July 2026

Food Issue

featuring Le Petit Chef & Mission Bagel

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Graduates of LFT enter college with the knowledge and confidence to engage in dialogue regarding antisemitism and Israel. LFT participants learn about past and current Israeli affairs, challenges and opportunities facing global Jewry, and how to utilize strategic networks in advocacy.

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Eileen Sondak

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Emily Bartell, Linda Bennett, Andrea Simantov, Trevor James McNeil, Marnie Macauley, Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort, Galia Miller Sprung, Micah Siva Lisa McGuigan

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SUSAN EDELSTEIN

Celebrating Food and 250 Years of America

This is our Food Issue, just like it is every July, but this July includes the 250th birthday of the United States of America. The traditional, regional family recipes will be out in abundance this year, everyone wanting to out-do their usual July 4th fare for this special year. There will be grills going everywhere, from red-white-and-blue-decorated backyards to camper-filled parks to our wide and welcoming beaches, joyfully serving up all manner of hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken and corn, on plates piled high with potato salad and cole slaw.

There will be so much summer holiday food to be found, celebrated, enjoyed and consumed all over San Diego this July, but we also will be celebrating the establishment of this unique country united in its insistence on democracy and freedom. Just like the Knicks brought together a huge, teeming, diverse metropolis to celebrate a victory as one, this July 4th should bring the whole country together to celebrate our unity, give us a needed respite from our divisions and differences, encourage us to really read and appreciate our awesome founding documents declaring us a new nation guaranteeing so many freedoms. America has been especially important to Jewish people with freedoms never before experienced, granting the right to pursue happiness and accomplishment and excellence in any field imaginable. As Rabbi Eilfort says, this July 4th we celebrate the “Jewish renaissance that has blossomed on the shores of the New World unleashing enormous blessings that have benefited all of humankind.”

In this issue we are featuring the uniquely immersive and entertaining dining experience to be enjoyed at Le Petit Chef, now ‘playing’ at the beautiful Hilton Gaslamp Quarter, and we are also featuring Mission Bagel, Pacific Beach’s authentically East Coast bagel shop offering hospitality along with its delicious bagels and family recipes.

Happy eating and Happy Fourth of July! A

Our Town

BY LINDA BENNETT & EMILY BARTELL

It was such a beautiful evening! On May 16, Temple EmanuEl presented its Annual Gala, Simcha Soiree: An Evening Celebrating Rabbi Devorah Marcus. The evening was conceived to honor Rabbi Devorah’s 13 years of inspiring leadership, 18 years of rabbinic service, and 50 years of life filled with meaning and community. This sold-out gathering, chaired by Andrea Musicant and her dedicated committee, included a cocktail reception, Havdalah, dinner, program and dancing, with proceeds benefitting the Price Family Preschool. Big kudos to Lydia Krasner and Mitzvah Event Productions for creating such a fabulous atmosphere! Some of the folks we enjoyed the evening with were Paul Margolis and Donald Grant, Barbara and Tom Lincoln, Lisa and Nate Stein, Betsy Arnold, Ellen Gruer, David Mendel and Vicky Krugman-Mendel, Rebecca Bierman, Michael Bloom and Mellissa Swann-Bloom, Eric and Paula Rosenzweig, Renee Zoffel, and Barbara Saltzman

On May 18, in a special performance to benefit The Roustabouts Theatre Co., we attended An Evening of Music with Hanan Leberman at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. The performance featured international lyric tenor, Hanan Leberman, who also just happens to be the rabbi at Tifereth Israel! His vibrant vocals fascinated us all, making for a truly unforgettable night. Some of those in attendance were Roxanne and Norm Katz, Ellen and Howard Kaplan, Sue and Ed Cherlin, Judy and Bill Freidel, David Freidel, Rachel Levens, Marlene Recht, Olga and Oscar Worm, Judy and Hillel Shear, Barbara and Bill Sperling, Jutta Cohn, and Ariel Hirsch.

Jewish summer camp ruach was alive at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center (LFJCC) Annual Patron Party, The Campfire Gala, held on May 31,

celebrating over 80 years of Camp Jaycee, with a special tribute to Sandy Siperstein-Rafner for her 45 years of Leadership. Event Chair Gayle Blatt, along with her committee, created a spectacular ‘dressed up’ campfire experience featuring cocktails, curated food stations and s’mores to go, along with the live entertainment, auction, and camp-themed crafts.

The gala paid tribute to the multiple generations of friendships and the lasting impact of Jewish camp, which has bolstered a true sense of belonging and has created generations of campers and staff; we had so much fun enjoying the multitude of activities! Some of those also enjoying the gala were Julie and Lowell Poticker, Diane and Elliott Feuerstein, Monica and Ron Perlman, Nancy and Matt Browar, Ellen Potter and Ron Evans, Lynn and Michael Greenstein, Elana Berger, Helene and Alan Ziman, Tamar Caspi, Myrna and Michael Cohen, Jan Friedman, Sharon and David Wax, and Susan and David Kabakoff

Yom Huledets Sameach to...

Carole Davis celebrating her 89th birthday.

CELEBRATING Wedding Anniversaries with infinite love

& happiness, Mazel Tov to…

Sharon and Nat Koren, 60 years. Linda and Steve Luttbeg, 56 years.

News & Notes

COMPILED BY SUSAN EDELSTEIN

Brooklyn’s Fusion Restaurant Shalom Japan Strikes ‘Shark Tank’ Deal to Bring Matzah Ball Ramen To The Masses

by Jackie Hajdenberg, JTA News

The couple that runs Brooklyn’s popular Jewish-Japanese fusion restaurant Shalom Japan appeared on “Shark Tank” — and struck a deal that could result in a freezer-aisle version of a signature dish.

