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The Jewish Grapevine: Shopping Israel in San Diego

By Gail Umeham
San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage, January 3, 2003, page 20:

Portions of La Jolla and the San Diego State College area seemingly will be transformed into Israeli shopping districts on Sunday, Jan. 19, when
Congregation Beth Israel and Beth Jacob Congregation celebrate the Jewish state in separate events.

Festivities at Beth Israel will get under way at 2 p.m. when the Israeli Vendors Caravan, whose upcoming visit to Orange County we mentioned last
week, opens for business at the Reform congregation. Conceived by Stuart Katz, president of TAL Tours, the caravan of Israeli shopkeepers and vendors is making a 10-week, 45-city tour of the United States.

The Israeli Vendors Caravan was born in response to the sharp decline in Israeli tourism following the outbreak of the second intifada in September
of 2000. The Caravan will remain at Beth Israel until 9 p.m. There is no charge for visitors.

Likewise, a "Ben Yehuda Street Fair"  that gets under way at 4:30 p.m. at Beth Jacob Congregation is free to the public. Organizers promise
entertainment for children and adults as well as authentic Israeli food.

The fair at the Orthodox congregation will set the stage for a 6:30 p.m. concert by the Moshav Band, an Israeli group influenced by the music of the
late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. Concert tickets will range from $10 to $18, depending on the age of the spectator.

For information about the Beth Israel Vendors Caravan, call (858) 535-1111, Ext. 3113. For information on the Beth Jacob fair and concert, call (619)
287-9890.
 

Congregational Currents

Rabbi Miriam Jerris, community development director for the national Society for Humanistic Judaism, will spend the weekend of Jan. 17-19 with the
Humanistic Jewish Congregation of San Diego. In a speech at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18, the rabbi will discuss "Humanistic Judaism: Declaring Our
Place in the Jewish Community," addressing such issues as the role of Humanistic Judaism in the continuity of the North American Jewish community,
the contribution of Humanistic Jewish philosophy, and the positions of Humanistic Judaism on intermarriage, circumcision, conversion and
congregational life. For information, call (858) 549-3088.

Community Watch

* After participating in an intense training program, Morris Casuto, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, has been certified by the
California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to teach in its course. The ADL has been providing anti-hate crimes training to law
enforcement agencies throughout San Diego County for more than two decades.

* The American Jewish Committee has developed an interactive pro-Israel Web site, www.takeACTIONnow.org, offering discussion forums, Israel-related news and other sources of information developed for young people. Hoping to help students even before they reach the college campus, AJC also has created a series of posters reaching out to middle school and high school students, offering them credible information about the current situation in the Middle East.

* Robin Israel, vice president of fund development at Seacrest Village Retirement Communities, has been named to the planning committee for the
Association of Jewish Aging Services' 2003 Annual Conference. Israel and Pam Ferris, president/CEO of Seacrest Village, will be among the professionals making presentations at the conference to be held in Beverly Hills, Feb. 22-25.

Around the Town

* Gov. Gray Davis last week appointed two members of our community to judicial posts. United States Magistrate Cynthia G. Aaron was appointed to
the state appelate court and attorney Lisa A. Foster was appointed as a judge on the San Diego County Superior Court. Both Aaron and Foster are graduates of Stanford University, members of Phi Beta Kappa and holders of the juris doctorate degree with honors from Harvard Law School.

* Sandra J. Morris, who has been active in Congregation Beth Israel's Career Women¹s Network, has been named president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Morris is the first San Diegan to achieve such recognition and only the second Californian. "I am very honored and very
excited," she said. "...This is as high as you can go in my profession ... it is the creme de la creme for matrimonial lawyers."  The first Californian
to serve in the position was Harry Fain of Beverly Hills, who was president when Morris joined the organization 21 years ago. He signed her fellowship
certificate "and has been my mentor," said Morris.