How do you pay tribute to a man whose who has spent 30 years in
the rabbinate? Well, you put out a call; you assemble all those who
answer who call; you choose a captain; you develop a idea, you cook
up some Broadway themes, you change some lyrics to fit the moment
and you don’t stop until you come up with Emanu-El On Broadway!
That’s how! 

OK. Now if it were that easy, we could honor any one we like, any
time, anywhere and any place, and sometimes we do. But if it’s a
special someone, love and dedication are added to that equation. And
so on Saturday evening, April 7, it came to pass that about 500
members and friends of Temple Emanu-El showed their appreciation
to their Rabbi Martin S. Lawson—or simply to “Marty” as many of us
think of him.

                                                                                              
It’s not my intention here to fill in all the blanks about his life’s
work. Marty Lawson is unlike any other. He’s not afraid to show all
sides of his personality. He’s open, determined, articulate and wears
his emotions on his sleeve. He’s dedicated to his teaching and
learning to a fault. He’s crazy about kids, his and others. He’s always
on a mission to bring to light "man’s inhumanity against man." He’s
grateful, loyal, has a robust sense of humor, a beautiful love affair
with his wife Anita, a strong conviction to his belief system, sound
family values while  respecting the alternative life styles of others, and
he’s genuine.  Keep in mind, this young at heart, energetic in spirit
and years rabbi of ours still has lots of work yet to do. So
let’s get on with the show.

                                                                                              
I have been to the David and Dorothea Garfield auditorium at the
Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center on the Jacobs Family
Campus in La Jolla many times. It’s a busy place and there are usually
lots of things going on there at once. I don’t know if it’s a Jewish
thing or not, but it’s a fact. There is usually a high degree of energy
that flows through the air there as well. About 6:15 p.m., April 7, (the
time my friend and I arrived), the energy level surpassed anything
I’ve experienced before. It could have been because the mingling and
pressing of humanity was none other than the good members of the
Temple Emanu-El family and friends who came there to be
entertained by like individuals while honoring  their leader. It could
have been because they were going to be fed as well. It could have
been a combination of the both, or it could have been because
someone said “If you don’t support this thing, it will be a shanda.”

Nevertheless, Art and Dorothy, my favorite ushers, were there to
show us into the theatre when the house opened. Again, there was a
buzz that couldn’t be contained until the first announcement was
made by Temple President Aaron Borovoy (well, it’s a Temple event)
and Rabbi and family began Havdala services. Now that’s a warm,
fuzzy feeling. Then, it was on with the show with the super-talented
Adam Blotner opening with “Willkommen” from Cabaret. Adam, an
SPCA graduate here in San Diego now living and working in Los
Angeles, was master of ceremonies extraordinaire. Relaxed and
loaded with personality, he played to the full house of an appreciative
audience with the experience of a Joel “Come taste the wine” Grey.

What followed were a series of acts
from more Broadway shows than
I’ve seen with talent so deep that any New York producer would be yellow with
envy. Seriously! The list of 
luminaries appearing in these
numbers goes on and on. Suffice it
to say the staff managed to get their
licks in at Marty with rewritten lyrics from a number of  shows
(the multi talented Mark Hamovitch, Marsha Stein and Myrna
Cohen participating) with performances by the full time staff
members, or the Lawsonettes.

It’s amazing the talent that rises to the surface when that call goes out.
The entire company was able to stretch in a line across the very wide
stage of the theatre. There were no less than 84 participants and to
single any one of them out would have me ostracized from the
Jewish community. That’s a gut feeling I have, and since my life
experiences tell me so, I pay attention to them!

There were 15 acts alone in the first half with 12 in the second.
Especially endearing were the children, (and there were a lot of them;
they were very well disciplined and rehearsed). Under the able
direction of  Jodie Bowman who also choreographed, and Becky
Cherlin as  artistic director with Myrna Cohen and Marlene
Hamovitch producing (Marlene you are forgiven for missing so many
of our soirées) this  once-in-a-lifetime happening  had everyone up
on their collective heels as the show came to an end with Rabbi and
company singing “Side by Side” from Company. It was a two-box
tissue moment.

