U.S., and the IMAX film “Jerusalem 3D.” Guests to the exhibit can explore the science and significance of the 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947. Learn more at californiasciencecenter.org.
Updates Made to Honeymoon Israel
The San Dieguito Chapter of the Brandeis National Committee is holding its annual Book and Author Luncheon on May 6. Proceeds will go to the “Sustaining the Mind” campaign, a program raising funds for scholarships and research in the neurosciences. Alan Russell, bestselling author of 11 novels, Aline Ohanesian, author of “Orhan’s Inheritance,” and Taffy Cannon, author of 14 mysteries and writer of an Academy Awardnominated short film will speak. Contact bncfnp@aol.com or cfsbirnbaum@gmail.com for tickets.
Honeymoon Israel is including San Diego in a pilot program for new trips to Israel. For qualified couples, a subsidy to take honeymoon in Israel may be available. “We’re confident that this program ... will help to engage thousands of couples in an open-ended exploration of what it means to build a Jewish family and to be part of the Jewish people,” Avi Rubel, co-CEO said of the program. The nine-day trip to Israel costs $1,800 per couple. There are 20 spots available for each of six cities where the pilot is running, including San Diego. Couples must be aged 25-40 and LGBT and interfaith couples are welcome. The trip will include trips to Masada, the Dead Sea and major Israeli cities. The San Diego trip will take place in December. Applications are due in May. Learn more about the trip and submit applications at honeymoonisrael. org.
Shmaltz Releases Latest “Chosen” Beer
Shmaltz Brewery has released a new brew blend for its Funky Jewbelation beer. This limited-edition craft brew is a combination of Shmaltz’s Jewbelation Reborn, Messiah Nut Brown Ale, Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A, Winter Lager 2013, Rejewvenator 2014, and Death of a Contract Brewer. “Funky Jewbelation 2015 embodies Shmaltz’s commitment to the craftsmanship of truly exceptional beers,” says Shmaltz Lead Brewer Richie Sanders. “Funky has been aged in Buffalo Trace Bourbon and Sazarac and Willett Rye Whiskey barrels. It’s a monumental blend of our favorite ales and lagers that we’ve lovingly nurtured for over the last year.” Funky Jewbelation 2015, 9.4 percent alcholhol by volume, is availabe in 22 oz. bottles across the country. To learn more about Shmaltz beer, visit shmaltzbrewing.com.
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DIVERSIONS By Natalie Jacobs
“The Hilltop” This novel follows two brothers in a fictional West Bank settlement – equal parts comedy and tragedy.
“Woman in Gold” Today, in real life, family members of German Jewish art dealers are seeking the return of their family’s art pieces. The families have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. against Germany and a specific German museum for the return of an estimated $226 million worth of art work. Sometime last year, another very real story of Jewish art stolen or unlawfully sold to Hitler and the Nazis made headlines with the cinematic release of George Clooney’s “The Monuments Men.” Now, art is imitating life once again with the release of “Woman in Gold,” starring Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds. This story follows fictional Jewish refugee Maria Altmann as she travels to Austria with her young lawyer on a quest to get back an iconic painting by Gustav Klimt, which was taken from her family by the Nazis. The film will be released nationwide on April 3.
“Jewish Journey” PBS will continue to air a one-hour program that traces 350 years of Jewish migrations from Latin America, Russia, Nazi Germany and throughout the Muslim world this month. The show, produced and written by Andrew Goldberg, explores Jewish persecution, the “American Dream,” and the emotional toil that generations of immigration has taken on the Jewish people. Check local KPBS listings for showtimes in your area.
“Kings of the Craft” Also on KPBS, a new original mini-series on the craft beer industry in San Diego will launch in May. Airing on Thursday nights as part of the Explore San Diego programming lineup, “Kings of the Craft” is a creation of four filmmakers from SDSU’s School of Theatre, Television and Film, and was selected out of 43 entries when KPBS put out a call to local filmmakers for San Diego-specific ideas.
“The Last Jews in Berlin” What happened when 4,000 Jews went underground.
