LA MESA, California – Just when you think one holiday is behind us, another one is on the horizon. Last week was Purim and in just a few short weeks, Passover will be here before we know it.
I dread the chometz cleaning but with the Spring season almost here and longer days of sunlight, it makes it less stressful. Not only getting chometz put away but also going through drawers and making everyone throw out socks with holes and shirts with stains.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
San Diego Museum of Art features an art installation and lecture “Art of the Americas” with local artist Becky Guttin at 10 a.m., Friday, March 21. The event will feature a lecture about Guttin’s work and the process.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue presents “The Beauty of Havdalah with Rabbi Hanan Leberman and Neta Laytter” at 7:45 p.m., Saturday, March 22. Leberman and Laytter invite the congregation to an evening of joyous singing and a nosh. Click here for more information.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue and Congregation Beth Am’s USY San Diego and Orange County will meet at “USY Bunny Café” at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 23. Students in 7th to 12th grade are invited to meet other USY friends from Orange County, enjoy a café beverage and pet bunnies. Click here to register.
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Jewish Federation of San Diego and Secure Community Network announce “Security Spring Training” at 6 p.m., Monday, March 24 at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. The event includes emergency response training designed to empower individuals and organizations with the skills to react quickly and effectively in crisis situations. Click here to register.
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Women of Congregation Beth Israel announce its “Bubbles and Bunco” at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 26. The event includes playing Bunco and a social night out meeting new people. Heavy appetizers and drinks will be provided. Click here to rsvp.
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Ner Tamid Synagogue announces it’s “Torah Café: Breakfast by Batya followed by JNF Israel speaker” at 10:15 a.m., Sunday, March 30. The event will discuss the importance of Israel with perspectives from an Iranian-American. Click here to register.
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PASSOVER PLANNING
Beth Jacob Congregation announces its “Pesach Program” at 8:10 p.m., Saturday, April 12. The event will include a full-service dinner at your own pace and a Pesach program. Click here to rsvp.
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Ohr Shalom Synagogue invites the community to its “Community 2nd Night Seder” at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, April 13. The second night seder will be led by Rabbi Scott Meltzer. Click here to rsvp.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Congregation Dor Hadash reports there will be auditions for two candidates for Rabbi. Rabbi Ally Jacobson, current Dor Hadash Director of Education, will lead services at 6:30 p.m., Friday, March 21; 10 a.m., Saturday, March 22; and 9 a.m., Sunday, March 23 followed by a Q&A. Click here to register for the weekend activities. Rabbi-Cantor Cheri Weiss, currently of Temple Emanu-El in Honolulu, Hawaii, will lead services at 6:30 p.m., Friday, April 4, 10 a.m.; Saturday, April 5, and 12:30 p.m., Sunday, April 6 followed by a Q&A. Click here to register for the weekend activities.
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Anti-Defamation League of San Diego reports showtimes of the documentary “October 8.” The film deals with the widespread antisemitism and Jew hatred that has erupted the day after October 7, 2023, particularly on university campuses across the county. Click here to get tickets.
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Young Israel of San Diego reports Jonathan and Rebecca Press will be joining the growing community of the Tucson Torah Center, a start-up Kollel community in Tucson, Arizona.
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San Diego Jewish Academy reports two students, Spencer Foss and Ava Lerman, entered projects in the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. Lerman’s project on Effectiveness of Ultrasonic Waves on Cyanobacteria for Algal Bloom Mitigation earned her second place in the senior division. She was also awarded a professional society award by the Water Environment Federation as well as the Stockholm Junior Water Prize.
Foss’s project on Sucralose Exposed Bacteria’s Relationship to Future Increase in Antibiotic Resistance Genes earned him first place honors in the senior division. Foss was also recognized with a professional society award by the San Diego County Dental Foundation. This project earned Foss the chance to move on and compete in the California Science and Engineering Fair. Foss was also recognized with the Phil Gay Award for being one of only four students in the San Diego area to compete in GSDSEF for five or more years. He has earned four first place recognitions and one second place recognition in those five years.
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OBITUARY NOTICES
Edward Carnot, husband of Pamela Carnot, father of Brett (and Lori) and Kimberly (and Traci Carpenter), grandfather of Zoe and Eden Carnot, and Emma and Harley Carpenter, has died. The memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 19 at Congregation Beth Israel. Donations can be made in Carnot’s honor to Congregation Beth Israel, Congregation Beth Israel reports.
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Mindy Elkin, sister of Chris Elkin, has died. The funeral took place in Arkansas, Congregation Beth Am reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.