Sawako Okochi and Aaron Israel sought a deal for the at-home version of the matzah ball ramen that has been on Shalom Japan’s menu since it opened in Williamsburg in 2013.

Israel, who grew up in a Jewish family on Long Island, said, “We’d like for people to be able to buy it in stores.”

Okochi, who hails from Hiroshima, and Israel opened Shalom Japan with fusion dishes such a lox bowl and sake kasu challah. In 2024, they won the James Beard Award for their cookbook, “Love Japan,” and their Wagyu Pastrami Sando made the New York Times’ list of 57 sandwiches that define New York City.

Manischewitz Is Taking Suggestions For Its Next Matzah-Box Cover Athlete

by Joseph Strauss, JTA News

The Jewish food company has opened up a search for the “best Jewish college athletes in America,” who will grace Manischewitz matzah boxes in 2026.

Manischewitz first dipped its toes in student athlete partnerships last year when then-Brigham Young University quarterback Jake Retzlaff was featured on matzah boxes. The success of that promotion convinced Manischewitz to expand the process.

The two winners of Manischewitz’s search will be awarded by having their face printed on limited-edition matzah boxes, as well as with a $10,000 cash prize and recognition from the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

“For years, Jewish college athletes have been breaking stereotypes, smashing expectations, and dominating across every sport in the NCAA. What people don’t realize is that these athletes are often the most prominent Jewish representatives on campus,” the press release reads.

As Americans Drink Less Wine, Kosher Demand Stays Strong

by Asaf Elia-Shalev, JTA News

On Friday nights, in Jewish homes around the world, a familiar ritual unfolds: a blessing over wine, poured into a cup and passed around the table.

That ritual, multiplied during Passover, may help explain why kosher wine is

holding steady even as the broader wine industry struggles.

Across the United States and globally, wine consumption is declining. Baby boomers, long the industry’s most reliable customers, are aging out of peak drinking years. Younger

consumers are drinking less alcohol overall and are more likely to reach for craft beer, spirits or ready-todrink cocktails when they do. In California, wineries have begun laying off workers, cutting production and, in some cases, shutting down altogether.

But in the kosher wine market the downturn looks more like a slowdown.

At Covenant, a boutique kosher winery in Berkeley, California, the trend looks similar. “We’re actually about 5% up this year,” said Jeff Morgan, the Covenant’s founding winemaker.

In his view, wine never became fully embedded in American life. Jewish life, by contrast, has long been structured around wine — not as a lifestyle choice, but as a ritual obligation.

“We Jews have a culture of wine,” he said. “We are pretty much obliged to drink wine.”

Her Ancestors Were Expelled From Spain. Now She’s Bringing Bagels To Madrid.

by Shira Li Bartov, JTA News

Until recently, a Jew could wander all day in Madrid without finding a bagel. But now, in a sea of tomato toasts and potato omelettes, a trail of people hovers every weekend outside the Mazál bagel restaurant. Behind it is Tamara Cohen, a Philadelphian who became Spanish through a law granting citizenship to Sephardic Jews whose ancestors were expelled during the 1492 Inquisition.

When Cohen moved to Madrid, she could not track down the bagels she craved from home. Since opening Mazál in 2020, she has seen the distinctly Jewish food grow more familiar to Madrileños, with other new bagel shops following suit — but none, so far as she knows, that are also run by Jews.

“I like to think we started it,” she said.

ISRAELI LIFESTYLE

LIVING ON THE FRONT PAGE

by Andrea Simantov | andreasimantov@gmail.com

Do and the Jellyfish

The water was turquoise, cold and calm. Like an energetic eightyear-old, I dropped my gear and raced into the ocean, tears of joy mixing into the salty brine. The gentle waves held me buoyant; I was not my age, my weight, my compromised knees and hips. After 10 minutes of mindlessness, I staggered back to the blanket, collapsed onto my side and contemplated how little I needed to acquire a state of bliss. For me, this was bliss.

Israelis know how to party; they know how to barbecue and picnic, and they really know how to “Beach.” Throughout the grainy expanse in this Nature Society site, entire families and friend groups had set up aluminum tables filled with fruits, sandwiches, drinks and snacks. Ronney and I attempted to appear content with our hard-boiled eggs and cut vegetables hastily tossed in used restaurant containers, but it was useless. Our refreshments were pathetic, and we ate rapidly.

Only a few feet from where I lay, a little boy of six intently buttressed a hole in the sand, tirelessly running back and forth with pails of water that he summarily used to enlarge his lake. Despite the futility of the effort, his enthusiasm was boundless, and in addition to proudly (and loudly) urging his parents to Look-Ima-Look-Abba while dragging a writhing toddler brother to enjoy the fruits of his labors, he was met with disinterest.

But I was interested, and said so, complimenting his industriousness.

Certainly, I had enough Hebrew to tell him that he could be an architect. He put down his pail and shovel and sauntered over to me, thin-limbed, bare-chested and filled with bravado.

“Eich korim lach? What’s your name?” he asked.

“Ani Andrea. I am Andrea.” My husband sat reading, oblivious to another man making moves on his wife.

“Ani Ido. You speak English? I know English. Blue. Orange. Red.”

His mother called him to lunch and, finally, sof sof, I dozed. Strange dreams filled my head, transporting me back to first jobs, first apartments, early boyfriends who were today, most likely,

old men. Sweat pooled in the creases of my neck and I became aware of someone blocking the sun. Ido sat next to me, a cucumber clasped in one fist, a chorizo sausage in the other.

