LA MESA, California – Eight weeks have come and gone and my time to donate blood reoccurred this week. A few weeks before I am eligible, my cellphone starts ringing with pleas to make an appointment. I am always so honored to receive these calls since it shows how much I mean to the San Diego Blood Bank.
Tifereth Israel Synagogue had the Bloodmobile this week, so it was perfect timing. I doubled up on my iron and made sure I drank more water than I normally do. If you see me around, I always carry water with me and I joke that it’s vodka, giggle.
Being type O negative is such a gift to produce since it is the easiest thing I can do to help those in need. People are always amazed when they see my bandage on my arm and thank me for saving lives. I am always humbled and say it’s my honor to give and to remember to be nice to me, I will save your life!
I am excited to learn that I become eligible again right before San Diego Comic-Con. My husband and twin teens go every year and the Bloodmobile is there as well. So, I wonder what nerdy blood donation swag they will shower me with as I will also be going this year.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms, Aunts, Sisters and Pet-Moms out there. I wonder if Freckles, my angora rabbit, has a surprise for me on Sunday, giggle.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Lawrence Family JCC’s JCompany Youth Theatre presents the opening weekend of Something Rotten at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 10 and Saturday, May 17 and at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, May 11 and Sunday, May 18. The play is set in the 1550’s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom struggle to escape the shadow of “The Bard.” When a soothsayer predicts that theatre’s future involves singing, dancing, and acting together, they aim to write the first musical. Click here for the May 10 showing, click here for the May 11 showing, click here for the May 17 showing and click here for the May 18 showing.
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San Diego International Jewish Film Festival screens Never Alone at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 15 at the Lawrence Family JCC. The film tells the story of Jewish refugees seeking safety in Finland during WWII where a Jewish leader must risk everything to protect his community. The flick showcases courage, resilience, and the fight for hope amidst overwhelming adversity. Click here for tickets.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Sisterhood presents “Daniel Vnukowski’s On the Wings of Songs with Narration by Rabbi Hanan Leberman” at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 15. The evening will include a piano performance of Vnukowski’s pieces with interactive film and Leberman’s accompaniment of songs of resilience and strength from the Shoah. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth El announces its “Beth El Honors: An Inspiring Evening of Community” at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 15. The evening will celebrate generations of its synagogue family and the variety of ways in whish they engage in community together. Yossi Klein HaLevi, noted Israeli journalist, author, and commentator will be honored for his voice and insight on behalf of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Wine, cheese and dessert reception included. Click here for more information.
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Temple Emanu-El presents its “Endless Summer Family Shabbat” at 5:30 p.m., Friday, May 16. Click here to register.
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Young Israel of San Diego presents “Israel on Our Minds, Our Minds on Israel” on Saturday, May 17. Class time to be determined.
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House of Israel announces its “UNITY: Annual Lawn Program” at noon on Sunday, May 18 at the International Houses in Balboa Park. The event includes MC, Jewish freestyle rapper and cultural ambassador Kosha Dillz, live performances, activities, food and exhibits for all ages. Click here to help volunteer at the event.
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The Mandelbaum Family Lecture Series presents: Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, a Great Play Despite its Villain” at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 21 at the Coronado Public Library. Dr. Gideon Rappaport argues that while Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice features the problematic character Shylock, the play itself isn’t to blame. Click here to register.
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The Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival and San Diego Center for Jewish Culture present “Lily Henley with Duncan Wickel: An Evening of Sephardic Songs” at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 21 at Enigma Theatre in Bay Park. The evening includes award-winning singer, fiddler and songwriter Henley who will be highlighting the Ladino language with newly-penned songs and melodies. Henley will perform alongside award-winning multi-instrumentalist Wickel. Click here for tickets.
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Ohr Shalom Synagogue has scheduked its “Shabbat Kehillat and Religious School Teacher Appreciation and Graduation Dinner” at 6:15 p.m., Friday, May 23. Organizers encourage attendees to make reservations as soon as possible as prices will increase after Monday, May 19. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth Israel hosts “Seeing Israel: From Photography to AI with Dr. Joe Nalven” at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 28. Nalven will discuss seeing Israel through photography, digital art, and AI. Click here to rsvp for in-person or Zoom attendance.
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Jewish Community Theatre announces auditions for “Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah” at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, June 1 at Congregation Beth Am. Under the direction of Becky Cherlin Baird, this new Jewish musical is seeking to cast young performers between the ages of 8 and 18 to fill 10-12 spots. Actors must be strong singers, dancers and performers and will travel around San Diego this holiday season. Auditions are in person. Have a one-minute song memorized that auditioner will sing along to a karaoke track, bring a phone or device that has auditioner’s song on that device. Have music cut so that only one minute of the music is set and ready to go. Be prepared to sing along with a live piano accompanied by material provided on site. A headshot and resume are welcome. Click here to schedule an audition.
