By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
SAN DIEGO – Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Sisterhood hosted its “Jewish Living Museum and Cultural Fair” on Sunday, April 19. The event welcomed neighboring places of worship and the broader community to learn about Jewish traditions, hear personal stories from exhibitors, and sample traditional foods.
At the start of the event, Torah School students were guided by their teachers and given Bingo cards listing the various stations. As they visited each station, they collected initials, and once their cards were complete, they were invited to enjoy the food stations.
Guests sampled a variety of traditional foods tied to Jewish holidays. Passover offerings included matzo ball soup, charoset, matzo, and gefilte fish. Chanukah favorites featured latkes served with sour cream and applesauce, along with hummus. Rosh Hashanah treats included apples with honey, while a classic Jewish brunch spread offered bagels with cream cheese and lox. Beverages included Dr. Brown’s sodas and tea served with sugar cubes.
Each station shared a unique and meaningful story. The “Celebrate Jewish Holidays” exhibit featured treasured family heirlooms, including candlesticks hidden in a suitcase during a journey to the United States and a silver etrog case containing a preserved etrog about the size of a small lemon.
The “Jews of China” station displayed family photo albums documenting life in China before emigrating to Israel. During World War II, Jewish refugees from Central Europe found safety in Shanghai, which served as a safe haven during the Holocaust. After the war, many resettled in Israel, the United States, Australia, and Canada.
A favorite among children was the “Kosher Experience” station, where the concept of keeping meat and dairy separate was illustrated using blue slime for meat and pink slime for dairy. Many children enthusiastically mixed the colors into purple as they moved along to other exhibits.
The Butterfly Project exhibit highlighted the importance of remembering the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust. Each ceramic butterfly represented the story of a child whose life and courage continue to be honored.
Hands-on craft stations included making Israeli flags with blue and white cardstock in recognition of the upcoming holiday of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, as well as decorating challah covers using fabric markers and paint. Both children and adults eagerly participated.
On stage, Israeli dance lessons brought attendees together in a lively and engaging way.
The event drew more than 200 attendees—each leaving with new knowledge, new experiences, and a deeper appreciation of Jewish culture.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.