LA MESA, California – The Jewish Holiday of Tu B’Shvat has come and gone. It was celebrated on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 12 this year. My 12-year-old twins love this holiday since it celebrates the birthday of the trees.
One year, they were probably 4 years old, I found the front door open and panicked since no one was answering when I called their names. I ran outside to find them hugging our trees in our yard and singing “Happy Birthday” to them. After I got over my fear that they disappeared, I joined them in the “hug a tree.” I learned they named our trees and sometimes when we are leaving I hear they say “see ya later Gary and Larry.”
We put in an alarm system and door alerts soon after that scary incident.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Congregation Beth Am presents “Zimrat Yah” at 10:45 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 22. This event will include a meditative and musical experience to give everyone a chance to center and connect.
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Beth Jacob Congregation announces its “Parent Child Learning Siyum” at 6:45 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22. The event includes pizza, Torah study and raffle prizes.
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SCY High invites the community to participate in its “Presidents’ Day Raffle Special” drawing that will occur Tuesday, Feb. 25. Click here to get your tickets for a chance to win $1,000 cash.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue announces its “San Diego Blood Drive” at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 26 in the lower parking lot. All those who donate get a free box of Girl Scout Cookies. Click here to sign up.
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Congregation Beth Israel’s Single Senior Social will meet at 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28. A spokesperson says it’s an occasion to make new friends, enjoy a glass of wine, nibble on delicious snacks and unwind before Erev Chai Shabbat Service. Click here to rsvp.
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Temple Emanu-El presents “Family Pajama Shabbat” at 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28. Join the congregation in your coziest jammies for a breakfast for dinner followed by a Family Shabbat Service. Click here to sign up.
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Congregation B’nai Tikvah announces “Shabbat Across America” at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Mar. 7 at Bethlehem Lutheran. The event will include a light dairy dinner and a Purim celebration. Click here to rsvp.
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The San Diego Center for Jewish Culture announces “A Day of Jewish Community, Learning, and Exploration” at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, Mar. 30 at the Lawrence Family JCC. This Tapestry event includes international speakers, scholars discussing trends around the Jewish world, artists guiding us through their creative process, and authors sharing their latest and greatest books. Click here for tickets.
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CHABAD HAPPENINGS
University City announces an “Evening with Noted Author, Levi Shmotkin” at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 25. Shmotkin will discuss finding emotional balance in an unbalanced world based off his book Letters for Life. Click here to rsvp.
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Chula Vista invites members to attend its Jewish Learning Institute Course “Journey of the Soul” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 4. This session discusses a fresh look at life, death and what happens afterwards. Click here to sign up.
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Poway invites the community to its annual “Purim Basket Project.” Orders must be in before noon, Wednesday, Mar. 5. Click here to order a basket or to include your name.
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East County’s Jewish Women’s Circle invites women to attend its “Torah and Tea” at noon, Thursday, Mar. 6 at La Mesa Pizzaworks. The lesson will explore the miracle of Purim and its deeper lessons. Click here to rsvp.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
San Diego International Jewish Film Festival reports its “Audience Choice Awards.” Winner of Best Narrative Feature was Avenue of the Giants, second place Bad Shabbos and third place The Accusation. Winner of the Best Documentary Feature was Janis Ian: Breaking Silence, second place Troll Storm and third place Unbroken.
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Congregation Beth Am reports Jackie and Spencer Cohn welcomed the birth of a baby girl. Mazel Tov!
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Beth Jacob Congregation announces a collaboration philanthropy campaign with Boots for Israel Project. This campaign is supplying soldiers on the front lines with boots. They are receiving specific size requirements from countless units across multiple divisions. Click here to donate to the campaign.
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JEWISH HUMOR
Chabad of East County shares the following joke: “Midnight Lecture” A Jewish man is speeding on the highway at 1 a.m. A policeman stops him and asks, “Where are you racing at this hour?” “To a lecture,” the man responds. “Who will give you a lecture at this hour?” the policeman asks. “My wife,” was the reply.
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OBITUARY NOTICES
Isidoro Lombroso, father of Susie (Steve) Wolff, Ety Salvador and Gina Lombroso, has died. The burial will take place in Mexico City, Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports.
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Charlotte Marx, mother of Gary Marx, grandmother of Ben and Sarah Marx, has died. The funeral will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 21 at Greenwood Memorial Park, Tifereth Israel Synagogue reports.
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Martin Mass, husband of Diana Mass, has died. The funeral services will be held in New York, Ner Tamid Synagogue reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.