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Congregation Adat Yeshurun presents “The Jewish Community of Syria Through the Generations” at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 10. The evening will feature stories and history from educators Rachel Tawil Abraham, Dr. Mickey Abraham, Haia R’nana Bchiri, and musicians Fouad Sawa and Danny Myers. Click here to rsvp.
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CHABAD CENTER HAPPENINGS
Coronado invites women in the community to attend its “San Diego Nshei Chabad Event” at 7:30 p.m., Monday, May 12. The evening includes a gathering of women for prayer, learning and inspiration for the brothers and sisters in Israel. Click here to rsvp and to receive address.
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Downtown invites the community to attend its “Lag B’Omer Celebration: Kumzitz and Bonfire” at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 15 at La Jolla Shores. The evening will include barbeque items for sale such as hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and sodas.
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University City invites the community to attend its “Lag B’Omer Bonfire and Kumzits” at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 15 at La Jolla Shores. The event will include barbeque items for sale such as hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and sodas. There will also be games and crafts.
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Chula Vista’s Jewish Women’s Circle invites women in the community to its “Focaccia Garden Art” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 27. Attendees will create their own focaccia art and discover a deeper meaning to the Shavuot holiday. Click here to rsvp.
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Poway presents the pre-release screening of Guns and Moses at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, June 8. This film tells the story of a small-town rabbi who becomes an unlikely gunfighter after his community is violently attacked. Click here to rsvp.
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To view other events, previously listed in this column, please visit our San Diego Jewish Community Calendar page.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
San Diego Jewish Academy reports 7th graders Meno Nassi and Gabriel Shuster won the Cadena Initiative USA Competition at the end of April and are invited to represent the U.S. on June 1st at the Cadena Initiative International Contest in Colombia. Nassi and Shuster presented their prototype, the “Floodictor,” to a panel of judges who selected the winners among other students from New York, Washington DC, and Miami. Their 3-minute, Shark Tank style presentation impressed the Zoom room as they described the devastating effects of flooding in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans and how their project would aim to build a community response when flood waters reach critical levels.
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Congregation Beth Israel’s Caring Community is asking for volunteers to support its Shiva Circle. Volunteers are needed to assist families during the first night of Shiva, to set up food upon arrival, store it after the service, and clean up so those in mourning can honor their loved ones with less stress. Click here to volunteer and for more details.
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Congregation Adat Yeshurun and Chabad of Downtown report congregants Daniel and Ariella La Salle welcomed the birth of a baby boy. Mazel Tov!
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Young Israel of San Diego reports its shul board is looking for new members. Board members should be passionate about strengthening the community and want to help shape the future of its shul. Click here to get involved.
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SCY High reports students Gavriel Guenniche, Adin Factor and Shiloh Dimenstein won 2nd place in the recent TI Codes Competition. Out of the hundreds of teams that entered, two of the final five projects selected by TI judges for the final public voting round were SCY High submissions. Although voting is closed, click here to visit the site.
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Temple Emanu-El reports it is collecting non-perishable food to be donated to the Jewish Family Service Hand Up Food Pantry. Most needed items are canned food, including soups, fruit, vegetables, beans, peanut butter or other nut butters, and high protein items such as canned tuna and chicken. Pasta, rice, oatmeal, breakfast cereal, cake mixes and dehydrated mashed potatoes as well. Donation bins are in the Temple office.
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OBITUARY NOTICES
Esther Berkowitz has died. The funeral will be at 2 p.m., Monday, May 12 at El Camino Memorial Park with Cantor Ben Rosner of Temple Adat Shalom as officiant, Am Israel Mortuary reports.
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Mateo Curiel, father of Meir Curiel, has died, Chabad of University City reports.
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Joanna Schulman, wife of Joe Shulman and mother of Bella and Alex, has died. The funeral was held Friday, May 9 at El Camino Memorial Park, Chabad of University City reports.
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Michael Sigell, husband of the late Janice Sigell, father of Julie, Lisa and Todd, grandfather of Lauryn, Kaden, Grayson, and Paxton, has died. The funeral will be at 11 a.m., Sunday, May 18 at Beth Israel Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. Donations may be made in Sigell’s honor to the Oregon Symphony or the Portland Youth Philharmonic, Congregation Beth Israel reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.