By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – I remember when I started covering Jewish news in San Diego back in 1986, it was a rare day that more than one Jewish event was scheduled. In fact, a community calendar was published specifically to discourage overlapping or conflicting events.
In a small Jewish community, that is still possible. But it is no longer possible in San Diego County, which counts more than 100,000 Jews living in these six regions: 1) The border area and South Bay; 2) the College-Del Cerro-San Carlos areas; 3) downtown San Diego-Hillcrest-North Park-Mission Valley-Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa and Clairemont; 4) La Jolla, Pacific Beach, University City, Carmel Valley, Sorrento Valley; 5) North County Coastal stretching from Del Mar to Camp Pendleton; and 6) North County Inland stretching from Mira Mesa to the Riverside County line.
Sunday, April 7th, provides an example of the diversity and richness of Jewish offerings. Once upon a time, they all would have been scheduled on different days.
The day’s events get underway with “Tapestry,” a day of community learning at 9 a.m. at the Lawrence Family JCC, with a light breakfast and lunch included in the $36 public ticket price. (JCC members get a discount at $30).
Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., there will be three class sessions, with participants able to choose from such themes as 1) Contemporary American Jewish peoplehood; 2) Jews around the world — outside of Israel and America; 3) Holocaust education and the future of remembering the Shoah; 4) Israel’s political landscape; 5) Life, Arts and Culture in Israel and influenced by Israel; 6) Body, Mind & Spirt; and 7) Newish to Jewish, for Jewish organization professionals and the larger community.
At 11 a.m., the Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) sponsors a Zoom lecture by retired State Parks Historian Alex Bevil about the Jewish merchants whose businesses were clustered around Calle Judeo in what is now Old Town San Diego State Historical Park. Tickets for this Zoom lecture are $20 for the general public, $10 for SOHO members.
At 1 p.m., the Friendship Circle will sponsor a walk to promote inclusiveness for those with disabilities at Nobel Park in the University City neighborhood.
Also at 1 p.m., a free exhibit at Tifereth Israel Synagogue will showcase the works of photographers, artists, ceramicists, jewelers, authors, and a doll maker, among other artisans. Two of the exhibitors — Bill Goldschneider and Leah Horstman — won Best of Show awards at last year’s San Diego County Fair respectively in woodworking and photography. I helped arrange this show and I will be at one of the authors’ tables, signing some of the nine books I have written about Jewish San Diego.
Cailin Acosta designed a flyer for that event which is published below.
