By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
The Hadassah Medical Organization, the Jerusalem-based hospital system supported by Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, announces the prospective clinical results of a study demonstrating the feasibility, safety, and early efficacy of gantry-less upright proton therapy for lung cancer re-irradiation – an area of critical unmet need in the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
The findings confirm that the therapy can safely deliver thoracic re-irradiation while improving normal tissue sparing, a key barrier that has historically limited re-irradiation in lung cancer despite the disease’s high prevalence.
P-Cure’s compact proton therapy system, which delivers a beam of radiation that precisely targets tumors, thereby preventing damage to nearby organs and healthy tissue, grew out of a two-year collaboration with oncologists, physicists, and physicians at Hadassah.
Hadassah conducted the study at P-Cure’s Proton Therapy Center in Israel, the first and only facility in the world to routinely deliver proton therapy to patients using P-Cure’s upright technology. The Center has pioneered the compact, gantry-less system in partnership with Hadassah for almost three years.
To evaluate late toxicity and long-term outcomes, patient follow-up is ongoing, as is continued patient enrollment.
All treatment was delivered using P-Cure’s Proton Therapy System, which integrates a compact proton synchrotron, a fixed horizontal beamline, vertical CT imaging, and a robotic treatment support system that can position the patient in both seated and prone positions.
By eliminating the need for a rotating gantry, the compact system takes up much less space and is much less expensive than standard proton therapy equipment, which weighs 200 tons. That means that healthcare systems around the world will be able to offer advanced radiation treatments previously off-limits to all but the largest facilities (the cost to build and equip a single room able to accommodate traditional proton machinery can exceed $50 million).
*
UPCOMING EVENTS
Other pending events, previously reported in this column, may be found in our Jewish community calendar.
*
Tifereth Israel Synagogue announces its “Purim Carnival” at 10 a.m., Sunday, March 1. The event will include carnival games, joust bouncy, face painting, hamantaschen, ping pong, silly string battles, tasch walk, toddler bouncy castle, and more. Click here to purchase wristbands and add-ons.
*
Ner Tamid Synagogue presents its “Purim Carnival and Megillah Reading” at 10 a.m., March 1. The event includes an abridged Megillah, costume parade, carnival, and lunch. Click here to register for catering purposes.
*
Congregation Beth Israel announces its “Purim Carnival” at 10 a.m., Sunday, March 1. The event includes games, jumpies, slides, activities, and Vashti’s Salon. Click here to order wristbands and food tickets. The San Diego Blood Bank Mobile will be parked in the lower parking lot from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Click here to sign up to donate blood.
*
Ohr Shalom Synagogue presents its “Purim Carnival” at 11 a.m., Sunday, March 1. The event includes a bounce house, face painting, and hamantaschen.
*
Congregation Beth El announces its “Purim Celebration: Game On” at 5 p.m., Monday, March 2. The event includes enjoying classic games like air hockey, skeeball, Pacman, and others, Megillah reading, Purim meal, hamantaschen, and DJ Jonah. Organizers say to come dressed in costumes. Click here register.
*
Ohr Shalom Synagogue presents its “Purim Celebration and Megillah Reading” at 5:30 p.m., Monday, March 2. The event includes a family-friendly dinner and activities, Purim service including Ma’ariv, Spiel, abridged Megillah reading and singing, desserts, and a full Megillah reading featuring congregants of all ages. Organizers say to come in costume and to bring food donations that can double as Purim groggers. All items will be donated to the JFS Food Bank. Click here to register.
*
Tifereth Israel Synagogue announces its “Purim at TIS”, at 6 p.m., Monday, March 2. The event includes Megillah reading, Rabbi Hanan Leberman’s raffle, Purim pizza feast, and Purimshpiel. Organizers say to come dressed in costume and bring “noisy” food to drown out Haman’s name. All food items will be donated to local food banks. Click here to secure your dinner reservations.
*
Ner Tamid Synagogue presents its “Full Megillah Reading and Learning with Rabbi Ryan Newfield” at 6 p.m., Monday, March 2. Organizers say to bring a potluck dessert to share.
*
Tifereth Israel Synagogue presents its “More Purim at TIS: Adults Only” at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 3. The event includes Rabbi Hanan Leberman hosting Purim Shenanigans with l’chaims and noshes.
*
Young Israel of San Diego presents its “Purim: We Are the World — A Festive Purim Celebration and Meat Dinner” at 4:45 p.m., Tuesday, March 3. The event includes Mincha, Megillah reading, food from around the world, and Purim spirit. Organizers say to come dressed in costumes. Click here to register.
*
Congregation Beth Israel presents its “Sincerely Spooky Spiel and Purim Pizza Dinner” at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 3. The event will include a pizza dinner, Purim service, and Spiel filled with chilling surprises, playful mystery, and plenty of laughs. Click here to order your pizza.
*
FIDF: Friends of the IDF announces “An Evening with Etgarim” at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, March 8, in the Carmel Valley area. This event will explore the partnership of FIDF and Etgarim, which helps serve disabled IDF veterans by providing activities that improve motor, cognitive, emotional, and social skills, producing far-reaching effects across all aspects of the lives of those living with disabilities. Click here to rsvp and to receive the address.
*
Congregation Beth Israel announces its “Secrets of the Torah Scroll: A Two-Part Lunch and Learn Series Featuring Rabbi Cantor Jeremy Gimbel” at noon, Thursdays, March 12 and 19. This two-part class led by Gimbel will uncover how a Torah scroll is created, how tradition preserved it without vowels or musical notes, and how generations of Jews learned to chant and interpret it. Click here to register.