“Farting the Atmosphere to Sleep” A new collection of poems self-published by a half-Jewish orphan in Los Angeles.
Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 75
TAKE NOTE APRIL 1-30 by tina b. eshel
BEST BETS
Mark your calendar.
S
pring has sprung and that means the birds, bees and butterflies are all aflutter. Why not take the whole family to the San Diego Safari Park for a Butterfly Jungle Breakfast? Afterward, catch a glimpse of the rare and beautiful Sumatran tigers (there are less than 400 left in the world) at Safari Park’s new Tiger Trail. Cost for breakfast is $45 per person for members (zoo membership is a great deal in town) with two options available: Friday, April 3 or Saturday, April 11 at 7 a.m. (it’s worth the early morning!). Learn more about this and other walks-on-the-wild-side at at sdzsafaripark.org/diningevents. Mix it up this month with an afternoon at the La Jolla Cove – but don’t think the sea lions are the only attraction. On April 10-12 the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance, a classic car show will take over San Diego’s swankest neighborhood. Take a trip down memory lane with these antique beauties. Tickets range from $40 to $325 for the deluxe package. There might even still be time to register your own haute ride. Get all the details at lajollaconcours.com. Catch a great concert the third weekend of the month. On April 17, local favorites Eve Selis and Marc Twang join forces with folk circuit mainstays Berkley Hart as part of the second annual Rock in the Park series at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. Tickets are $24-$32 for this 21+ event. Buy yours at rhfleet.org/events/rock-park. Can’t make this one? They’re doing these shows on a regular basis, so check out the website for details on what’s up next, and then mark your calendar in advance. Do you know a mom who needs a night out? Congregation Beth Am’s (betham.com) Women’s Connection is hosting a CeramiCafe Night with appetizers and desserts in Del Mar on April 20. Moms and daughters are invited to participate in Beneath the Surface: A Program for Bat Mitzvah Girls, through Waters of Eden. Contact Rabbi Lenore Bohm at (760) 212-8033 to learn more about this year-long program, beginning April 11. During the last weekend in April, head up to Vista Village for the Rhythm and Brews Music and Craft Beer Festival on April 25. Rhythm and Brews brings 60 craft beers together with seven bands on two stages for a beautiful outdoor festival. Learn more at sdrhythmandbrews.com. Finally, and for the first time ever, younger teens can get in on the fun at the JCC’s Club J Teen Dance Party on May 9. Organized for teens by teens, this is a night to enjoy dancing and (safe) partying with friends. Tickets are $20 and registration is a must at lfjcc.org/ tdc. A
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SAFARI PARK BUTTERFLY JUNGLE BREAKFAST April 3 and 11, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. San Diego Safari Park Mombasa Pavilion 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido sdzsafaripark.org
LA JOLLA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE April 10-12 La Jolla Cove lajollaconcours.com
RHYTHM & BREWS MUSIC AND CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL April 25 Vista Village Downtown District sdrhythmandbrews.com
JJC CLUB J TEEN DANCE PARTY May 9 Lawrence Family JCC lfjcc.org/tdc
SAN DIEGO JEWISH
SENIOR EVENTS APRIL 1-30
Lawrence Family JCC 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla Contact Melanie Rubin to R.S.V.P. (858) 362-1141 AARP Smart Driver Course Wednesdays, April 22 and 29 (must attend both days), 11 a.m. Qualify for insurance discounts by attending these driver education classes. Cost: $20; AARP Member Price: $15. Advanced reservations required by April 15. Bring check payable to AARP on first day. Mah Jongg Game Sunday, March 29 Wednesdays, noon Play the ancient tile game of Mah Jongg. Oceanside Senior Center 455 Country Club Lane, Oceanside Call Josephine at (760) 295-2564 North County Jewish Seniors Club Third Thursday of each month, 12:30 p.m. Join us to hear speakers and/or entertainment at our monthly meetings. Light refreshments served. Visitors welcome. Veterans Association of North County* 1617 Mission Avenue, Oceanside CA 92058 Contact Marc Poland (858) 232-1645 Jewish War Veterans meetings Second Sunday of each month, noon. San Diego North County Post 385. *New location and time as of April 2015 Seacrest Village 211 Saxony Road, Encinitas Call Jon Schwartz at (760) 516-2001 Monthly Senior Dance First Friday of every month, 1 p.m. Refreshments and appetizers from our kosher kitchen will be provided. Free and open to the public. JFS University City Older Adult Center 9001 Towne Centre Drive, La Jolla Call Aviva Saad for details or to R.S.V.P. (858) 550-5998 Memories in the Making; An Alzheimer’s Association Art Class Monday, April 13, 10:30 a.m. Individuals with Alzheimer’s or related dementia are invited to attend along with an adult caregiver or family member. Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day Thursday, April 23, 10 a.m. Lunch available at noon with reservation. Entertainment by the Sophisticats. On the Go excursions A program of Jewish Family Service, On the Go provides transportation to events throughout the county for homebound seniors. For information, please call Aurelio Pacheco at (858) 637-7320. Buyer and Cellar Wednesday, April 22, 2 p.m.
