LA MESA, California – The San Diego International Jewish Film Festival is being held at the Lawrence Family JCC. I love going to the movies but since having twins, those typical date nights with my husband are not very common anymore.
Before we had kids, we would watch all the films that were up for Academy Awards and would have an Oscar-watching party with a fun night of noshes and my “red carpet bubbly” (champagne with a splash of pomegranate juice). We would discuss our thoughts about the movies and actors. Now we watch the Oscars and possibly watch what is being shown on Netflix.
I am excited to attend the SDIJFF and see as many films as I can fit in my tight schedule.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Ohr Shalom Synagogue will host a San Diego Bloodbank Mobile Blood Drive at 9 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 2. Click here to sign up.
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Coastal Roots Farm invites the community to attend its “Tu B’Shvat Food Forest Festival” at noon, Sunday, Feb. 2. The event includes cooking demos, scavenger hunts, live music, libation station (21+), tree planting and maintenance, yoga, meditation and more. Click here to register.
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Anti-Defamation League of San Diego presents “Future of White Supremacy and Extremism in America” at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5 on Zoom. Key topics covered include the impact of Jan. 6 pardons, the current U.S. extremist threat landscape, and white supremacy and extremism online. Click here to register.
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Young Israel of San Diego presents “Boots for Israel: Saving the Soles of our Chayalim with Yakir Wachstock” at 5:10 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7. Wachstock will discuss his story of doing extraordinary things on behalf of the Jewish people. Community dinner following Kabbalat Shabbat services. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth El’s Women’s Connection will host its women-led Shabbat honoring Varda Lev-Ram at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 8. Lev-Ram will be honored as its Eshet Chayil – Woman of Valor during services. A celebratory luncheon will follow. Click here to register.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Sisterhood presents “Sisterhood Havdalah” at 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 8. Sisterhood members will lead the community in prayer and Torah followed by a light meal, Havdalah and Bira V’Nashira (singing and beer). Childcare is provided. Click here to rsvp.
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San Diego Hebrew Day School announces its “State of the School Address” at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12. The event includes a reception followed by Rabbi Benjamin Geiger’s address.
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Hillel San Diego invites the community to attend its “Proactive Strategies for Combatting Antisemitism on Campus” at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12 on Zoom. Executive Director Karen Parry, Community Relations Director Jacob Mandel and Hillel students will discuss the ongoing proactive effort to tackle campus antisemitism, current realities, obstacles and opportunities, and how to help empower the Jewish students. Click here to register.
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Beth Jacob Congregation announces “Evening Lecture in the Shul with Rabbi Menachem Nissel” Tuesday Night, Feb. 18. Nissel is a renowned speaker and has the rare ability to translate lofty concepts into practical daily living with irrepressible British humor. Save the date, more details to follow.
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SCY High presents “A Night for SCY in Mumbai” at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 23 at Royal India – Miramar. The event includes traditional (and non-spicy) Indian food stations, kosher for one night only, henna artist and IPA beer tasting in support of SCY High. Click here to register.
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American Jewish Committee and South African Jewish American Community (SAJAC) partner in “Dispatches from South Africa with Wayne Sussman” at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 24. Sussman will speak about his work, the state of the community in South Africa, and the events surrounding South Africa’s application to the International Court of Justice and its global ramifications. Click here to register and receive location.
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CHABAD HOUSE HAPPENINGS
University City announces its “Melavah Malkah Game Night” at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1. The event includes a falafel bar, desserts by Gitti Leider, chess, checkers, poker, charades, puzzles and more. Click here to rsvp.
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La Jolla will host its “SD Nshei Chabad Event” at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5. This event is a women’s gathering of prayer, learning and inspiration for our brothers and sisters in Israel. Click here to rsvp and for address.
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Chula Vista’s Jewish Women’s Circle invites women to attend its “Mezuzahs and Mimosas” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18. The event includes making your own beautiful resin Mezuzah while learning about this special Mitzvah. Click here to rsvp.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Young Israel of San Diego reports to its congregants the Thursday Minyan Team led by Rich Goodwin was treated with M&M’s candy at 6 a.m. The congregation says to discover what other sweet treats Goodwin will bring, join the Thursday Minyan Team to find out.
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Chabad of East County announces that “Shabbat in the Heights” will gather Friday, May 2 until Sunday, May 4 in Crown Heights Brooklyn, New York. The theme is UNITY to unite and celebrate our shared Judaism. Click here to register and use the code ChabadEC25.
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Chabad at La Costa’s Hebrew School learned Chof for Kochavim. They made stars and sand art.
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Chabad at La Costa is asking for Purim Sponsors/Shalach Manos who will help underwrite the costs associated with this project. Click here if interested.
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San Diego Hebrew Day School’s preschool reports all of the students are learning about Tu B’Shvat. The youngest classes have been painting the parts of a tree and identifying the object and colors. The middle classes have been learning about the roots, trunk, branches and leaves. The oldest classes have delved deeper into the topic by planting seeds in cotton and observing their growth. The older classes are looking forward to their field trip to Coastal Roots Farm to learn more about Tu B’Shvat and planting on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
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Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports to its congregants that after a stressful week and dealing with antisemitic graffiti on the property, they took three carloads of donations up to Los Angeles and overwhelmed the donation centers which were very grateful for the generosity.
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Kindness Initiative reports Keren-Dee Hamui as its new Executive Director. Hamui will oversee the strategic vision and day-to-day operations, working closely with staff, volunteers and community partners to expand and deepen its reach in the San Diego Jewish community.
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JEWISH HUMOR
Chabad of East County shares the following joke: A community was asked about the qualities of their former rabbi.
“He can be compared to Moses, King David, and even an angel,” came the response.
The new community eagerly accepted the rabbi as their spiritual leader but quickly realized he was incapable of anything. They wrote a letter to the other community, complaining as to why they deceived them.
To which they received a reply, “We were not deceiving you. Just like Moses — this rabbi can’t speak. He knows not a word of English — like King David. And just as an angel — a mensch he is not.”
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.