Mazal Tov to the entire cast and to you Marty, are you ready for |
“Another Opening /Another Show?”

See you at the theatre. See you at the next thirty event.

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What's Good to Eat in

San Diego?Lynne Thrope 
___________________________________________________________

Chef Axel Dirolf creates
European-style bistro here

Since the award-winning Cygnet Theatre opened its doors three years ago near SDSU, audiences have been flocking to this popular little venue from all parts of the county. Local theatre critics lauded the stellar production of The Matchmaker which played to full houses during its regular and extended run and Eugene O’Neill’s Desire Under the Elms opens April 28, no doubt another hit.

Dinner coupled with theatre make for a great night out and, no surprise that Cygnet’s theatre goers not familiar with restaurants that dot the local landscape of University and El Cajon Blvd. between College and 70^th Streets in La Mesa long for vittles other than a super sized burger or fish taco.  Surely an opportunity for some ambitious restaurateur to fill a much needed niche (or hungry palate). Enter Chef Axel – La Mesa’s new ‘it’ guy and his European bistro, the new ‘it’ place – so close to The Cygnet, you could be paying your bill as audience members are taking their seats.

	Chef Axel Dirolf’s experiences read like a travelogue!  In his native Köhn, Germany, Axel’s culinary education jumpstarted in the family kitchen. At 16, he earned enough money cooking to continue his college education and restaurant apprenticeship. Upon graduating, he went to work for the Hilton Corporation and then Kulm Hotel in St. Moritz, Switzerland while spending summers cooking at the Corfou Palace Hotel in Greece. Next stop, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he catered to the royal family.
Axel Dirolf Chef Axel's  European Bistro	It was in Qatar that he met his wife, Helen, who had grown up in San Diego. Together, they moved

back to Switzerland where Chef Axel worked for the Olympic Training Center in Zurich.  

When Lufthansa hired him as their global quality manager, the Dirolfs were delighted to learn that their base would be San Diego. Helen would be coming home; Chef Axel would begin the next leg of his culinary journey.  Together, they operate the wonderful German eatery that serves up savory and authentic dishes from the Rhineland that would satisfy the pickiest of palates. 

The words alone on his menu – split pea soup, creamy cucumber dill salad, spaetzle, schnitzel, red cabbage, and goulash would surely trigger happy memories of the years spent in your grandmother’s kitchen watching her prepare her version of these Bavarian mainstays. European down home is Chef Axel minus the oompah-pah kitsch of servers dressed in dirndls and lederhosen. The focus here is solely on the food made from scratch and because of this individual attention, service can be a little on the slow side. So, if you’re going to the theatre, be sure to tell your server when you need to leave. They’re very good at recommending dishes that fit your time constraints.

In addition to the European standards, Chef Axel offers some of the tastiest rack of lamb in San Diego, certainly in East County, roasted and served in a subtle peppercorn sauce. Hand held racks are one of the many hors d’ouvres on Chef Axel’s catering menu. With versatility, elegance, and warmth, he delivers fresh, customized cuisine – a delicate blend of European and California - for a memorable event. And, if you enjoy a hearty dark lager, try the Koestritzer. It’s sweeter than Guinness but just as robust and pairs perfectly with any of Chef Axel’s hearty dishes. In addition to a wide selection of imported beer, Chef Axel also offers a variety of meats, cheeses, and wines at the deli counter which deserve attention. Reservations are recommended if you’re planning to go to the theatre on a Friday or Saturday night…B’Tayavon

What are your favorite restaurants in San Diego?  Lynne Thrope can be reached at www.TheReadingRoom.net 
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The Jewish Grapevine

EDUCATION BEAT—The Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies will hold its 17th annual conference Aug. 5-7 in Albuquerque, N.M. Seth Ward of the Religious Studies Department of the  University of Wyoming says academic papers on communities that kept their Jewish heritage hidden will be welcome along with papers on other aspects of the Sephardic experience, including genealogical research. Proposals including a 200-word abstract and the presenter's brief biography should be e-mailed to him by May 1. ..

