By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO–Having the pleasure of company from Israel, our correspondent Dorothea Shefer-Vanson and her husband Dr Yigal Shefer of Mevasseret Zion, I made certain that our itinerary on Sunday, March 30, included some of the attractions of Balboa Park. In particular, I wanted them to see how Israelis and American Jews work together to make friends for Israel from among the thousands of tourists who visit Balboa Park, which is San Diego’s premier cultural center.
On the patio of the two-room house, we found Grossmont College student Guy Yifrah, writing the names of visitors in Hebrew. It’s always interesting for people who are unfamiliar with another alphabet — be it Hebrew, Chinese, Arabic, Farsi or what have you — to see what their own name looks like. Certainly Carolina Ramos, visiting from across the California-Mexico border from Mexicali, seemed pleased to see how “Carolina” was spelled, from right to left.
Barely did we go inside the cottage when my guests and I were greeted warmly and invited to taste burekas, which in the House of Israel version are similar to spanakopita served at Greek restaurants. They were smilingly served up by Nechama Bunton, 7, a young member of Ohr Shalom Synagogue. Such a warm, beautiful smile! You cannot help answering this sweet girl with a smile of your own.
The children of Ohr Shalom Synagogue — which is located at 3rd and Laurel Streets, only a few blocks from the park (when the Laurel Street Bridge is open) — were among the featured exhibitors at the House of Israel. The mezuzot that they made at their school were on display along with an explanation that whereas the children crafted and painted the casings, the sacred words of Torah inside the mezuzot were not written on kosher parchment, so these objets d’art were not kosher for use on anyone’s doorpost.
The House of Israel contains numerous video monitors with important information about modern Israel. Yet, what caught my eye was a time line shown to us by Sandy Golden, an American educator who occasionally favors San Diego Jewish World with her articles.
Dressed in a blue and white T-shirt adorned with the flag of Israel and that country’s name in Hebrew letters, Golden explained that the timeline helps visitors become familiarized with the many epochs and rulers in the Land of Israel’s history.
Speaking of time lines, Golden wanted all our San Diego Jewish World readers to know that at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 20th, the House of Israel will be presenting its annual lawn program during which it will introduce visitors to the folk dances, songs and tastes of Israel.
Featured entertainer will be Yale Strom and his band Hot P’Strom’i. Strom, a violinist, ethno-musicologist, documentary film maker, and artist-in-residence for San Diego State University’s Judaic Studies Department, will be joined on the program by young dancers from the Tarbuton, an institution in northern San Diego that promotes the Hebrew language and Israeli culture, as well as by other entertainers. No Jewish event would be complete without food–and Golden anticipates there will be plenty of that.
April 20th falls on Easter Sunday as well as in the middle of Passover, and if you already have plans for that time period, don’t despair. You can see the regular exhibits of the House of Israel, and maybe even taste the burekas on any Sunday afternoon. The House of Israel is located among the cluster of international cottages located across the interior park road from the Organ Pavilion.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World, which seeks sponsors, whose messages may appear, as this one does, in the space below specified articles. For more information, please contact Harrison via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com