“Where you from?” he queried.

“I live in Jerusalem. But many years ago, I lived in America.”

Clearly, Ido did not understand the secrecy of his assignment because, void of furtiveness, he shouted over his shoulder to his parents, “He m’Amerika. Hem Amerikanim!!!” “She’s from America. They are Americans.” I did not mention that Ronney was South African by birth. The point was moot.

Ido and I sat together for a while, considering the vista. He identified a military ship in the distance and used some jargon that I could not understand. For a while, we fell silent. The companionship felt right.

“At mifchadet mimdoozot? At rotza lir’ot achat? Are you afraid of jellyfish? Do you want to see one?”

“Uh, no, think again,” said my inner voice. “Of course!” is what came out.

He led me to a small sand dune, a translucent, gelatinous grey mound quivering beneath the surface. Children poked at it, screaming in terror and glee. Ido held onto my fingers.

His family was packed when we returned and he did not say goodbye. They merely left. Ronney looked up.

“Where’d you go?” he asked. “Who’s the kid?”

My heart answered, “He’s a student, a father, a grandson and a precious baby to his parents. He’s a holy Israeli soldier, bravely protecting this land and her inhabitants. He is a child of G-d. He is my friend.”

I said, “His name is Ido.” A

New York-born Andrea Simantov moved to Israel 29 years ago. She is a small-business owner and both a print and media journalist. Her popular podcast, “Pull Up a Chair,” is produced by Israel News Talk Radio. She can be reached at andrea@israelnewstalkradio.com.

WRITTEN IN FIRE

by Trevor James McNeil  tremcneil1980@gmail.com

The Sacred and The Profane: Part II

Sometimes luck can just be strange. Leonard Cohen experienced this when he arrived in Israel to work on a kibbutz, for reasons known only to him; it coincided perfectly with the kickoff of the Yom Kippur War.

While trapped in Israel, he had a stroke of luck in the form of a chance meeting with the Israeli musicians Oshik Levi, Matti Caspi and Ilana Rovina, who invited him to perform at a concert for the IDF on Mount Sinai.

Already famous enough to have hits, Cohen stuck mostly to the favorites that stayed away from religious themes like “Suzanne,” “Bird on a Wire” and “So Long Marianne.” It was then that he met the local commander, a Major General named Ariel Sharon. This experience swayed his pre-war pro-Arab stance as he joined with “my brothers fighting in the desert. I don’t care if their war is just or not. I know only that war is cruel, that it leaves bones, blood and ugly stains on the holy soil.”

Escaping the war with his skin intact, Cohen turned his strange luck into artistic inspiration, releasing a new album titled “New Skin for the Old Ceremony” in 1974, featuring songs directly influenced by the war. “Lover Lover Lover” was written and first performed during the Sinai concert, and “Who By Fire” name-checked the Untaneth Tokef. Even more pointed are the tracks “Field Commander Cohen” and “There is a War.”

Much of 1975 was spent touring

in support of “New Skin for the Old Ceremony” and playing a series of shows with his friend and collaborator, the pianist John Lissauer. Recordings from the series, meant for a live album titled “Songs for Rebecca,” were never released and are now lost media.

By 1977, Cohen was experimenting with his sound and arrangements, adding strings and more complex orchestration. The infamous producer Phil Spector co-wrote and produced his next album, “Death of a Ladies’ Man.” He released a poetry collection the next year under the altered title “Death of a Lady’s Man.” It was one of the first glimpses into his more melancholy side. According to his

close friend and fellow musician Jennifer Warens, “Leonard acknowledges that the whole act of living contains immense amounts of sorrow and hopelessness and despair; and also passion, high hopes, deep love and eternal love.”

After two years to tour and recharge, Cohen shifted gears again, with a more traditional release under the pithy title of “Recent Songs,” a hybrid of acoustic guitar, jazz and East Asian and Mediterranean fusion, including instruments such as the oud and the Gypsy violin, also widely used in Klezmer music. It was one of the first examples of what would later be known as World Music. Harking back to his strange fortune five years before, the 1979 tour in support of “Recent Songs” was dubbed “Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979.”

Shifting gears again, no one quite sure what to expect next from Montreal’s own dark poet, Cohen spent most of the early 1980s dipping back into the songwriting skills of his early career, collaborating with Lewis Furey on a rock musical film titled “Night Magic.”

Despite a positive working relationship up to that point, Columbia Records refused to release Cohen’s 1984 album “Various Positions” in the United States, considering it ‘not commercially viable,’ a self-fulfilling prophecy that led to the album being considered a failure. It was the original source of perennial hits like “Dance Me to the End of Love” and the record-setting “Hallelujah,” which, in an echo of “Suzanne,” initially found

success with Judy Collins, and would go on to be covered over 300 times by artists as diverse as John Cale, Jeff Buckley, K.D. Lang and Rufus Wainwright — an instance of karma coming back to bite nearly as hard as when Decca Records passed on The Beatles.

1984 also saw Cohen’s return to poetry after nearly seven years with the massively successful “Book of Mercy,” made up of 50 modern, prose-style psalms that won the Canadian Authors Association Award for Poetry.

After a bit of a rest, Cohen came back in 1988 with the album “I’m Your Man.” Released by Columbia, which had apparently learned its lesson, the album’s breakout hit, “Everybody Knows,” brought Cohen to even greater levels of recognition with a new generation when it was featured in the Christian Slater vehicle “Pump Up The Volume” in 1990, followed by the album “The Future” in 1992 and the poetry collection “Stranger Music” in 1993.

