LA MESA, California – I recently read an article posing the question of when faced with a natural disaster and forced to evacuate, what would you bring with you?
We had this talk with our 12-year-old twins and one said they would bring all their Lego’s. Hmm, okay, let me rephrase, you have a pillowcase, what would you bring if only given minutes to leave? They both said they didn’t like this topic since it makes them scared to think about. For parents, “adulting” can be hard, what would you grab with not much time to spare?
My husband mentioned all the electronics since those will be what looters will go for. I said, if they are already burnt then no one would want them. Clothes, medications and hygiene items can be replaced. What can’t be replaced are pictures and any family heirlooms like a menorah or Shabbat candle holders that have been passed down from generation to generation. Freckles, my angora rabbit would know from the commotion that she needs to come out from hiding and get in her bag so she is safe.
I would pull off my mezuzah and hope for the best. We have a fire safe box with birth certificates, pictures and other important documents. But the most important are my twins, husband and rabbit to be safe.
As I noticed, the winds are picking up in my neighborhood. I pray we get rain throughout the whole state soon.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Holocaust Living History Workshop at UC San Diego presents “The Gray Zone: How Jews Navigated Forced Cooperation with the Nazis featuring Laura Jockusch” at 5 p.m., Thurs. Jan. 16 on Zoom. Click here to register.
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Lawrence Family JCC’s JCompany Youth Theatre presents “Mamma Mia! Generations Reading Series” at 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16. Mother and Daughter duo Judy and Lindsey Grant will share the stage with parents, family members, alumni and staff bridging generations while telling the story of the play and singing to ABBA’s hits. Click here for tickets.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue welcomes the Martin Luther King Jr. Choir at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18. The evening will begin with Havdalah and choir performance, followed by a dessert reception. Click here to register.
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Congregation Dor Hadash announces its annual “Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” at 9 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Lawrence Family JCC. This year’s theme will be Helping San Diego: Working Together to Alleviate Food and Housing Insecurity. Click here to sign up to bring items for Mitzvah bags, donations to San Diego Rescue Mission and to Jewish Family Service.
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Chabad of East County Jewish Women’s Circle announces its “Salad Spectacular in Honor of Tu B’Shvat” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21. Click here to register and to receive address.
Congregation Beth El announces its “Shabbat Oneg” at 5:45 p.m., Friday, Jan. 31. This special event will celebrate the new and “newish” members. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth Am will host a blood drive at 8 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 2. Click here to register.
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Ohr Shalom Synagogue will host a blood drive at 9 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 2. Click here to register.
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Anti-Defamation League presents a webinar “Connecting Stories and Legacies” at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11. Children’s book author Gordon Korman and Rachelle Goldstein will delve into the role of storytelling in understanding antisemitism – past and present. Click here to register.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Jewish Federation of San Diego reports its applications for “Leading 2Gether” closes on Friday, Jan. 17. This program series is for young adults 25-40 years old in committed relationships, including interfaith couples. Sessions are monthly from January to May to help develop leadership skills and make a difference in the local and global Jewish community. Click here to apply.
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Chip Brent of San Diego Properties sent out a plea to the local community to collect gently used clothes for distribution to the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. Click here for more information as this will be an ongoing effort for many weeks.
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Women’s League for Conservative Judaism reports it has created the “Sisters Helping Sisters Emergency Relief Fund” to support Sisterhood of Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center and other WLCJ Sisterhood Affiliates affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. Click here to donate.
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Chabad of University City encourages its congregation to donate to the those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. Every dollar will be sent to the various Chabad Centers in the affected area. Click here to donate and indicate your donation is for the LA fires.
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Congregation Beth Am has scheduled a “Family Mitzvah Day and Donation Drive” with items to be dropped off by Sunday, Feb. 2. Items for collection include spare change to be rolled and donated to the Jewish Federation San Diego Sha’ar HaNegev fund. Toiletries: full size items preferred for Jewish Family Service women’s shelter. Ziplock bags to be packaged with hygiene products. Tennis balls clean or new to make dog toys. T-shirts and long socks are clean, new or gently used.
Ohr Shalom Synagogue sponsors a Shabbat Kehillatit Kabbalat service and community dinner at 6:15 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 17. Ohr Shalom Synagogue invites all those with families and friends who have evacuated the Los Angeles fires to join as its guests. Click here to register.
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HUMOR
Chabad of East County shares the following joke: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson go camping together. They put up a tent and lay down inside to enjoy a tranquil rest around the fire. In middle of the night, Sherlock turns to Dr. Watson and says, “So what are you thinking about now”? Watson responds: “Sherlock! This is awesome. I’m gazing at the celestial stars hovering above us, I’m overwhelmed by the romantic splendor of the night, and I’m engulfed by the picturesque view of the Double Decker. “And what are you thinking about”? asks Watson. “That someone stole our tent,” Sherlock replies.
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OBITUARY NOTICE
Charlotte Katz died Friday, Jan. 10. The graveside service was conducted Monday, Jan. 13 at El Camino Memorial Park with Rabbi Yael Ridberg and Rabbi Marcelo Gindlin of Congregation Dor Hadash as officiants, Am Israel Mortuary reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.