Tifereth Israel Chooses Hanan Leberman as Its Next Rabbi

SAN DIEGO – Tifereth Israel Synagogue announced Thursday that Rabbi Hanan Leberman will be its new rabbi. The Lebermans will pack up their home in Israel and plan to arrive in San Diego in September, just in time to lead the High Holy Day Services.

The announcement indicated that Leberman will bring innovative ideas and ruach (spirit) to the Conservative congregation while incorporating the best of the synagogue’s traditions.

Before earning his smicha in Israel, Leberman served as a part-time cantor at Tifereth Israel, coming to learn the congregation and its members very well.

In a letter to the congregation, Leberman wrote: “After seven years as your visiting Chazzan, I am now humbled and honored to be embraced as your Rabbi. My wife, Ariel, and my children, Leo and Charlotte, are excited to begin this next chapter of our lives at Tifereth Israel.”

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JEWISH OLYMPIANS UPDATE

Swimmer Claire Weinstein, 17, from White Plains, NY won her first Olympic medal on Thursday (August 1), earning silver in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay alongside U.S. Olympic legend Katie Ledecky. Weinstein swam the first leg of the U.S. team’s relay, helping the group take second place with a time of 7:40.86, more than two seconds behind first-place Australia.

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Swimmer, Katie Ledecky from Washington DC earned her 13^th Olympic medal making her the most decorated U.S. woman Olympian in history and the second-most decorated overall, behind Michael Phelps, who has won 28. According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Ledecky’s inspiration comes from her Jewish grandmother. Ledecky’s experience of visiting a Jewish cemetery when she was ten years old and seeing the graves of her family members who died in the Holocaust made a lasting impression. Although Ledecky was raised Catholic, she says that visit to the cemetery fuels her races. So, a Jewish nod and Mazel Tov to her!

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U.S. Women’s Foil Squad Fencers, 30-year-old Jackie Dubrovich from Paterson, NJ and 21-year-old Maia Weintraub from Philadelphia, PA took home the gold defeating Italy 45-39 on Thursday (August 1).

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Chabad of Downtown announces a special kiddush luncheon honoring Rabbi Zalman Carlebach’s birthday starting at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 3.

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Chabad of East County will celebrate Rabbi Rafi Andrusier’s birthday with a special celebration and kiddush starting at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 3. Click here to rsvp.

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Lawrence Family JCC announces new “Club J” classes will start at 3:45 p.m., the week of Monday, August 12. Club J launches exciting after-school classes for seven weeks for kids ages 5-10. Mondays: Jazz Dance; Tuesdays: Soccer; Wednesdays: Art; Thursdays: Coding. Click here to register.

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Congregation Beth Israel announces “Tribe Oneg” at 7:30 p.m., Friday, August 16. TRIBE is for adults in their 20’s-40’s who like to meet, mingle and celebrate Shabbat together. Oneg takes place immediately after Shabbat services at 6:15 p.m. Click here to register.

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Hadassah San Diego presents “Hats Off to Hadassah” at 2 p.m., Sunday, September 8 at a private residence in Carmel Valley. University of California Regent Richard Leib, will address The Rising Level of Antisemitism on our College Campuses. Proceeds will support Hadassah’s Gandel Rehabilitation Center in Jerusalem. Click here for more information.

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Kindness Initiative announces “Games for Good with Kindness” at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, September 15 at Congregation Beth Am. Join for an afternoon of games and friendship. Organizers say this event will be an afternoon of solidarity and meaningful connections, while contributing to the welfare of San Diego’s vulnerable Jewish population. Mah Jongg, Canasta, Scrabble, Rummikub, Bridge and Kaluki are on offer as well as refreshments and a Holiday Market. Click here to register.

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Hillel of San Diego shares a story of UCSD alumni Shaina and Evan in a philanthropy campaign in honor of the upcoming holiday Tu B’Av, the Jewish day of love: “Shaina remembers the first time she came to Hillel at UCSD. She didn’t expect to know anyone…but there he was. Evan was someone she knew from high school. She didn’t realize he was Jewish! Shaina: “It was great to reconnect. We started studying together and hanging out at Hillel, which made it easy to get reacquainted.” Evan: “I grew up Jewish but stopped going to synagogue in high school and college. Hillel became the place where I found my connection to Judaism again and learned about Israel. My sister went on Birthright and asked me when I was going to go. I felt like I was drowning in academics, but then Shaina told me she planned to go in the summer. She said there were still some spots available, and she’d like me to come with her.” Hillel at UCSD’s Birthright trip was THE turning point in their relationship.“It was a blast. An absolute joy! We were in a world where we felt so authentic and confident to be Jewish. Our love for each other grew in a place that is beautiful and central to who we are and how we want to grow together Jewishly.”

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GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Hadassah asks women across the country to share their personal experiences of antisemitism to help educate Congress and lawmakers to understand the impacts on women’s everyday lives. Click here to tell your story.

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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.