In a decision even more baffling than the kibbutz trip in the 1970s, Cohen spent the rest of the 1990s in a Buddhist monastery, entering in 1994 and leaving in 1999 with the Dharma name Jikan, which, ironically, means silence.

In 2004, Cohen discovered that his long-time manager and lover had embezzled almost all of his money. His retirement fund obliterated, the 2000s saw Cohen’s most productive period since the 1970s, releasing four albums and three poetry collections between 2004 and 2016, a rate of roughly one every two years.

Cohen died peacefully in his sleep in early November 2016 at the age of 82. A

Growing up in the far north, Trevor James McNeil had little to do other than read when the temperature went below 40 Celsius, and he developed an affinity for stories of all sorts. Graduating from the University of Victoria in 2009, he has been reading and writing in a professional capacity since. He lives in a cabin in the woods with his dog, and firmly believes The Smiths would have been better as a trio.

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Wine and Dine With Whimsy

by Makayla Hoppe

In 2015, two Belgian artists sought to combine their experience and passion for projection mapping with the culinary arts by turning a simple dinner table into a canvas.

Filip Sterckx and Antoon Verbeeck of the design studio Skullmapping developed an animated short film of a tiny chef preparing dinner right in front of guests. Projectors and speakers were mounted on the ceiling, and the animation played directly on the table and plates, bringing the film and food together as one. The video went viral, with restaurants and chefs asking to integrate the innovative meal into their menus. Thus, Le Petit Chef was born and has entertained guests ever since. The award-winning dinner and show recently made its way to San Diego at the Hilton Gaslamp.

“At first we were overwhelmed with the reaction to Le Petit Chef,” Filip said. “We hoped we could do one or two events with this concept, but when the video went viral, our mailbox exploded with inquiries from all over the world! Since then, we’ve created five different dishes, from appetizer to main dish, to dessert, transporting you from a snowy landscape to a tropical island, all while staying seated at your table.”

There are currently six different stories being told by the world’s smallest chef, including following recipes from a magical cookbook and taking a trip through Marco Polo’s travels. The Hilton Gaslamp is showing “Le Petit Chef and Friends,” which explores four countries across four courses. Guests can enjoy dishes from Spain, Italy, France and Japan.

“It’s a battle of the chefs competing to win what we call the Golden Chef Hat,” said the Hilton Gaslamp Area Director of Marketing, Becca Bishop. “The people dining are actually the ones who are voting on which course is their favorite at the end through applause.”

This novel dining experience was an easy decision for the downtown San Diego hotel, which sought a new restaurant to entertain both visitors and locals.

“It started in Germany and then went to Europe, and when the first one was put in the United States,

The award-winning dinner and show explores four countries across four courses.

[we] started to hear about it because it was at another Hilton,” Becca said. “We knew something like this in San Diego would do so well and bring new life to the Gaslamp Quarter.”

There are three menus to choose from: traditional, which includes steak; vegetarian, which offers a cauliflower steak; and a children’s option featuring chicken nuggets. Other courses throughout the dinner include tomato salad, truffle ravioli and white chocolate cake with wasabi matcha cream.

“The biggest feedback we get is, ‘I was surprised the food was amazing as well as the show,’ because a lot of time when you go to something like this, you’re giving up one or the other,” Becca said. “But in this instance, we’re happy and really pleased to say that the food also speaks for itself, and we know that people really like it because they come back and they’ll bring their friends and family.”

Le Petit Chef is now being experienced at over 120 locations. Specializing in dining entertainment, 2Spicy helped serve up the dinner show to guests worldwide. The partnership with Skullmapping has led to over 10 years of success.

“Le Petit Chef is something you need to come experience for yourself,” Becca said. “I think that’s our message to anyone that we put out for reading or social media — you have to see it to believe it. It is so fun, and the energy is there. It’s more of a community experience than people may expect because you’re all experiencing the same thing for the first time.”

Located near Petco Park, the Hilton Gaslamp will deliver dinner and a show in a truly unique way for guests of all ages. If you’re looking for something new and different with your meal, look no further than the world’s tiniest chef. A

Le Petit Chef operates Wednesdays through Sundays. Menu prices range from $89 to $169. For reservations and more information, visit lepetitchef.com/san-diego.

Mission Bagel — More Than a Place for Breakfast

by Susan Edelstein

Mission Bagel, true to its goal, is “more than just a place for breakfast.” Not that it isn’t an award-winning bagel shop — it is — but it has become a community hub in its Pacific Beach neighborhood. This is part of the mission of founder Gabe Rubin who began his shop in a food truck while working on the ins and outs of the notoriously fickle, demanding and expensive food business and honing in on the best location for Mission Bagel’s first storefront.

Gabe, originally from Cincinnati, left a career in software product management to pursue his desire for authentic, handcrafted bagels in San Diego. Said Gabe, “I had always wanted to work in the food service industry, but I couldn’t ever figure out how to make that work with the family and religious life I wanted. A kosher bagel food truck allowed me to pick my kids up from school, be home at night and fully present on Shabbat.”

Gabe fell in love with Southern California’s beach culture and decided we definitely needed some real, East Coast bagels. He also wanted to put down roots and build community in his chosen locale and the way to do that was “to serve simple, exceptional food while building a sustainable business that strengthens the local community through strong relationships and proud Jewish identity. I live in Pacific beach and part of my goal for the business was to get to know my neighbors better.”