SEX AND AGING
JFS College Avenue Center, 4855 College Ave., San Diego Sex and Aging with Dr. Sewell from UCSD Tuesday, April 21, 12:45 p.m. Discussion of age-related sexual issues and help with solutions. Buyer and Cellar is an outrageous new comedy about the oddest of odd jobs, an underemployed Los Angeles actor going to work in Barbra Streisand’s Malibu basement. Cost: $75. Note: The JCC Senior Dept. & On the Go are collaborating on this event. R.S.V.P. to On the Go at (858) 637-7320 by April 10. Must be enrolled in On the Go prior to registering. Enrollment fee waived for JCC members. JFS No. County Inland Center 15905 Pomerado Road, Poway Contact Jodi Rudick (858) 674-1123 for details. Most Activities are free to members, and lunch is $7 with reservations. Hollywood and the Holocaust: Appeasement to Anti-Nazism Wednesday, April 15, 11 a.m. Film critic and author, Laurence Baron, talks about the history of film and the film industry as it relates to the Holocaust and intolerance. Earth Day with the Surfrider Foundation Wednesday, April 22 at 11 a.m. Dedicated to protecting our beaches, waves, surf, water and environment, the Surfrider Foundation will share its initiatives. JFS Coastal Club at Temple Solel 3575 Manchester Ave., Cardiff by the Sea Contact Jodi Rudick (858) 674-1123 for details. R.S.V.P. for lunch by Monday at 12:30 p.m. All activities are free and lunch is $7. Hollywood and the Holocaust: Appeasement to Anti-Nazism Tuesday, April 14, 11 a.m. Film critic and author, Laurence Baron, talks about the history of film and the film industry as it relates to the Holocaust and intolerance. Earth Day with the Surfrider Foundation Tuesday, April 21 at 11 a.m. Dedicated to protecting our beaches, waves, surf, water and environment, the Surfrider Foundation will share its initiatives. JFS College Avenue Center 4855 College Ave., San Diego Call Sara Diaz (858) 637-3270 for details or to R.S.V.P. Israeli Folk Dance Workshop Tuesday, April 14, 1 p.m. No experience necessary for this lively and low impact aerobic workout that improves balance and coordination. Sex and Aging with Dr. Sewell from UCSD Tuesday, April 21, 12:45 p.m. Dr. Sewell’s goal is to facilitate discussion of age-related sexual issues and help older individuals find appropriate solutions. Spring Art Show Thursday, April 23 from 10:30 a.m. Free art show to feature works from College Avenue Center artists.
Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 77
THE MARKETPLACE DANCE
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Dance with Liza
Lydia B. Krasner, Event Consultant Complete Design, Production & Decor So You Can Enjoy Your Special Day
619/548-3485 www.mitzvahevent.com
(619) 861-6260 info@dancewithliza.com
Lydia Krasner
DanceWithLiza.com Wedding | Ballroom | Swing | Latin | Country | Salsa
FINANCE
EVENTS
Cantor Deborah Davis
N
Phil Bresnick, Phil Bresnick,CWS® CWS®
SeniorVice VicePresident President Senior WealthAdvisor Advisor Wealth 5464 Grossmont Center Drive Morgan Stanley Wealth Management La Mesa, CA 91942 5464 Grossmont Center Drive, Suite 200 619-668-4334 or 800-729-2900 La Mesa, CA 91942 619-668-4334 • 800-729-2900 philip.bresnick@morganstanley.com www.morganstanleyfa.com/ philip.bresnick@morganstanley.com www.morganstanleyfa.com/bresnickbresnick/ bresnickbresnick
Custom Wedding Ceremonies
Let me help you create a wedding, commitment ceremony or baby-naming that will reflect the beauty and spirituality of your special day. As a Humanist cantor I welcome Jewish and interfaith couples and will honor the customs of both families. I also perform all life-cycle ceremonies.
© 2015 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC897541 06/14
For further information please contact www.deborahjdavis.com Deborah Davis • (619) 275-1539
The Joyous Music of Tradition and Transition.
FOOD
Let the award-winning
Second Avenue Klezmer Ensemble
provide your wedding or Bar/Bat Mitzvah with lively, authentic music. Tradition has never been so much fun!
SCAN FOR RICK’S VIP RESERVATIONS
Serving Cuban-American Food Est. 1976
For information call Deborah Davis: 619-275-1539
To hear samples, visit our website: secondavenueklezmer.com 78 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
GREAT FOOD AT REASONABLE PRICES TO SATISFY EVERYONE’S TASTE. Open Daily: 3pm - 10pm (760) 325-2127 1596 N. Palm Canyon Drive • Palm Springs, CA 92262
HEALTH
Lemon Grove Academy 8th Grade Museum of Tolerance Fundraiser 8th graders at Lemon Grove Academy Middle will have an opportunity to go on a study trip to The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles in the fall of 2015 as a handson experience to culminate their study of the Holocaust. Because our community is 60% below the poverty level, we must reach out in order to raise the funds for all 350 of our 8th graders to attend. We are in need of $9,000. Please attend our fundraiser and help our 8th graders achieve this goal!
HOME IMPROVEMENT
What: 3K walk or run with fun obstacles on our campus Where: Lemon Grove Academy Middle 7866 Lincoln Street, Lemon Grove 91945 When: Saturday May 9th, 2015 at 10:00 (check-in begins at 9:30) Cost: $10/adult, $5/child, $25/family
We will be selling $1 BBQ hot dogs, $1 bottled water, and $.50 chips and cookies.
Fabrics for Fashion and Home
Visit our Giant Store & Warehouse 907 Plaza Blvd. • National City
619- 477- 3749
9 locations in SD County Family Owned and Operated since 1953
If you cannot attend but would like to help, please visit our GoFundMe site:
gofundme.com/oz3r6k
Thanks for helping our students!!
JEWISH COMMUNITY
For Sale Two Cemetery Plots Greenwood Cemetery King David Section Desirable Top of the Hill Location Considerable Savings Compared to Current Cemetery Price
Call (951)303-2077/(951)575-5327 Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 79
ATS Viterbi ad FINAL_Layout 1 3/20/15 7:59 PM Page 1
THE AMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY AND THE TECHNION-ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY JOIN THE VITERBI FAMILY IN MOURNING THE LOSS OF
ERNA VITERBI, Z�L May her memory be a blessing
www. ats.org
San Diego JewiSh Community obituarieS arrangements by am israel mortuary
All ServiceS AlreAdy Held
berg.
Izya Shkolnik - San Diego 12/24/1934 - 12/31/2014 Survivors: Wife, Alla Shkolnik; Son, Arkady Shkolnik; four Grandchildren and one GreatGrandchild.
Pauline Newman - Los Angeles 6/08/1917 - 1/06/2015 Survivors: daughter, Marcia lester; Sons, Mark and daniel Newman; and two Grand-children.
