Story and photos by Donald H. Harrison; other photos by Shor M. Masori
SAN DIEGO — They sang, they danced, they ate, and, really, what better ways are there to celebrate Israel during its 70th birthday year?
On Father’s Day, Sunday, June 17, who better to introduce the outdoor entertainment in Balboa Park’s area of international cottages than “Golda Meir,” one of the mothers of modern Israel?
Portrayed by Ruth Mastron, Prime Minister Meir told the audience that Israel is about the same size of New Jersey. Although modern Israel goes back only 70 years to 1948, she added, the nation of Israel stretches back for thousands of years to such Fathers as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and Mothers as Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel. “We are so small we have more history than geography,” she added.
The Cottage of Israel sponsored the celebration in Balboa Park. To start it off, “Mrs. Meir” called upon the pupils of Kavod Elementary School to sing the national anthems of both countries, the United States and Israel. And then Kavod, a public charter school offering instruction in both Hebrew and English, sang two more songs for the crowd’s enjoyment.
Next up were two Israeli musicians, vocalist Shay Rachman and accompanist Amir Tsuri. Lest anyone think that all Israelis sing is “Hava Nagila,” they performed several modern songs in Hebrew and one in English.
Dalya Dallal, a veteran instructor and performer of Israeli dance, led friends and onlookers in some of the traditional circle dances of the Jewish state, drawing an array of people including one gentleman dressed in folk costume from the nearby Cottage of Ukraine.
Outside the Cottage of Israel, meanwhile, Boaz Zusan from the cafe at the Lawrence Family JCC was frying up felafel and dishing out Israel salad and hummus, while other volunteers sold tomato plants grown from Israeli seed.
If dessert was desired, all one had to do was go into the house of Israel, where baklava served by Helene Held sweetened the occasion. On the way inside, visitors could pose with a life-size cutout of Gal Gadot, the actress who starred in the movie, Wonder Woman.
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Harrison is editor and Masori is a staff photographer of San Diego Jewish World. They may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com and shor.masori@sdjewishworld.com