The food truck started in May of 2025 and quickly built a following. Said Gabe, “It gained traction very quickly and proved that we had something delicious that...also let us get into the heart of Pacific Beach and build our following.” The truck thrived and developed loyalists through pop-ups,

farmers markets, community events and social media. This summer, through the end of August, the truck will be parked at Oasis in PB with a beautiful patio, full coffee bar, and of course, bagels.

The storefront opened in late 2025, where Mission Bagel aims to share Jewish culture and traditions through food. Gabe’s food focuses on “the nostalgia that I have about growing up, and eating great bagels. We serve classic (and not so classic) bagels and my mom’s tuna and egg salads that we made every Saturday. Tuna melts, lox sandwiches and egg and cheese round out the menu, with rotating desserts like rugelach, blintzes and strawberry

The business is completely kosher and closed every Saturday in observance of Shabbat. When asked how his customers respond to closed Saturdays, Gabe said, “While continues on next page >>

Mission Bagel continued

customers can get frustrated that we are closed on the day they want bagels, people are very supportive, and it has created a place where Jews of all walks of life come in and comment how nice it is to have a place that is proudly, joyfully Jewish.” Mission Bagel’s menu reflects Jewish traditions, holidays and family recipes.

Mission Bagel has become known for its social media presence and transparent view of the restaurant business, sharing its plans, mistakes and lessons learned, financial challenges, even documenting the process of renovating its storefront whose countdown to opening day resulted in a strong community response and long lines of customers. Regarding his unusual openness on social media, Gabe said, “It’s been one of the best avenues to connect with our customers. The food business is not an easy one, but it’s one that many people dream about. It’s an industry that is all about love and sharing and hosting. Everyone talks about how many businesses fail, but by sharing exactly what is going on with the business, I hope that others can get a real understanding of what owning a

Mission Bagel’s success is a testament to the symbiotic relationship between small business and community support.

Hebrew Free Loan San Diego is proud to have supported Mission Bagel through its journey, providing interestfree capital necessary for Jewish entrepreneurs to build businesses that give back to the fabric of San Diego.

restaurant is like, avoid mistakes that I have made and be entertained along the way.” When asked about his followers, Gabe said, “A majority of our followers are customers, although I get messages from all over the world. People who are starting businesses, exploring kashrut, others who just love bagels.”

Recently, Mission Bagel competed in the inaugural Bagel Fest West where it tied for 1st place as Rising Star, recognizing the best bagel businesses opened within the previous two years, and won runner-up for Best Sandwich for its Gefilte Fish Hillel Sandwich, a concoction layering sliced gefilte fish, beet horseradish, cream cheese and a charoset of dates, walnuts and sweet wine. “This started as a bit of a joke, trying to make a Pesach equivalent of a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich. It ended up being so good, I had to debut it at the show. It’s surprising how good it is.”

The company views “hospitality and relationship-building as central measures of success.” Mission Bagel supports local schools and community groups by hosting events. Explained Gabe, “I believe that the space should be used, and outside of business hours,

it doesn’t need to have a profit motive. Part of what helps build community is offering what I have, and having a space to play board games, or have an open mic or a crafting night is something that costs me little and brings exponential value to the community. Rather than it affecting my success, I hope that my success helps bring about more involvement in the community.”

From its mascot (Poppy the Bay-Gull) to its color scheme (picture sunsets) to its location, Mission Bagel has embraced San Diego’s beach culture. When asked how this immersive identity has contributed to the store being “more than just a place for breakfast,” Gabe responded, “I think it just goes to show that we are not a serious place, we are a place where we know your name, where the bagels are excellent and the service is even better. We love to get to know everyone coming through our doors, especially our regulars. We love the beach, we love the way of life here, and we want to be the neighborhood bagel shop.” A

San Diego Students with Interest-Free Loans

High school seniors across San Diego are preparing to don their caps and gowns, and the excitement of college admissions is in the air. However, with tuition costs rising and interest rates compounding, the dream of higher education can feel daunting for many local families.

At Hebrew Free Loan of San Diego (HFLSD), we believe financial barriers should never stand in the way of a student’s potential. Our mission is rooted in the Jewish value of Tzedakah — providing interest-free loans to members of the San Diego Jewish

community who need a “hand-up”. By offering interest-free student loans for undergraduate, graduate and vocational school, we allow our community’s future leaders to focus on their studies rather than mounting debt.

One local student, Sarah, shared how HFLSD changed her trajectory: “I was working two jobs and still coming up short for my final year of nursing school.

HFLSD gave me the peace of mind to finish my degree without the weight of interest. I graduated knowing I could start my career helping others, rather than just serving a debt.”

If you or a loved one are navigating financial challenges, visit hflsd.org.

Together, let’s make sure every student can accomplish their dreams.

When Terror Comes to You

By Galia Miller Sprung

Terror came close to us today.

A few months ago, after 24 years in the Shomron, we sold our home and moved to Tzur Yitzhak. Our reason was practical, even mundane — too many stairs in our house. It was time for a one-story apartment. Some friends embraced our choice for another reason: They had been uneasy about visiting us “over the Green Line.”

Unfortunately, what happened this week proves again that terror is everywhere. Terrorists don’t care where you live. Judea, Samaria, the Jordan Rift Valley or the center of Tel Aviv or Los Angeles. It happens because terrorists exist and they want to kill Jews— all infidels — no matter where we live.

