By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
Hadassah Medical Organization reports its Pediatric Nephrology-Urology Center will treat children with complex kidney and urinary conditions. For the first time in Israel, these treatments will be consolidated in a single location.
The Center will connect two related fields – pediatric nephrology, which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases, and pediatric urology, which focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract diseases and malformations. Combining the two areas reflects a comprehensive clinical vision that seeks to treat complex medical conditions in which the two systems, the kidney and urinary functions, influence each other.
In addition to treating a host of pediatric kidney and urinary problems, the Center, which is located in the Charlotte Bloomberg Mother and Child Building on Hadassah’s Ein Kerem campus in Jerusalem, will have a clinic dedicated to treating children with urological problems accompanied by impaired kidney function, and a clinic focused on treating children with urinary tract stones.
The idea to create the Pediatric Nephrology-Urology Center grew out of the shared vision of the two Hadassah Medical Organization specialists who will be its co-directors, Oded Volovelsky, MD, and Guy Hidas, MD. Dr. Volovelsky heads the hospital system’s Pediatric Nephrology specialty and is President of the Israeli Association for Pediatric Nephrology, while Dr. Hidas heads Pediatric Urology and is President of the Israeli Pediatric Urology Society.
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WINTER OLYMPICS 2026 JEWISH/ISRAELI ATHLETES UPDATE
Israel’s Attila Mihály Kertész placed 110th (out of 111) in the men’s cross-country skiing 10km interval early this morning.
Israel’s Jared Firestone competes in the men’s skeleton heats on Friday, Feb. 13.
AJ Edelman and Menachem Chen compete in two-man bobsled training on Friday, Feb. 13, and Saturday, Feb. 14.
Quinn and Jack Hughes, Jeremy Swayman, and the U.S. men’s hockey team play Denmark in a preliminary round game Saturday, Feb. 14, and Germany on Sunday, Feb. 15.
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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 its conversation with Riva Lehrer will be held on Zoom, at 11 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 15. Those in attendance will receive a special book plate designed by Lehrer for this occasion. The book plates will only be available to those attending in person, and a light lunch will be provided.
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Jewish Community Symphony presents its “Cinematic and Classical Performance” at 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Lawrence Family JCC. The event will include works by Vaughan Williams, Tchaikovsky, Weber, John Williams, and Khachaturian. Click here for tickets and use code: JCS20 for 20% off.
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Mandelbaum Family Lecture Series presents “The Entertaining Life of Gertrude Berg: Jewish Media Mogul” at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Coronado Library. The discussion will be led by Dr. Samantha Goldstein, who will discuss Berg’s involvement in managing the Catskills resort to creating the TV series The Goldbergs. Click here to rsvp.
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Young Israel of San Diego presents its “40 Years Later: Lessons from the Lives of Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky and Reb Moshe Feinstein” at 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth Israel announces its “Purim Carnival” at 10 a.m., Sunday, March 1. The event will include wristbands, which will cover all games, jumpies, slides, activities, and Vashti’s Salon. Click here to register.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
Carmel Valley announces its co-sponsored event with Peace of Mind, “Combat Trauma Doesn’t end when Military Service is Over: It is often Just the Beginning” at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 16, at Chabad Carmel Valley, Torah Life Center. This event will include speakers Chaim Landau, Nina Brodsky, Dahlia and Rotem Cooper, who will discuss new pathways to healing, supporting reservists with families, reaching young veterans before scars harden, caring for spouses and children, and advancing treatment for PTSD when standard therapy is no longer enough. Click here to rsvp.
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East County announces its “Jewish Learning Institutes Torah Studies Season Two: The Argument that Never Ends” at 7:15 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18. This event will discuss mystery, the questions, and the back-and-forth of disagreement into dysfunction. Click here to register.
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East County’s Jewish Women’s Circle presents its “Torah and Tea” at noon, Thursday, Feb. 19. This event is for women who are invited to enjoy a warm cup of tea and learn about the joy of Adar. Click here to rsvp.
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East County announces its “Shabbat Friday Night Dinner” at 5:20 p.m., Friday, Feb. 20. The event will include candle lighting, services, and dinner as a community. Click here to rsvp.
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East County presents its “Purim Patisserie” at 4:30 p.m., Monday, March 2. Children and families are invited to create traditional hamantaschen with an artistic twist. Organizers say to come in costume, and a kid’s dinner is available. Click here to register.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Beth Jacob Congregation reports its Pesach Matzah order is open for preferences, including Shmurah Matzoh. Click here to make your preferences.
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Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports its office will be closed in observance of Presidents’ Day on Monday, Feb. 16. Minyan will be held on Zoom at 6:15 p.m. for those saying Kaddish.
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San Diego Hebrew Day School reports that its first-grade students were presented with their own Siddur. This meaningful event marked the culmination of months of learning about tefillah and what it means to speak to Hashem with intention, gratitude, and joy. Morah Ronit Snyder’s students prepared an uplifting program. The students shared songs, recited tefillot, and demonstrated the confidence and growth they developed throughout the year.
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Chabad of Downtown reports that its Mishloach Manot Purim Project is an opportunity to participate in an annual event designed by BoardzByRosie. Click here to be a part of this project.
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Chabad of Carmel Valley reports that its Mishloach Manot Purim Campaign is open to send to friends and charity to the needy. Click here to donate to send to all members of the community and to the IDF.
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Chabad of East County reports its Mishloach Manot Project Campaign is open to accept donations. Click here to donate to send to the community.
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Mission Bagel Food Truck (a kosher bagel establishment) reports that its menu of sandwiches, bulk bagels, schmears, and drinks is now available. February hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 4825 College Avenue. Organizers say the Pacific Beach location is still open.
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La Mesa Arts Academy reports that the 8th-grade History and English Departments attended a field trip to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, California. 8th grader, Alex Acosta, mentioned the museum was eye-opening and would like to go again to spend more time in the other areas. 8th grader, CeCe Acosta, mentioned the experience was very emotional as she thought about her Jewish heritage and how privileged she is to be alive today.
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OBITUARY NOTICES
Jaime Fainstein has died. He was the husband of Sara Fainstein, father of David Fainstein and Aileen (Rafael) Huth, and grandfather of Aharon Huth, Gila Huth, and Ariela Fainstein. The funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 15, at Home of Peace Cemetery, Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports.
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Ruth Siegel has died. She was the wife of Bernard Siegel z”l, mother of Sharon Siegel z”l, Lee (Debi) Siegel, grandmother of Richelle (Geoff) Howell, grandmother of Jaden, Mila, Daniel (Sara), Justin (Linzey), Serena, and Evelyn. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 17, at El Camino Memorial Park. The funeral will be officiated by Rabbi Yaffa-Shira Sultan, Director of Spiritual Life at Seacrest Village, Am Israel Mortuary reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.