*
Ner Tamid Synagogue presents its “Shabbat Dinner” at 6 p.m., Friday, March 20. The community is invited to join for an evening of tradition, as it is the first Shabbat of Spring. The event includes Shabbat services followed by a chicken dinner with a vegetarian option. Click here to register.
*
Women of Congregation Beth Israel presents “An Evening with Paul Rappaport” at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 25. Rappaport will entertain with stories from his 33-year career at Columbia Records, where he was instrumental in the careers of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Journey, Elvis Costello, Judas Priest, Alice in Chains, and many more. Organizers say the dessert and coffee reception will follow the program, during which Rappaport will be available to sign copies of his memoir, Gliders Over Hollywood, and that this event is not for women only. Click here to register.
*
June Rubin Studio Gallery announces registration has opened for Spring Art Sessions. The Spring sessions start at 3:30 p.m., for ages 5 years to 9 years old, and at 4:30 p.m., for ages 9 years old to 13 years old, on Thursdays, from March 26 until April 30 at the Tierrasanta Recreation Center. These sessions include teaching young artists drawing, watercolor, collage, and acrylic painting in a supportive, hands-on environment. All art supplies are included, and young artists are invited to bring their own enthusiasm and imagination. Beginners are welcome. Click here to register for the 3:30 p.m. session, and click here to register for the 4:30 p.m. session.
*
Israeli American Council, Jewish Federation of San Diego, Lawrence Family JCC, and Jewish Community Foundation San Diego present “Yom HaZikaron: Israel’s Day of Remembrance: Hineni, Here I am” at 7 p.m., Monday, April 20. The event includes inviting the community to stand together to commemorate 76 years of Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror attacks, and reflect on the lives lost too soon and draw on each other for strength and support. Click here to register and to receive the address.
*
Jewish Federation of San Diego’s Momentum announces a “Final Call: Journey of Growth in Israel” applications close Friday, Feb. 27. This event is to give Jewish moms the chance to pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves, their Judaism, and a community of women on the same path. The trip takes place from Monday, May 11, until Sunday, May 17. Click here to apply.
*
Lawrence Family JCC announces a save the date for its “Campfire Gala: Patron Party 2026” at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, May 31. The event includes honoring 80 years of Camp Jaycee with an evening around the campfire to support the programs and services at the Center. Click here to learn more and to receive the address.
*
Congregation Beth Israel presents its “Trip to Israel” on Sunday, June 28, through Tuesday, July 7. The trip includes a visit to Sha’ar Hanegev to learn how Oct. 7 affected residents and their daily challenges, meet Natal caretakers and explore trauma-tech innovations supporting victims, volunteer with local organizations, packing food, gardening, and cooking for the community, and more. Click here to explore the itinerary and register.
*
CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
Poway and Rancho Bernardo present “Purim in the Wild West” at 5:30 p.m., Monday, March 2, at Chabad of Poway. The event includes festive music, Megillah reading, Mishloach Manot, and a wild west BBQ feast. Click here to rsvp.
*
Carmel Valley announces its “Purim at the Torah Life Center” at 6 p.m., Monday, March 2. The event includes Megillah Esther reading, costumes, and a dinner party. Click here to register.
*
La Costa announces its “Hebrew Reading Class” at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays, starting March 2. Click here to register.
*
Carmel Valley presents its “Purim Service” at 6:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 3. The event includes Purim service, Megillah Esther reading, breakfast, and Mishloach Manot. Organizers say to come dressed in costumes and invite friends and family. Click here to register.
*
University City announces its “Purim in Mexico” at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 3. The event includes Megillah reading, dinner, Mariachi musical entertainment, hamantaschen, and graggers. Click here to rsvp.
*
Chula Vista presents its “Purim in Hawaii” at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 3. This event includes Megillah reading, Hawaiian Purim dinner, snow cone truck, L’chaim tiki bar, crafts, and more. Click here to rsvp.
*
AROUND THE COUNTY
La Mesa Pizzaworks (kosher pizza establishment) reports that in honor of Purim, patrons can order any of its pizzas on the menu and turn it into a Pizzataschen for $1 more. Owners suggest calling ahead (619-439-6629) to place orders for your Purim party.
*
Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports it needs volunteers to help at the Purim Carnival on Sunday, March 1. Shifts are from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Click here to sign up.
*
Tifereth Israel Synagogue reports to its members that Mishloach Manot can be picked up on Sunday, March 1, at the Purim Carnival, Monday, March 2, at the Purim Celebrations, or during office hours from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. until Friday, March 6.
*
Congregation Beth Israel reports it needs volunteers to help at the Purim Carnival on Sunday, March 1. Click here to sign up.
*
Congregation Dor Hadash reports it needs volunteers to help with its Annual Hamantaschen Bake at 9 a.m., Sunday, March 1, near the tennis courts at the Lawrence Family JCC. The event includes participants mixing, rolling, filling, and pinching over 1,500 hamantaschen. Click here to choose a volunteer time slot.
*
OBITUARY NOTICE
Uri Moyal has died. He was the father of Roie and Matan Moyal. The funeral was held on February 23 at El Camino Memorial Park, Beth Jacob Congregation, SCY High School, and Young Israel of San Diego report.
*
Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.