On June 7, we made the news. An Israeli Arab from Tayibe, the town next to our new community, left his home and drove five miles south on the main road to the town of Kochav Yair where he shot two people at the gas station, then drove back towards Tayibe but turned into my town, Tzur Yitzhak, continuing his attack, which turned deadly when he killed one man and seriously wounded another as he drove towards the two moshavim up the road from us.

The Haunting “What If?”

Right now, I’m in denial, but not because terror came close to me in our new home, but because of those nagging, creepingon-trauma thoughts — No, I wasn’t filling up my car at the gas station inside

Kochav Yair/Tzur Yigal. But that’s my regular station. I pass by it at least four times a week when I drive into Kochav Yair for chugim – classes. No, I wasn’t the woman he shot in her car on our street. But those thoughts persist. I was so close to being there. I saw the timeline. I’m sure our paths crossed. The terrorist drove right past our apartment. Had I left our apartment just a few minutes earlier, who knows?

I wasn’t aware of this when I reached the traffic circle near the gates to our community. Traffic was at a standstill. It shouldn’t have been at that hour. I was annoyed. I would be late for my exercise class, five minutes away in Kochav Yair. Should I give up and go home or hope traffic starts moving?

Hours

of piercing sirens.

I am frightened not by the noise, but by their existence.

News flash on my phone: A man was shot at the Kochav Yair gas station. A minute later, another news flash: Another shooting at the entrance to Tzur Yitzhak!

Here? I knew traffic was at a permanent impasse. Fortunately, I was still in the circle and could inch my way around it back towards our apartment before all the roads closed completely.

Sirens, Soldiers and Confusion

At first I thought the shootings were criminal acts: assassination of rivals or feudal retributions in the Arab sector. Two large Israeli Arab towns are our neighbors. Sadly, they suffer frequent targeted shootings.

I was very wrong. “Turn on the TV,” I tell my husband. “Something’s going on here.” TV anchors are talking about a pigua — a terrorist attack. We hear sirens. Not alerts — ambulances. Police. Our balcony opens to the street leading up to the two moshavim. I wonder why the ambulances are going up the road to Tzur Natan and Sal’it. The shootings are in the other direction, towards the main road. I am confused.

Armored personal carriers rumble by. One. Another one. Another one. I count five. A scary number. What is going on? Military jeeps, rescue units, police cars, black vans. White sedans — the kind the

senior commanders might be sitting in. Helicopters. Ambulances scream past our apartment on the return trip as they carry wounded from the two moshavim to the hospital in Kfar Saba. Later the forensic vans and black SUVs with flashing blue and red lights rush towards the moshavim.

Hours of piercing sirens. I am frightened not by the noise, but by their existence. Heavy combat power. I watch the vehicles pass by my apartment. I watch the news and see my town in background loops.

Waiting for the All-Clear

Phone calls. Worried friends and family. More ambulances, army, police. I can’t hear over the sirens. Many text their concerns. I answer everyone and realize if I wrote on a few main chats that we are fine, it would put some calm into the situation. My phone emits that familiar jarring ring tone: extreme alert! Terrorist infiltration. Go to your protected space! I had never received an alert from Homefront Command that wasn’t for missiles. Ominous.

Full disclosure: We did not go into our security room. We bolted the front door, yes, but I spent a lot of the time on the balcony trying to comprehend the scenes below me. I lived most of my 55 years in Israel in the Jordan Rift Valley

and the Shomron and never had dozens of soldiers in full tactical gear walking in two columns down my street or teams of soldiers searching parking lots and walking paths.

Reports contradict each other. One terrorist neutralized. Security forces are searching for another. The second one is eliminated. No. Only one. Much later: There was never a second shooter. Still, helicopters circle overhead. Almost four hours later, we receive official notice that the event has ended. We learn that the assistant head of security of Tzur Natan was killed when he confronted the terrorist. Five civilians were wounded in the three shooting attacks, including Tzur Natan’s head of security.

The immediate drama lessens, but security forces remain. The gates into Tzur Yitzhak and the two moshavim reopen, allowing people who had sat in cars for hours to start the slow crawl to their destinations. Schoolchildren are released from full lockdown in four communities. We trickle back into our routines.

Finding Footing After the Fear

We have tickets for a performance in the evening in Ra’anana, about 20 minutes away. An informal evening of music from the 60s and 70s. I am sitting with my

continues on page 29 >>

G-d Bless America!

250 Years of American Exceptionalism and What It Has Meant for the Jewish People

by Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort

Excitement is in the air as we approach the 4th of July. This coming 4th of July has added meaning as we celebrate 250 years of American independence. When we look at the ‘American Experiment’ objectively, it is easy to see how these United States have not only brought incredible blessings to those who are fortunate enough to live here, but also how the entire free world has benefited.

Why has America been successful in creating so much wealth for so many people, which raised the standard of living for all? The U.S. is a constitutional republic. The laws enshrined in the Constitution, which has been protected and nurtured by the divided but equal powers within the government, have created the perfect balance of individual human rights with the collective strength

of a nation built on shared values and aspirations.

How can this be? How can individual freedoms coexist with shared values?

The preamble of the Constitution says it best:

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

There are six basic principles articulated here:

• Form a more perfect Union: To create a better, more unified federal system than the one that existed under the previous Articles of Confederation.

• Establish Justice: To create a fair legal system where laws are applied equally to all citizens.

• Ensure domestic Tranquility: To maintain peace and order within the country.

• Provide for the common defense: To protect the nation and its citizens from outside threats.

• Promote the general Welfare: To ensure the well-being and prosperity of the population.

• Secure the Blessings of Liberty: To protect the freedoms of current Americans and ensure those rights are passed down to future generations.