ISRAEL EXPERIENCE—Howard Feldman passes on this video clip called "Cool Facts About Israel."  Besides touting Israeli accomplishments in culture and industry, the clip also has some great scenic slides of Israel.

MAZAL TOV! IT'S A—boy, born today (April 8) at 6:26 a.m. to Sara Rosenthal Sherwood and Adam Rosenthal at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City. The boy will be named at a b'rit milah ceremony on Sunday, according to his proud grandparents, Rabbi Leonard and Judy Rosenthal and Walter Sherwood. Great-grandparents are Nancy and Herschel Feigelson. The youngster's aunts and uncle are Adina Rosenthal, Margalit Rosenthal and Philip Sherwood, and his great aunt and great uncles include Beth and Ross Klareich and Alyce and David Feigelson.  The statistics: Baby Rosenthal weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 19.5 inches.

Have a simcha? Send the details to us at sdheritage@cox.net

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Jews in the News
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*Gil Daleski, a Jerusalem guide, pilots travel writer Chris Weisch to Ha Kotel for a feature in today's Travel Section of the San Diego Union-Tribune on the holy sites of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
*Albert Einstein is the subject of a new biography by Walter Isaacson, which the author previews in today's Current section of the Los Angeles Times.  That old story about Einstein failing math as a child isn't true, according to Isaacson, president of the Aspen Institute.
*Composer Marvin Hamlisch will conduct four San Diego Symphony Winter Pops programs next season, Valerie Scher reports in the Arts Section of today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Eva Horland and Robin Olson are basking in glory as agents for the sellers of a $9.5 million Bel Air mansion purchased by pop star Avril Lavigne.  It was the "hot property" transaction featured in today's Real Estate section of the Los Angeles Times.

*Brothers Jake and Jon Kasdan have followed in the footsteps of their screenwriter father Lawrence Kasdan.   Lisa Rosen notes in a Los Angeles Times story today that Jake's film The TV Set is now in theatres, while Jon's film In The Land of Women opens later this month.

*Tova Reich's latest novel, My Holocaust, a satire dealing with people profiteering on the Shoah and the vagaries of political correctness, is reviewed in today's Book Review section of the Los Angeles Times.

*Harold I Shaitberger, president of the International Association of Firefighters, is attacking former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani on the very issue that the Republican presidential candidate's backers hope will propel him into the White House: his handling of the September 11, 2001, terrorist destruction of the World Trade Center. Peter Wallsten explains in a front page article of today's Los Angeles Times.

Is there a story you want fellow Jews to read about other Jews?  Please send us a note and a link from a current online publication at sdheritage@cox.net

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And finally....A bissel humor
With thanks to Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort of Chabad of La Costa, who printed the following in his congregational newsletter:

A Rabbi dies and is waiting in line to enter heaven. In front of him is a guy dressed in a loud shirt, leather jacket, jeans and sunglasses.

Gabriel addresses this guy, "I need to know who you are so that I can determine whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?"

The guy replies, "I'm Moishe Levy, taxi driver."

Gabriel consults his list, smiles and says to the taxi driver, "OK. Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

Now it's the Rabbi's turn. He stands upright and says, "I am Benjamin Himmelfarb and I had been Rabbi forty years."

Gabriel looks at his list and says to the Rabbi, "OK. Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

"Hold on a minute," says Rabbi Himmelfarb, "that man before me was a taxi driver - why did he get a silken robe and golden staff?"

"Up here, we only work by results," says Gabriel. "While you preached, people slept - but while he drove, people prayed."