Sylvia Borkat - La Mesa 2/14/1913 - 1/01/2015 Survivors: Husband, Phillip Borkat; Sons, Frankilin and Gordon Borkat; eight Grand-children and eight Great Grandchildren. Esya Dolgonos - Poway 6/01/1922 - 1/05/2015 Survivors: Sons, Anatoliy and vladamir dolgonos; four Grandchildren and five Great- Grandchildren. Edith Goldenberg - Carlsbad 7/01/1920 - 1/05/2015 Survivors: Son, rodney Golden80 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
Beatrice Sokol - San Diego 9/15/1923 - 1/09/2014 Survivors: daughter, diane Feuerstein; Son, Baruch Sokol; six Grandchildren and ten GreatGrandchildren. Ruth Adler - Bonsall 8/25/1923 - 1/10/2015 Survivors: Son, david Adler. Sonia Schechter - Encinitas 9/05/1923 - 1/11/2014 Survivors: daughter, rosalie Kitaen. Cathy Lebovits - San Diego 3/29/1948 - 1/14/2015
Survivors: Husband, Marc lebovits; and Sons, Joshua and Mathew lebovits. Josephine Green - Bonita 1/02/1923 - 1/21/2015 Survivors: Son, david Green. Philip Cohn - San Diego 4/20/1927 - 1/21/2015 Survivors: daughter, Helene cohn; Sons, david, ron and Aaron cohn. Josef Lackritz - Carlsbad 8/10/1925 - 1/23/2015 Survivors: Wife, Zilpa lackritz; and Sons, Gil & lior lackritz. Ronald Wells - San Diego 2/28/1945 - 1/24/2015 Survivors: Wife, Audrey Wells; daughters, Natalie Wells and dalise Jackson; Sons, Jar-ed and Jason Wells; and 4 Grandchildren.
Roberto Behar - El Cajon 11/19/1928 - 1/26/2015 Survivors: daughters, esther Modiano and Bertha Behar; Son, Benny Behar; and four Grandchildren. Ronald Sherman - Chula Vista 08/07/1948 - 1/27/2015 Survivors: Wife, Bonnie Sherman; and daughter, connie Broudy. Nathan Zvaifler - La Jolla 11/26/1927 - 1/28/2015 Survivors: Wife, Wilma engle; and Son, david Zvailfler. Dave Canty - El Cajon 4/09/1932 - 12/27/2014 Survivors: Wife, reitha canty; daughter, Bari canty-Hogue; and Son - Bill canty. Benjamin Farber - Carlsbad 7/11/1920 - 1/29/2015 Survivors: None.
desert life
PALM SPRINGS by Pamela Price
pamprice57@gmail.com
PHOTO BY PAT KRAUSE
America-Israel Cultural Foundation and Jewish Federation of the Desert Join Forces
L-R: Howard Levy, Asi Matathias (violinist), Victor Stanislavsky (pianist), and Bruce Landgarten, CEO of the Jewish Federation of the Desert.
