By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
In 2015, my husband and then 2-year-old twins came back to my hometown of La Mesa, California. I attended La Mesa Dale Elementary School, La Mesa Middle School (now, La Mesa Arts Academy), Helix High School (now, Helix Charter High School), and San Diego State University.
Becoming a stay-at-home mom in the Dallas area of Texas after attending grad school at the University of Texas in Arlington and working for a few years. I felt very consumed by the weather and when and if I could leave my house. It caused much anxiety, and with unpredictability, sometimes I would be out for a nice walk, and a random thunderstorm would come through, and I would have to duck and cover, dodging hail and praying I would not get struck by lightning.
Tuesday, Feb. 3, the La Mesa City Council broke ground on the construction of the La Mesa downtown district sign in the village. I could not attend. But we purchased tiles many years ago, and Ceramic Café at Grossmont Center hosted a tile event for those who purchased tiles to be painted and would be fired for the district sign.
I am so thrilled that my twins have a piece of history in La Mesa, where they have been residents since 2015. Whether they leave La Mesa or become residents for life, a piece of La Mesa history will be present for many years.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Other pending events, previously reported in this column, may be found in our Jewish community calendar.
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Ohr Shalom Synagogue announces “Hamentaschen Baking Crew” at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 8, and 3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12. Click here to volunteer. Hamentashen will be on sale and sold by the half dozen with chocolate, prune, or apricot filling. Click here to place orders by Sunday, Feb. 15, to pick up before Purim. All proceeds support Ohr Shalom programs.
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San Diego Center of Jewish Culture’s Mandelbaum Family Lecture Series announces its “The Catskills Come to Your Living Room: The Entertaining Life of Gertrude Berg, Jewish Media Mogul” at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18, at San Diego Public Library, Coronado Branch. Berg will discuss her family’s experience in a family resort, resulting in a pioneering national entertainment career. Click here to register.
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SD Kollel’s Women’s Class presents “Rebbetzin Chaya Ertel: Megillahs Esther and the Mystery of Divine Concealment” at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10. Learn from Ertel and enjoy desserts. WhatsApp Rabbi Adam Simon at 619-629-8433 for more information.
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San Diego Center of Jewish Culture’s East County Lecture Series announces its “The Rabbi, The Reverend and Jerusalem: Can Fiction and Friendship Heal What Politics Can’t?” at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. San Diego authors Phil Graubart and Michael Kinnamon will explore how fiction can foster interfaith understanding and illuminate Jerusalem’s role as a symbol of religious longing and division. Click here to register.
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San Diego Center of Jewish Culture presents “Gideon Bernstein: Author of Giving, A Handbook to Happiness for the Modern Philanthropist” at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Lawrence Family JCC. Bernstein will lead this session and combine personal stories, science, and practical tips to help readers find purpose through giving. Click here to get tickets.
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San Diego Center of Jewish Culture’s Shalomaland announces its “Walking Tour of San Diego’s Jewish History” at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 19, at Temple Beth Israel at Heritage Park in Old Town. This event includes a walking tour of one of San Diego’s Jewish historical sites. Click here to register.
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Beth Jacob Congregation presents “British Purim Invasion” at 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 3. This family event includes megillah reading, British food, and drinks. Click here to rsvp.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Mission Bagel (a kosher bagel establishment) reports its grand opening of a food truck at San Diego State University at 9 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 8. Organizers announce that the first 30 customers get a free bagel and schmear, and the Pacific Beach location will still be open.
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San Diego Hebrew Day School reports its 8th-grade students advanced to the county’s science and engineering fair, which is a remarkable achievement that reflects their hard work, creativity, and perseverance. This year’s projects showcased a wide range of interests and real-world thinking. Students explored questions such as the probability of scoring a soccer goal and how much bacteria can grow on everyday foods like salsa. Each project demonstrated thoughtful research, careful experimentation, and clear presentation skills.
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Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports new security policy for backpacks. Visitors may not bring backpacks or large bags past the gate. They will be asked to leave it in their car or place it in the designated area outside the gate. Ohr Shalom Synagogue is not responsible for items left at the gate. Members may bring backpacks or large bags onto campus only if they leave them in the office. Tallit bags are fully permitted. This rule does not apply to diaper bags or to children on Religious School days.
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SCY High School reports students enjoyed its annual Tu B’Shvat Seder. The Seder was sponsored by Melissa Schad and Bonnie Adelman, which featured delicious fruit, uplifting Divrei Torah, and a chance to pause and focus on the Brachot that Hashem bestows upon us every day.
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OBITUARY NOTICE
Jeanne Green has died. She was the mother of Susan Adelman, grandmother of Aviva Gleiberman, and grandmother of Dena, Aaron, and Noah Gleiberman, Beth Jacob Congregation reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.