By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
Rain has arrived in San Diego County and snow has fallen in our local mountains. It is nice for a chance to experience something other than sunny days. I do prefer not having to go anywhere and deal with the people on the road who don’t know how to drive in the rain.
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JEWISH/ISRAELI WINTER OLYMPICS UPDATE
Chicago native Emery Lehman, Jewish speedskater and four-time Olympian, took the silver medal for Team USA’s Speed Skating Men’s Team, along with teammates Casey Dawson and Ethan Cepuran, on Tuesday, Feb. 17, in Milan. Lehman hinted he plans to retire from speedskating after the 2026 Olympics.
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Unfortunately, Boston native A.J. Edelman and Menachem Chen did not advance in the two-man Bobsleigh for Israel finishing 26th. Edelman and Chen will have another chance with the four-man bobsleigh for Israel with teammates Ward Fawarsy and Omer Katz (plus Uri Zisman as an alternate.)
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Florida native Jared Firestone, known as the “Jewish-Jet,” did not medal for Israel Men’s Skeleton, He came in 22nd.
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Hungary native Attila Mihaly Kertesz, Israel’s first cross-country skier, did not medal. He finished 110th out of 111.
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Israel’s athlete Barnabas Szollos, who returned for the second time to the Olympics did not medal in the Alpine Skiing Men’s Giant Slalom. He finished 41st.
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Noa Szollos returned for the second time for Israel after receiving silver and bronze in the 2020 Winter Olympics. Szollos competed in the Alpine Skiing Women’s Giant Slalom and finished 57th.
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Alaska native Jeremy Swayman, and Minnesota natives Quinn and Jack Hughes, all goaltenders for Team USA’s Men’s Hockey team, defeated Latvia in the preliminary round-group C with a win of 5-0. The USA also defeated Denmark with a 6-3 win in the preliminary round of Group C. The USA also defeated Germany with a 5-1 victory in the preliminary round of Group C.
Yasher Koach to athletes representing Israel and the USA.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
House of Israel presents its “Volunteer Appreciation Dinner” at 6 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Hall of Nations, Balboa Park. This event includes a casual evening to gather, relax, laugh, and celebrate its family of volunteers. Click here to rsvp.
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Jewish National Fund-USA presents “At My Shabbat Table with Lisa Edelstein” at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 24, virtual event. Edelstein is an American actress, activist, and author who will share her Shabbat history, meaningful traditions, and cherished memories, and how that translates into her current Shabbat practice and life today. Click here to register.
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Ner Tamid Synagogue, Bat Harim Hadassah, and Temple Adat Shalom announce their “Annual Hadassah Shabbat Zachor Commemoration” at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, at Ner Tamid Synagogue. This event includes celebrating Bat Harim Hadassah’s 114th birthday and highlighting the American Jewish contributions throughout the year. Click here to rsvp for catering and security purposes.
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Ner Tamid Synagogue presents its “Purim Carnival and Megillah Reading” at 10 a.m., Sunday, March 1. This event includes an abridged Megillah costume parade, carnival, and lunch. Click here to register for catering purposes.
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Congregation Dor Hadash announces its “Purim Spiel: J-Pop Haman Hunters” at 5:30 p.m., Monday, March 2. The event includes dinner, a spiel, and a multilingual Megillah reading. Click here to rsvp and sign up to bring an optional nosh.
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Congregation Beth El presents “An Evening with Amit Segal” at 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 9. Segal is an Israeli journalist and television personality who will share his perspective on the most urgent forces shaping Israeli politics and society, and what they mean for Israel and the Jewish world today. Click here to register.
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HAPPENINGS At CHABAD CENTERS
La Costa’s Jewish Women’s Circle announces its “Adar Dancing” at 8 p.m., Saturdays, Feb. 21, 28, and March 7 and 14. The event invites women and girls to dance Zumba, freestyle dancing, and celebrate Jewish pride as a community. Click here to rsvp.
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Downtown’s Men’s Social Club announces “An Evening at the Harlem Globetrotters” at 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 22, at Pechanga Arena. Click here for tickets.
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Chula Vista presents its “Kids’ Hamantash Bake” at 11 a.m., Sunday, March 1. The event includes mixing, filling, and shaping hamantashen, a cereal bar, pancake bar, and hot cocoa. Click here to rsvp.
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Downtown announces its “Hawaiian Purim” at 6 p.m., Monday, March 2. The event includes Megillah reading, Hawaiian-themed dinner, graggers, tiki bar, masquerade, and hamantaschen. Click here to rsvp.
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Chula Vista announces its “Purim in Hawaii” at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 3. This event includes a Hawaiian Purim dinner, snow cone truck, L’chaim tiki bar, crafts, and Megillah reading. Click here to rsvp.
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Encinitas announces “Purim on the High Seas: An Evening of Joy, Costumes and Community” at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 3, at Chabad at La Costa. The event includes live pirate entertainment, kids’ crafts and activities, banquet style dinner, and Mishloach Manot for every family. Organizers say costumes are encouraged. Click here to register.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Beth Jacob Congregation has asked its congregants to fill out a Pesach survey if attendees would like to attend a 1st night Seder or a 2nd night Seder. Click here to fill out the survey.
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Chabad of Poway reports grandparents Rabbi and Devorie Goldstein and Rabbi and Mrs. Polter, and parents Rabbi Schneur and Baila Polter, welcome the birth of a baby girl. Mazel Tov!
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue reports grandparents Margaret Benedict and Randy Philipp, and parents Andrew and Tessa Philipp, welcomed the birth of a baby girl, Maxine Eleanor Benedict-Philipp. Mazel Tov!
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Ner Tamid Synagogue reports a recent change in its security policy related to visitors. Its security guard has a list of approved visitors, who are the only authorized people he is allowed to let into the facility. If someone else wants to attend an event, click here to contact the office to be added to the list.
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House of Israel reports that with the return of all the hostages, it encourages the community to bring or send any remaining hostage pins or tags to the House of Israel, where volunteers will form a meaningful art remembrance piece.
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Coastal Gan Preschool reports the theme was Purim, and the children explored hiding and finding in all kinds of ways, dressing up in costumes, burying gems in soil, and painting photos of themselves. The children sang joyful Purim songs, danced for Adar, and engaged in problem-solving and cooperative play.
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SCY High School reports its chemistry students applied the math they have learned about solubility, compounds, and chemical reactions in the precipitate lab. This educational philosophy makes the subject matter practical, tangible, and accessible to all learners to build excitement and enthusiasm for learning.
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Chabad at La Costa’s Channah and Arthur Hale Jewish Learning Center Building reports its walk-in coolers have been assembled, shelving installed, and condensers installed. Doors have been hung and painted, and doorknobs installed, baseboard done, bathroom accessories installed, changing table is in. Kitchenette countertop and sink have been installed, laundry room sink installed, and appliances have arrived.
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OBITUARY NOTICE
Evelyn Smith has died. She was the mother of Craig Smith (Mark Zangrando), Ellen (Tim) Thompson, and Andrea Smith (Andrew Sklar). The funeral took place in Baltimore, Maryland, Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.