T
hanks to a collaboration between Jewish Federation of the Desert and the America-Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF), based in New York City, two remarkably talented performance artists presented an evening concert at Tamarisk Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif. in late February. The audience of Jewish Federation of the Desert donors, was in for an evening of magical music performed by two Israeli virtuosos. Howard Levy, Jack Cohen and Bernard Reiter were the event sponsors. Collectively, the three men were encouraged by “the fine work the America-Israel Cultural Foundation does in promoting younger, top talent coming out of Israel today.” To show their support, they arranged this world-class event for our community here in the desert. Bruce Landgarten, CEO of Jewish Federation of the Desert, introduced pianist Victor Stanislavsky and violinist Asi Matathias telling the audience “we decided to host this smaller
venue for our donors in order to judge the level of interest in this inaugural event.” Landgarten was addressing the small numbers in the audience, which didn’t quite total 50. The sheer talent of Stanislavsky and Matathias was mesmerizing no matter how many people were in the audience. They performed for nearly an hour with no intermission. It reminded me of the elegant, private concerts held at the White House, where gifted artists perform in a salon setting. Tamarisk Country Club is set in a quiet desert location surrounded by palm trees and a serene star-filled sky. Amidst this backdrop, we listened attentively to these two young, world-renowned performers. During the reception, it was mentioned that both were departing for performances in Berlin, and then heading back to the states for a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. On this evening in the desert, the duet selected arrangements for piano and violin by Brahms,
Beethoven, Strauss, Toru Takemitsu, Saint Saens and Sarasate. Among the intimate crowd was Sheila Sloan, Annette and Larry Novack, Stephanie and Paul Ross, Josh and Aloma Salama, Margie and Stephen Kulp, Eileen Zoll, Pat Levy, Sandy Seplow, Bertel Lewis, and Helen Varon who remarked “this was a perfect way to introduce these talented young artists to the desert. Their debut here was exceptional.” Asi Matathias is a protégé of Pinchas Zuckerman, who just completed performances at the San Diego Symphony last month. Both young virtuosos Matathias and Victor Stanislavsky have performed all over the world, from St. Martins in the Fields Church in London to the National Performing Arts Center in Beijing. Their desert debut was stunning, leaving the audience looking forward to a second annual event of the AICF and Jewish Federation of the Desert. A
Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 81
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SAN DIEGO OPERA'S
50TH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION CONCERT
Saturday, April 18, 2015 at 7:00pm Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 2:00pm Jacobs Music Center - Copley Symphony Hall 750 B Street, Downtown San Diego Celebrate our 50th Anniversary and new beginning with an amazing concert filled with favorite arias, duets, ensembles and choruses with the San Diego Symphony at the Jacobs Music Center - Copley Symphony Hall. Featuring artists:
Lise Lindstrom
Marianne Cornetti
René Barbera
Stephen Powell
Emily Magee
Karen Kamensek
Soprano
Music by José “Pepe” Martínez Libretto by Leonard Foglia The great Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlán returns with an entirely new Mariachi opera from the same team which created Cruzar la Cara de la Luna. In 1910, Halley’s Comet appeared in the sky over Mexico and many believed it foretold bloodshed and upheaval to come. Smoldering restlessness fueled by abject poverty force cultural clashes and impact generations to come in El Pasado Nunca se Termina (The Past is Never Finished).
Tenor
Mezzo Soprano
Baritone
All performances at the San Diego Civic Theatre. English/Spanish translations displayed above the stage
Presenting Sponsor
ALL TICKETS ON SALE NOW! sdopera.com • (619) 533-7000
Soprano
Conductor
Presenting Sponsor
Tickets also available at Nisan • Iyar 5775 l SDJewishJournal.com 83
“Visually splendiferous!” Chicago Tribune
“Strikingly beautiful!” National Public Radio
THE WHITE SNAKE Written and Directed by Mary Zimmerman Based on the classic Chinese fable
Must Close April 26
Tickets start at $29
Amy Kim Waschke and Jon Norman Schneider. Photos by Liz Lauren, courtesy of Goodman Theatre.
UP NEXT
RICH GIRL
BUYER& CELLAR
ARMS AND THE MAN By
Jonathan Tolins Ron Lagomarsino
Directed by
April 4 - May 3
By
George Bernard Shaw Jessica Stone
Directed by
May 9 - June 14
By Victoria Directed by
Stewart James Vásquez
May 23 - June 21
COMING THIS SUMMER
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
TWELFTH NIGHT
KEN LUDWIG’S
BASKERVILLE A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY
By William Shakespeare Directed by Rebecca Taichman
By William Shakespeare Directed by Scott Ellis
JUNE 21 – JULY 26
AUGUST 16 – SEPTEMBER 20
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter Book by Sam and Bella Spewack Choreography by Peggy Hickey Directed by Darko Tresnjak
By Ken Ludwig
JULY 24 – AUGUST 23
JULY 1 – AUGUST 2
84 SDJewishJournal.com l April 2015
(619) 23-GLOBE (234-5623) www.TheOldGlobe.org