Ours is not a pure democracy. The framers understood the risks inherent in a pure democracy. What is to stop

G-d Bless America continued

a majority from tyrannizing the minority if not a Constitutional framework that protects individual rights and property? A democracy not harnessed by individual rights is doomed to chaotic failure. Another interesting ingredient in the success of our country is the moral standing of its citizens. Those who gifted us this form of government understood that a democratic country whose citizens are immoral will fail. Progressively larger voting blocs will vote themselves increased power and wealth at the expense of their less numerous neighbors.

With these ideas in mind, we can now fully appreciate the success of the Jewish people in America. Finally, we weren’t held back by a glass ceiling. Our fellow

Americans are overwhelmingly kind and moral people. This, coupled with a Constitution that protects our equal rights and property rights, has unleashed Jewish creativity. Our industrious nature is allowed to flourish, and it has in a big way!

And how have we utilized this unprecedented freedom, wealth and influence?

The Jewish people in America have not only used their blessings to build up a robust Jewish life in the form of synagogues, day schools, Yeshivas, and countless Jewish institutions, but have also been generous supporters of non-Jewish charitable enterprises. A veritable Jewish renaissance has blossomed on the shores of the New

World, unleashing enormous blessings that have benefited all of humankind! G-d has certainly blessed America. May G-d continue to bless the U.S. May we continue to be worthy of G-d’s blessings. And most importantly, may we use the Almighty’s blessings to bring the most benefits to all of humanity!

Happy 4th of July!  A

Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort co-directs, with his wife Rebbetzin Nechama Eilfort, Coastal Chabads, Chabad at La Costa, Encinitas, and Carlsbad North where everyone, regardless of level of knowledge or observance, feels cherished and loved. Rabbi Eilfort welcomes and encourages comments and questions: rabbie@chabadatlacosta.com.

When Terror Comes continued

husband and four friends. The music is too loud. I can’t sit still. I am thinking too much. The day is seeping into my soul. While everyone is applauding and cheering the first number, I discreetly leave. I take some paper and a pen from the registration table and find a place to sit and write. I can still hear the music, but I am alone with my attempt to make sense of the day.

The trauma of “what if?” keeps the adrenaline speeding through me. I think about all the people who have experienced extreme situations of “what if?” and their trauma takes on a new meaning for me. I look around the room filled with Anglos — the term used for immigrants from English-speaking countries — and wonder how many of them are carrying trauma of any degree with them. I think we all do to some extent, but each kind can affect you differently. I was “stoned” once while driving in the Shomron. The force of the stones cracked the windshield and

dented the hood and my door but missed my window. I was fine. No trauma. I drive by the same place quite often. Maybe because there was no “what if?” because it did happen. And it was finished. For me. Someone else can react differently.

“Here

Comes the Sun”

My husband joins me outside where the double doors open to a patio of the Ra’anana Bowls Club. A few couples are dancing to the Beatles or quietly chatting. The performers, Jokers and Thieves, immigrants themselves, acknowledge the difficult day of a terror attack nearby and the announcement that three more of our soldiers were killed in Lebanon. “We’ve had a tough day,” the band leader says, “but we continue with song. That’s what keeps us going. That’s who we are.” They choose “Here Comes the Sun” to express our shared outlook. We all join in the chorus. We are surrounded by potential trauma wherever we go. A few weeks

ago, friends on the Israeli cruise line Mano were “greeted” by protesters and threats in every port. Antisemitic attacks around the world — including in my hometown of Los Angeles — feel like traumas waiting to happen. I’ve seen the background loops of the places where I grew up, and the loops of attacks against Jews everywhere. Why shouldn’t my home in the center of Israel be in a news loop?

We must live our lives on our terms and cope with the challenges that come with those choices wherever we are. I dictate the terms of my life — and I sing “Here Comes the Sun.” A

Galia Miller Sprung moved to Israel from Palm Springs, California in 1970 to become a pioneer farmer and was a founding member of a moshav in the Jordan Rift Valley. Today, she is a retired high school teacher, a writer and editor. She lives with her husband in Tzur Yitzhak.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: ACTS OF LOVING KINDNESS

Hope Found a Home

When a shelter in Los Angeles reached out looking for a Jewish organization to help an Israeli man who had been violently attacked twice for being Jewish, Kindness Initiative answered the call. Michael, a 40-year-old former IDF soldier, arrived in San Diego with nowhere to turn. Our team welcomed him with compassion, found him temporary housing, helped him prepare for job interviews, provided transportation, meals, and daily support until he secured a job with a major retailer.

"I had nowhere else to turn. I am so grateful in ways I may never be able to say thank you. Without this support, I'm not sure I would have survived this last leg of my journey." Michael, KI Member

Michael's journey isn't over, but today he is rebuilding his life with the support of a community that refused to let him face it alone. He recently returned to Israel to see his father for the first time in 20 years, a moment made possible because people chose kindness.

To everyone who donated, opened your heart, offered employment opportunities, or simply showed up when we called, thank you. You know who you are, and so does Michael. We are deeply grateful.

We hope Michael's story inspires many more of you to join us. Whether you can give your time, resources, pro-bono services or simply open a door, your generosity has the power to change a Jewish person's life forever. Contact us at info@KindnessSD.org or visit kindnessSD.org to learn how you can help.

DONATE. SHOP. VOLUNTEER

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Mission Bagel’s Tuna Salad

This is the tuna salad I grew up eating every Saturday morning with my parents. I can still picture it clearly. We’d warm up these tiny pitas until they were hot and steaming, then fill them with tuna salad and slices of fresh tomato from the garden. It was one of the best bites I knew as a kid.

