LA MESA, California – Where did February go? It is the shortest month of the year but seems to be packed with the most events and celebrations. One of those being Black History Month. Below are a few African-American Jewish entertainers.
Aubrey Drake Graham, Drake who is a Canadian rapper, singer, and actor. Graham’s father is an African American drummer from Memphis, Tennessee, who performed with musician Jerry Lee Lewis. Drake’s mother is a Canadian Ashkenazi Jew, who worked as an English teacher and florist. Drake is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada. Drake attended a Jewish day school and became a Bar Mitzvah. Click here to read more.
*
Sammy Davis Jr. was an American singer, actor, comedian, dancer, and musician. He was gifted with a mezuzah and wore it around his neck instead of putting it by his door. The night he did not wear the mezuzah around his neck was the night he was in a car accident. Davis converted to Judaism in 1960. Click here to read more.
*
Nissim Black is an American Israeli rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Black converted to Judaism and had an Orthodox Jewish marriage in 2013. Black and his family made Aliyah to Israel and settled in Jerusalem. Click here to read more.
*
UPCOMING EVENTS
Chabad of Downtown invites the community to attend its “Shabbat Dinner” at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28. Click here to rsvp.
*
Congregation Beth Israel’s Social Action Network and Temple Emani-El’s Social Action Committee announce their “Beach Clean Up Day” at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 2 in the Mission Bay area. All supplies for the cleanup will be provided and the organizers hope volunteers will stay afterward for a nosh and schmooze. Click here to sign up.
*
SCY High announces its “Torah High’s Casino Night” at 5 p.m., Sunday, March 9. This event will honor Torah High founders: Rabbi Michoel and Mrs. Chavi Pikes, longtime Hebrew teacher Mrs. Geula Hebron and history teacher Mrs. Sharon Leslie. The night includes prizes, cocktails, dinner and entertainment. Click here to rsvp.
*
PURIM PLANNING
Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Abraham Ratner Torah School reports its deadline for ordering Mishloach Manot Purim Baskets is Friday, Feb. 28. The Torah School fundraiser’s theme is “Made in Israel” and will include colorful Shabbat candles, Bamba’s and hamantaschen made at Tifereth. Click here to place an order.
*
Chabad of University City reports its Purim Mishloach Manot fundraiser is going on. Click here to sign up.
*
Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Sisterhood announces its “Sisterhood Purim Speakeasy” at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 8 at The Elks Lodge. The event includes Havdalah, High Society Jazz Band, Appetizers, Dinner, Themed Cocktails and Dessert. Tarot Card readings from Rachel Crawford and magician Magic Mike Stilwell. Click here to rsvp.
*
Israeli American Council announces a webinar “From Shushan to Tehran: Lessons From the Book of Esther on Jewish Survival and the Power of Community” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 11. This session will include a limmud and reflection lead by Aya Shechter, Chief Programming Officer, IAC and Dr. Yakir Englander, Senior Director of Leadership Education, IAC. Click here to register.
*
Ohr Shalom Synagogue invites the community to attend its “Erev Purim Celebration” at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 13. The event includes dinner, followed by traditional Megillah reading. Click here to register.
*
Chabad of Downtown announces its “Purim Turns Into Shabbat” at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 13; and 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 14. The event includes Megillah reading, hamantashen, masquerade, Purim seudah and Shabbat Dinner. Click here to rsvp.
*
Congregation Beth Israel announces its “Purim Carnival” at 10 a.m., Sunday, March 16. The courtyard will be filled with music; the social hall will be filled with bounce houses and mouths will be filled with hamantaschens, organizers say. Click here to reserve your wristbands and food tickets…. Also, the San Diego Blood Bank will be hosting a blood drive during the Purim Carnival to benefit Rady Children’s Hospital. Click here to sign up.
*
OBITUARY NOTICES
Ben Bloom, husband of Leah (Turchin) Bloom, father of Hannah Bloom, son of Greg and Nancy Bloom, brother of Rachel Bloom, son-in-law of Beverly Turchin, has died. The funeral will take place in Oakland, California on Friday, Feb. 28. Tifereth Israel Synagogue reports.
*
Ann Burke, wife of Aaron Burke; mother of Elizabeth Vann, Sarah (Mats) Villen and Maria White; grandmother of Judah and Mirabelle Vann, Hannah and Norah Villen and Ian and Adrian White, has died. The funeral took place at Temple Israel in Dayton, Ohio, Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports.
*
Rosalind Gray, mother of Giela Gray, Rena Gray Fein, and Hillel Gray, sister of Charlotte Albert, has died. The funeral took place on Monday, Feb. 24 in Newton, Massachusetts, Tifereth Israel Synagogue reports.
*
Bracha Mandelbaum has died, and the funeral will take place in Israel, Chabad of University City reports.
*
Ada van Vloten, sister of Alex van Frank, has died. The funeral will take place in Washington DC, Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports.
*
Shayne Wilks, sister of Lynn Wilks, sister-in-law of Andy Rosen and aunt of Keira Rosen, has died. The funeral took place Monday, Feb. 24 at Home of Peace, with Rabbi Ryan Newfield of Ner Tamid Synagogue as officiant, Young Israel of San Diego, Ner Tamid Synagogue and Am Israel Mortuary report.
*
Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.