By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
Crunch, crunch, crunch. Most people are looking forward to returning to eating chametz and saying goodbye to the matzah.
In our house, we don’t mind it and eat it year-round, either with soup or as matzah pizza. I am getting tired of sweeping the floors after everyone’s meals since it makes a mess.
Chag Pesach Sameach and l’chaim to freedom!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
San Diego Assessor/Recorder/and County Clerk Jordan Marks announces its “Apostille Pop-up Service Event” at 8 a.m., Wednesday, April 8, at the County Administration Center. This one-day event is for San Diegans who need apostille authentication service for documents such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, educational transcripts, military documents, and business records. Click here for more information.
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Congregation Beth El presents its “Chai Chametz and Chill” at 8 p.m., Thursday, April 9, at BJ’s Restaurant in La Jolla. This event is for 20-30 year olds to meet for a post-Passover celebration to enjoy pizza, beer, and a social evening. Click here to register.
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Ner Tamid Synagogue announces its “Musical Shabbat Services” at 6:30 p.m., Friday, April 10. Services will be led by Morah Jessie Birnbaum Armin, who will be providing musical accompaniment. Oneg will be after services. Click here to register.
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Jewish Federation of San Diego announces its “Yom HaShoah Community Holocaust Commemoration: Heroes Beyond Borders, Stories of Diplomatic Courage” at 1 p.m., Sunday, April 12, at Lawrence Family JCC. This event will include prayers, musical performances, a candlelighting ceremony, and reflections from keynote speakers Jason Abranches and Arturo Leven, who will share deeply personal perspectives. One as a descendant of a diplomat whose actions helped save thousands of Jews, and the other as a descendant of a family rescued through those efforts, while offering a rare, dual lens on courage, survival, and legacy. Click here to rsvp.
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Ner Tamid Synagogue and Temple Adat Shalom present their “Yom Ha’Shoah Service” at 7 p.m., Monday, April 13, at Temple Adat Shalom. This service will be led by Cantor Ben Rosner and Rabbi Ryan Newfield. Click here to register.
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RUTH: Remember Us the Holocaust announces its Holocaust Survivor Speaker Series: Sonia Fox Ohlbaum and Joe Fox” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 14, at the San Diego Public Library La Jolla branch. This event will include siblings of Holocaust survivors sharing stories of their parents. Ohlbaum is a speaker for the Butterfly Project, and Fox is a member of the Day of Remembrance Committee that ensures that “Yom Ha’Shoah” remains a meaningful and impactful commemoration of Holocaust remembrance for the community.
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Congregation Beth Israel presents its “Yom HaShoah Commemoration” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 14. This event includes guest speaker Jeff Schindler, son of Holocaust survivors Rose and Max Schindler (z”l), who will remember and honor the millions of innocent lives taken during the Holocaust. Click here to honor your family member’s name.
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Congregation Beth El’s Women’s Connection announces its “Rosh Chodesh Gathering” at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 15. This event includes a guest speaker, ADL regional director Fabienne Perlov, who will give an update on what the Anti-Defamation League has been doing to combat antisemitism locally and nationally, and what action steps to take for the community and for families.
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Hillel of San Diego, Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, and Jewish Networking Hub announce “Meet Dr. Irwin Jacobs” at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 30, at Melvin Garb Hillel Center. This event includes a conversation with Jacobs, who is a philanthropist and cofounder of Qualcomm. Click here to register.
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Jewish Federation of San Diego’s Women’s Philanthropy presents “Brunch Club After Dark: Spark Interactive Experience” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 5. This event offers an opportunity to gather as Jewish women in community while honoring the enduring legacy of remembrance, resilience, and light through Holocaust education and storytelling. Interactive experiences include being the first to experience the innovative mobile classroom with a guided tour led by Director of Operations and special projects for the Center for Holocaust Education, Erica Whinston. Dr. Shayna Kaufmann will lead a guided discussion on resilience and finding light in the darkness, and Barbi Dorfan will lead a light-themed creative activity. Click here to register and to receive the location.
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Women of Congregation Beth Israel announces its “Bubbles and Bunco” at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 6. This event includes women who are experienced Bunco players or have never played to join in a social night and meet new people. Organizers say pizza, salad, desserts, and drinks will be served. Click here to rsvp.
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Jewish California presents its “Capitol Summit” on Monday, May 11, through Tuesday, May 12, at the Sheraton Grand, Sacramento. This event includes an opportunity for Jewish community members and allies to learn, network, and advocate for its community priorities at the state capitol. Participants will hear from some of the state’s most powerful lawmakers and activists, practice and participate in direct lobbying, and have access to the exclusive networking opportunities with elected officials, Jewish organizational leaders, and lay leaders from across the state. Click here to register.
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San Diego County announces its “18th Annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast” at 7:30 a.m., Friday, May 22, at the Town and Country Resort. This event will include bringing together the LGBTQ+ community members and allies from across the region to honor the life and legacy of civil rights icon, Milk. The breakfast will honor activist and author George Johnson, former mayor of Chula Vista and California assemblywoman Mary Salas, West Hollywood mayor John Heilman, and La Mesa Police Department captain Katy Lynch. Click here to purchase tickets.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
Poway announces its “Yizkor Memorial Service: Marking 7 Years Since April 27, 2019 Mass Shooting at Chabad of Poway” at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, April 9. This service will include a special memorial for Lori Kaye (z”l), who died on the last day of Passover due to the brutal act of terrorism. Click here to make a Yizkor donation.
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Downtown announces its “Meal of Moshiach” at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 9. This meal marks the end of Passover and emphasizes the imminent and final redemption. Click here to register.
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East County’s Jewish Women’s Circle presents “Three Women, Three Journeys, One Powerful Conversation: Cancer Impacted Our Lives, But Not Our Strength” at noon, Tuesday, April 28. This event includes an open dialogue about faith, resilience, and inner strength with a space for connection for women seeking inspiration and strength through life’s challenges. Speakers include a mother, attorney, and author: Andrea Schneider, CEO of a catering business, nana, and volunteer: Olga Worm, and clinical psychologist, author, and teacher: Dr. Shayna Kaufmann. Click here to register.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Camp Jaycee reports it will offer bus pick up and drop off from Del Cerro for campers ages five and up to the Lawrence Family JCC. Campers will swim, play sports, attend theatre, and have lots of opportunities to be creative. Camp runs from Monday, June 15, until Friday, August 7. Click here to register.
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San Diego Jewish Academy reports its fifth graders honored Holocaust survivors through a meaningful Passover experience. Fifth graders participated in a memorable Passover program that created a deeply meaningful bridge between history and lived experience. During the gathering, students had the opportunity to listen to personal testimonies, ask thoughtful questions, and engage in dialogue that brought history to life.
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OBITUARY NOTICES
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Robert Artman has died. He was the husband of Madeline Artman, father of Russell (Jamie) Artman, father-in-law of Deborah Azar, and grandfather of Ethan Artman, Jacob Artman, and Elizabeth Azar. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, April 9, at Congregation Beth Israel, Congregation Beth Israel reports.
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Ronald Eisenberg has died. He was the husband of Devora Safron, father to Brad (Christine) Eisenberg, Deanne Melnicoff, and Adam Eisenberg, grandfather of Jessica Roberts, Nathan Eisenberg, and Samuel Eisenberg, and great-grandfather of Danielle Dornan. The funeral will take place on Wednesday, April 8, at Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico, Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.