Over the years, I’ve kept making it, and somehow it became one of the quiet hits at Mission Bagel. A lot of people come in thinking tuna salad sounds boring or flavorless, so I’ll usually give them a little taste, almost like an ice cream shop handing out samples. Nine times out of 10, once they try it, they’re sold.

To this day, I eat our tuna melt at least three times a week because it’s still one of my favorite things on the menu. And on Shabbat, I almost always take home a pint of tuna salad. Just this past week, after a long beach day with the kids, I sat down with some Ritz crackers, a simple arugula and tomato salad dressed with balsamic and olive oil, and that tuna salad. It was one of the best lunches I’ve had in a while.

INGREDIENTS:

• 12 ounce can of solid white tuna, drained well

• 1 tablespoon mayo

• 2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish

• 1 teaspoon mustard

PREPARATION:

1. Mix the mayo, relish and mustard together. Add the drained tuna and combine thoroughly.

2. It is served best on a warm bagel with onions and tomato!

Local Arts

BY EILEEN SONDAK

SAN DIEGO JUNIOR THEATRE

juniortheatre.com

San Diego Junior Theatre continues its whimsical adaptation of the beloved children’s book, “A Bad Case of Stripes: The Musical,” through July 12 at the Casa del Prado.

On July 24, Junior Theatre will tackle “Les Misérables School Edition.” This version of one of Broadway’s most memorable musicals will challenge the talented young thespians with its brilliant story of compassion and redemption and its magnificent score. Don’t miss this theatrical gem during its stay in Balboa Park through Aug. 9

SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART

sdmart.org

The San Diego Museum of Art has “Café and Cabarets: The Spectacular Art of Toulouse-Lautrec” on display through Sept. 20. The once-in-ageneration exhibition includes about 50 works by the iconic artist from the museum’s permanent collection.

THE OLD GLOBE THEATRE

theoldglobe.org

The Globe’s Main Stage is bringing us “North by Northwest,” direct from England. The show (based on the beloved Hitchcock classic) opens on July 3 and will keep audiences on the edge of their seats through Aug. 2. Of course, the thriller provides a femme fatale, a case of mistaken identity and a ‘50s score, but it also happens to be riotously funny.

The Globe’s White Theatre is gearing up for a production of “Cyrano,” a play based on the unforgettable character who was a hopeless romantic, an amazing poet, and a swaggering swordsman. This celebration of love will play July 18 through Aug. 9

LAMB’S PLAYERS THEATRE

lambsplayers.org

Lamb’s Players are turning up the volume this month with “American Rhythm.” The home-grown show takes audiences on a musical journey from Ragtime and Swing to Jazz and Rock-and-Roll. A large cast and live band will help you feel the beat from July 1 through Sept. 27

LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY

theconrad.org

La Jolla Music Society will kick off Summerfest 2026 on July 31 with “The Incomplete History of the World in Ten Pieces” as part of the Synergy Series. The season opener will be held at the Baker Baum Concert Hall. Summerfest will continue through Aug. 29 under the direction of Israeliborn Inon Barnatan.

LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE

lajollaplayhouse.org

La Jolla Playhouse is preparing to unveil a new musical at the Potiker Theatre. “The Family Album” zeroes in on a singer-songwriter desperate to make it in show business. The show is humorous, poignant and powerfully uplifting. You can check out this world premiere July 17 through Aug. 16.

NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE

northcoastrep.org

North Coast Repertory Theatre will end its season on a high note with “Scapin,” a play co-written by the talented Bill Irwin. Adapted from Molière’s classic, this modern take on the commedia delle’arte romp is a ribtickling crowd-pleaser with theatrical surprises galore. The show will be on stage July 22 through Aug. 16

THE ROSIN BOX PROJECT

therosinboxproject.com

The Rosin Box Project is performing “Debuts: The Frame Wide Open” at The Joan in Liberty Station, July 31-August 2. The program features bold new dance works.

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On behalf of AM Israel Mortuary, We extend our condolences to the families of all

• Fight anti-semitism

• Support our military overseas

• Comradeship

• Support Naval Hospital San Diego & Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton

• and much more . . . Meet 2nd Sunday of the month 11:00 AM

Veterans Association North County (VANC) 1617 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92058

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Last Word

BY MARGARITAVILLE HOTEL SAN DIEGO

Margaritaville Run — A New Summer Fun Run

San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter is about to trade its usual city buzz for a wave of island energy as the inaugural Margaritaville Run brings a 5K and 10K race to downtown on August 8, 2026. Participants will move through a lively course filled with music, costumes and an energetic crowd atmosphere. With a scenic urban route

and a post-race celebration at the finish, the event offers runners and walkers a chance to enjoy the city this summer. Guests are encouraged to gather their crew and break out the tropical shirts because “It’s 5K Somewhere.”

The inaugural Margaritaville Run is inviting runners, walkers and parrotheads to trade everyday stress for

sunshine, music and miles. This race promises palm trees, party energy and a true “racecation” experience in the heart of downtown San Diego. A

The Margaritaville Run proudly supports Give Kids the World Village.

Non-stop, deliciously zany, outrageous fun! Scapin — the world’s greatest con artist — manipulates, schemes, and lies his way through every obstacle, turning chaos into opportunity. When two young lovers clash with stubborn, money-minded fathers, Scapin springs into action with outrageous tricks and bold lies. This fresh, modern take on Molière’s beloved farce delivers nonstop mischief, surprises, and laughs.