Nearly upon entering the Israel Festival grounds on the athletic field of San Diego Jewish Academy, attendees were cheerfully greeted by Israel flag-waving students Vivienne Blackburn, left, a 10th grader, and Gali Laska, a 9th grader.
You might think of them as the Spice Girls, if a singing group hadn’t already taken the name. Debbie Kornberg, the first franchisee in North America of the Israeli company The Spice Way, is flanked by staff members Marissa Koontz and Hali Scott. Selling from a store in Encinitas, the Israeli grown spices have been gaining popularity — no more than at the Kornberg home where Rabbi David Kornberg, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Am, just loves his wife Debbie’s savory meals. Sometimes, he says, Debbie will put three dishes out on the counter and ask his advice which combination he likes the best!Rabbi David Kornberg, official taster (per above).
Hatikvah and the Star Spangled Banner were sung by students of Kavod Elementary School, a public charter school in San Diego where instruction is in both English and Hebrew.
Rivka Israel has her arm decorated with henna by an unidentified artist at the Crown House booth.
Rabbi Moishe Leider of Chabad of University City wraps tefillin around the arm of Stephen Ramgren and leads him in the prayer.
Festival attendees try their feet in Israeli dancing led by Yoni Carr.
Sara Miller, San Diego director of StandWithUs, shows a Love Israel button expressing her sentiments.
Smadar Samson of the House of Israel offers to festival attendees a tomato plant grown from Israeli seeds. She also disclosed that next year from April 18, 2018 to September 3rd, the House of Israel will co-sponsor an Israeli arts and crafts exhibition at the Mingei Museum. The 3,000 square foot exhibit will showcase Israel’s art on in celebration of the country’s 70th birthday.
James Kimmey, the director of Jewish National Fund for the San Diego region, displays two pushkes– the traditional blue one on the left, and the more modern one, which tells of JNF’s many other kinds of projects besides planting trees, on the right.
Children of the Tnua Dance Troupe performed at the Festival.
Shanee Zamir performed popular Israeli songs for attendees at the Festival.
A child shows how to go straight to the top at climbing station at the IsraelFest.
