Story and Photos by Cailin Acosta
LA MESA, California – “One of my favorite Chanukah memories growing up was lighting the candles on the stove and saying the blessings with my family,” Dan Oserin, co-owner of Nainsook Framing and Art, told me on Sunday. My daughter and I attended the “Holiday Open House” and also visited with Roz Oserin, fine artist and wife to Dan, who showcased her many watercolor paintings.
The name Nainsook is of Hindi origin, from nain “eye” and sook “pleasure.” This is the perfect name for this family-owned business in the La Mesa village since the walls are covered in art which is appealing to the eye and they also pride themselves in expertly framed pieces that provide pleasure to the customers requesting custom framing.
On the counter was a menorah with the shamash and the first night’s candle placed in their holders. Behind the menorah was a small pine tree with decorations. In an interfaith marriage like mine, the Oserins this year will have both a chanukiah and a Christmas tree at home. The first night of Chanukah will coincide with Christmas.
Dan grew up in a Conservative household in New Jersey but does not belong to a synagogue locally. He considers himself as spiritually Jewish. Dan and Roz do not have children together, but Roz has two children from a previous marriage. Dan said if he did have biological children, he might be a more observant Jew to pass on the heritage. He mentioned how it is important to teach children where they come from.
When asked what his favorite Jewish holiday was, he said Passover now is one of his favorites. He said Passover was problematic for him during his boyhood. While his friends enjoyed a baloney sandwich with bread, he would have a matzo sandwich with cream cheese. That made it difficult to explain why his lunch was different than those of many other students. Probably about 30% of his classmates were all doing the same thing, so it wasn’t that uncommon.
When the Oserins celebrate Passover now, they do two Seders. The first night they are invited over to a friend’s house and Dan hosts the second night at their home. On the second night he invites over his friends who are in interfaith marriages to join them.
As the phone rang and Dan and Roz both had to get back to helping customers, my daughter and I enjoyed crafting ornaments to add to our “Chanukah bush” at home. The medium was alcohol ink which I first learned how to use from Roz at a workshop many years ago. As we were in deep artistic thought, it was announced that my daughter CeCe had won the raffle and got to pick out a watercolor painting Roz had made. We will be returning to have it framed since it pairs well with the beach vibes of our home decor.
Nainsook Framing and Art will be open during “Holiday in the Village,” an event that starts at noon until 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14.
Click here for more information on Nainsook Framing and Art. Click here to see more of Roz Oserin’s work.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.