Torah

SAN DIEGO, CA—During Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s congregational second night Seder, J.R. Inman spoke about “Miriam’s Cup.” Miriam’s Cup is a recent addition to the Seder. A cup filled with water is placed on the table next to Elijah’s cup to recall the role of Miriam, Moses’ sister, in the Exodus story. Miriam helped rescue her brother from certain death at the hands of the Egyptians, and the midrash records that a water well miraculously followed the Israelites on their journey through the desert as a reward for her benevolent acts. Miriam’s cup on the Seder table reminds us not only of her story, but of the contributions of Jewish women to the community throughout our history.

J.R. dedicated Miriam’s cup this year to Ruth Messinger, who is president of the American Jewish World Service. The American Jewish World Service in recent years has dedicated itself to the plight of the people of Darfur, Sudan. The people of Darfur have been subjected to murder, rape, other atrocities, and exile at the hands of the government of Sudan and their proxy militia, the Janjaweed. J.R. reminded us of our Jewish obligation to help stop the genocide in Darfur through our protests and contributions.

A few months ago I wrote of the situation in Darfur and asked anyone who was interested in organizing our congregation to help to contact me. During Pesach our hearts and minds should especially be concerned with helping all those who are still enslaved to achieve freedom.           

Immediately after Pesach the Jewish community unites to observe Yom Hashoah - Holocaust Memorial Day. Yom Hashoah begins on the evening of Sunday, April 15 and San Diego’s community-wide commemoration at the Lawrence Family J.C.C. begins that afternoon at 1:30 p.m. This year there will also be a special pre-Bar/Bat Mitzvah program at the J.C.C. beginning at 1:30 as well. I urge all of you to attend this meaningful commemoration.

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The Jewish Grapevine
 

CYBER-CHATTER—Hillel Mazansky, who evidently has friends who scour the Internet for him to find some delightful offerings, has located for us all a power point photography exhibit concerning the question of "evil" in the universe. Both for its photos and its surprise ending, it's well worth playing on your computer (assuming you have a power point reader program).  Click here if you do.  For those who don't we'll provide a summary tomorrow... Steven Weening likes the idea being circulated on the Internet of encouraging everyone to program their phones with the legends ICE 1, ICE 2, ICE 3, with ICE meaning "In Case of Emergency."  He sent along an email that suggested that paramedics sometimes come across victims who have cell phones, however nothing in the victims' cell phone directories indicates whom to call in case of emergency... Rod Luck of KUSI television (Channel 11) plans a live broadcast with Holocaust Survivors at 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 11 from the sanctuary of Tifereth Israel Synagogue...

LOCAL JEWISH HISTORY—Bound volumes of the San Diego Jewish Times have been donated to the Jewish Historical Society of San Diego.  Stan and Laurel Schwartz will store those important historical resources in the JHSSD archives in the Love Library of San Diego State University.  The Society also is looking for other items of historical interest, perhaps lying forgotten in a box at your house.  Please consider donating to the Society by contacting the Schwartzes at (619) 232-5888.

YIDDISH SCHOOL IN LITHUANIA—We wrote yesterday of the Yiddish language program sponsored by the Shalom Foundation in Poland.  Now we learn that another summer program will be held at Vilnius University in Lithuania for the four weeks between July 29 and August 24, with guided tours of various pats of Lithuania breaking up language workshops and lectures.  The cost is $1395 for the combined language and culture program for non-students; $875 for students. More information can be obtained on the Vilnius Yiddish Institute's website.

Author Pete Early to Address May 22 Annual
Meeting of JFS Mental Health Committee

SAN DIEGO, CA. (Publicity Release)—Pete Earley, the author of multiple non-fiction books and novels and former reporter for The Washington Post, will speak at this year’s luncheon of the Mental Health Committee of Jewish Family Service of San Diego.  His newest book, Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness, discusses his journey as a father throughout his son’s diagnosis, arrest and treatment.  The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 from 11:15 am – 1:30 pm

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Pete Earley .. Patti Luzi Earley photo
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at the Mission Valley Doubletree Hotel in Hazard Center (7450 Hazard Center Drive).

After his diagnosis with Bipolar Disorder, Pete Earley’s son, Mike, broke into a woman’s home to take a bubble bath and significantly damaged her property.  He was arrested and sentenced to serve jail time.  Pete Earley was furious that his son’s actions were viewed as a crime rather than a psychotic episode.  He was given unlimited access to the Miami-Dade County Jail where he launched an investigation into America’s jails and prisons and the mental health system.  In doing so, he discovered two seriously flawed systems.  His book is meant to expose public policies and laws that create barriers for families to assist loved ones diagnosed with mental illness, and to provide ideas for holding the mental health system accountable.         

This is the fourth annual Mental Health Committee Luncheon in support of Mental Health Awareness.  The event is part of the Mental Health Committee’s effort to eradicate the stigma of mental illness through community education and support residents of the county coping and living with mental illness.  The luncheon is being co-sponsored by the Agency for Jewish Education, Congregation Beth Israel, and the Humanistic Jewish Congregation of San Diego. CEUs are available for LCSWs and MFTs. 

Tickets for the program and luncheon are $38 if purchased before May 1, 2007, and $42 thereafter.  For more information or to register for event, please call (858) 637-3231 or register online at www.jfssd.org.