SAN DIEGO – A little Jewish humor is good for the soul.
Rabbi Rafi Andrusier shared this joke: Maurice has a business appointment, and he arrives a little early. The receptionist points to a comfortable easy chair and asks him to be seated for a while. Maurice settles down, picks up a glossy magazine, opens it, and tries to read. However, he finds that he cannot concentrate because he is distracted due to a rumpus coming from behind one of the doors leading off the reception area. Maurice goes over to the receptionist and asks, “What’s going on in there?” She replies, “It’s a partners’ meeting.” “But why are they shouting at each other?” Maurice asks. “It’s a battle of wits,” she replies. Maurice asks: “Who is in there?” and she answers, “Horowits, Lebowits, Rabbinowits and Abramowits.”
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Rabbi Mendel Goldstein of Chabad of Poway shared the following joke: Three-year-old Moishy Rubinstein had been told several times to get ready for bed. The last time his mother told him, she was very insistent. His response was, “Yes, sir!” Correcting him, Moishy’s mother said, “You would say, ‘yes, sir,’ to a man. I am a lady, so you would say ‘yes, ma’am,’ to a lady.” To quiz him on this lesson, she then asked him, “What would you say to daddy?” “Yes, sir!” came the reply. “Then what would you say to mommy?” “Yes, ma’am!” he proudly answered. “Good job! Now, what would you say to Bubby? Little Moishy lit up and said, “Can I have a chocolate chip cookie?
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Rabbi Eddie Rosenberg of Young Israel of San Diego shared the following joke: Two men are waiting for a train. The younger man asks the older man for the time, but the older man ignores him. After a while, the younger man again asks for the time and again the older man ignores him. Frustrated, the younger man finally asks, “why won’t you answer me when I ask you for the time?” The older man sighs and explains: “look, if I tell you the time, we’ll start to talk. Then when the train comes, you might sit down next to me. Perhaps we’ll get to know each other, and maybe I’ll eventually invite you to my house for Shabbat dinner. Maybe then you and my daughter would really get along – why, you might even get engaged! And why would I want a son in-law who can’t even afford a watch?” (Aish.com)
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ABOUT THAT WEATHER
As we head from “May Gray” to “June Gloom” here in San Diego, I feel it is a welcoming presence for what we have in store for July/August and September. Even October is toasty here. When I lived in Dallas, there was no such thing as “May Gray.” I called it “May Roast.” It would get very warm as May would start and June, oy vey, the air conditioning better be working, or you would be in trouble. So those of us here in “America’s Finest City” embrace the “gloom” as heat is on the horizon!
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Chabad of University City Women’s Circle will be hosting a “Rosh Chodesh Star of David Resin Art Project” at a private residence at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 9. Click here to request more information.
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Chabad of East County Women meet every Wednesday at Lake Murray for a walk and talk at 9:00 a.m. Click here to join the group.
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The American Jewish Committee ended its Jewish American Heritage Month tributes to local historical figures with a salute to San Diego’s first Jewish police chief and first Jewish sheriff, William Kolender. Kolender was also the city’s youngest police sergeant and the driving force behind the creation of community-oriented policing. Click here to read more.
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Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek shareholder and veteran litigator, Sarah Shekhter joins the board of newly formed San Diego Jewish Bar Association’s Board of Directors. Shekhter stated “recent events and rising antisemitism have shaken the Jewish community, both in San Diego and around the world, prompting Jewish professionals, including myself, to seek each other out for comfort and support.”
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San Diego Hebrew Day School announced the 8th grade class arrived safely in Israel. The students are eager to explore and learn from the ancient streets of Jerusalem to the beautiful beaches of Tel Aviv.
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Hebrew Free Loan of San Diego announced it has officially committed $1 million in loans for the San Diego Jewish community. These loans provide individuals and families with a hand-up, giving them an opportunity to improve their financial situation with dignity and empower them on their path to financial security.
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The San Diego County Bar Foundation thanked everyone in attendance honoring the 2024 Distinguished Lawyer Memorial Reception. Those memorialized included the late state Assemblyman M. Howard Wayne. They raised a little over $25,000 putting them halfway to their goal of $50,000. If you would like to donate, click here.
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GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Congressmembers Scott Peters (Cal-50) and Sara Jacobs (Cal-51) celebrated military appropriations that will help area military families. Jacobs stated: “In San Diego, 45,000 servicemembers and their families go to the food bank every single month to put food on the table. Our childcare waitlist was 2,600 spots long last year and recently it’s been up to 4,000. Servicemembers are living in their cars or friends’ couches because they can’t afford a place to live and if they’re lucky enough to find housing, it’s not always liveable.”
Jacobs sent a mailer out and on the back was a “Help This Bill Get to the White House” maze. My 12-year-old son Alex asked me to time him as he completed the maze. In 31 seconds, Alex got the bill to the White House!
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OBTITUARY NOTICES
Beverly Berger passed on Thursday, May 30. Funeral services were held at El Camino Memorial Park with Rabbi Ron Shulman of Congregation Beth El as officiant.
Chabad of Chula Vista reported the passing of David Kaltenborn husband to Sandra Kaltenborn. Click here to receive Zoom link for 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2 funeral.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of San Diego Jewish World.
Great article. Look forward to reading more from Cailin!