Come on over and join us for an open Karaoke night.

So whether you sound like Sinatra, Elvis, Streisand, Madonna, or Kermit the Frog, enjoy a night of music, dancing, and fun. Admission includes entrance and one drink ticket. A beer-and-wine cash bar will be available throughout the evening.

Paid reservations by March 12th will enjoy our early bird price of $15. The cost after this date and at the door will be $18. Online reservations will be available soon or call the office now at (619) 697-6001.

Read our RSVP Policy…

Purim is a busy and joyous time around our congregation. Everyone can take part in the merriment, and we hope you will!

Throughout our celebrations we ask that you remember those who are hungry. Bring non-perishable food items to fill our bin so that we can, in turn, give your contributions to San Diego’s Jewish Family Service Hand Up Youth Food Pantry. During our Purimshpiel, bring noisy items (cereal, macaroni and cheese, cous cous, etc.) to use to drown out the name of Haman. We’ll collect them at the end of the evening to add to our collection. Remember, hunger never takes a holiday.

Hamantaschen: What would Purim be without Hamantaschen? Don’t forget to place your order for our homemade goodies. We have six delicious flavors available. The details are right here. If you’re ready to place your order, click here. Please note, the order deadline is February 24th. If you need further assistance, call our office at (619) 697-6001.

Purim Carnival: Sunday, March 4th at 10:00 a.m. Children of all ages will enjoy our Purim Carnival. A Wrist-O-Fun band allows each child to participate in all the games and activities for one price. Lunch is available for an additional fee. Learn more on our website. Be sure to take advantage of our early bird pricing until February 29th. Purchase your Wrist-O-Fun now or phone the office at (619) 697-6001.

Purim Feast: Wednesday, March 7th at 6:00 p.m. Let’s Feast! Our holiday celebration will begin on Wednesday, March 7th at 6:00 p.m. We’ll enjoy a royal Persian feast, perfect for the holiday. All the details can be found on our website. Make your reservations online or call the office at (619) 697-6001 and let’s get the party started.

TIS Annual Purimshpiel presents The Thrillah Megillah: Wednesday, March 7th at 7:00 p.m. Our annual Purimshpiel is known far and wide as an event not to be missed. This year our Purimshpielers are proud to bring you The Thrillah Megillah featuring the music of Michael Jackson. Open and free to all, bring your friends, family and neighbors to enjoy the show! Read all about it now.

“And on the fourteenth day they rested,
and made it a day of feasting and gladness.”

- Esther 9:17

What could be better than a great time at the Purimshpiel? Dinner! Join us for a Purim Feast preceding the Megillah readings and Purimshpiel. Costumes are encouraged for everyone!

We’ll enjoy a Persian buffet fit for all of our kings and queens. Dinner will include falafel, Israeli chopped salad, hummus, pita, assorted borekas, and of course, hamantaschen.

The cost is $9 for those 10 years and older, $7.50 for youth ages 2 to 9. Children under 2 eat free. Dinner reservations must be received by March 2nd.

Click here to RSVP.

And after dinner, stay for the Purimshpiel, The Thrillah Megillah. Following the Purimshpiel, a traditional Megillah reading will take place in the Chapel.

There will be another reading of the Megillah on Thursday, March 8th at 7:00 a.m. during our morning Minyan. Please note the special start time.

March 4th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Enjoy a day of merriment with an assortment of activities to delight children of all ages including jumpies, two-person quad pod, Gamez on Wheelz, games, photo booth, crafts, nail and face painting, prizes, and much more.

A Wrist-O-Fun band allows each child to participate in all of the fun. You may purchase Wrist-O-Fun bands and save with our early bird pricing. Lunch is not included in the Wrist-O-Fun but may be purchased separately. A limited amount of lunches will be available for purchase at the carnival. Each lunch will contain a bagel and cream cheese, fresh fruit, a bag of chips, a bottle of water, and a Hamantaschen.

Advance sales for Wrist-O-Fun bands and lunch will only continue until February 29. After this date you may purchase Wrist-o-Fun bands and lunch at the door.

Please note, snacks and drinks will be sold separately for $1.

Click here to purchase your Wrist-O-Fun online!

Abraham Ratner Torah School and Silverman Preschool are offering delicious, homemade Hamantaschen to enjoy yourself or to share with family and friends! Hamantaschen are $10 per dozen. Place your order of three or more dozen by February 10th and you’ll receive one additional dozen for free! All monies raised from the sales will support our Torah School and Preschool Special Events Funds to ensure guests, programs, class projects, field trips, and more for our children.

The Fine Print: Hamantaschen are kosher, dairy, and under the supervision of Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal.

Orders must be received by Monday, February 24th. Orders may be picked up between March 4th and March 11th during synagogue business hours as well as during our Purim Carnival on March 4h and at the Purimshpiel on March 7th. Orders not picked up will be donated on March 12th.

Place your order online or phone the office at (619) 697-6001.

So you want to get a Thrillah? Billy Jean will attend this annual show accompanied by The Man in the Mirror. After they Rock With You they’ll Beat It. Don’t miss this epic performance!

As always, our Purimshpiel is free and open to the entire community. I’ll Be There and hope you will, too. It’s just your Human Nature to enjoy all of the fun and merriment so be sure to dress up in costume! In addition to all the fun, there are several mitzvot that we are commanded to fulfill during Purim including:

• Hear the reading of the Megillah
• Eat a festive meal
• Give gifts of food to friends and family
• Give to those in need

This year let’s perform a mitzvah while we blot out Haman’s name. Bring a box of pasta, macaroni and cheese, couscous, cereal, etc. to use as groggers. Following our Megillah reading we will collect the items in our bin and donate them to San Diego Jewish Family Service Hand Up Youth Food Pantry. Feel free to bring other items to contribute, too!

at the San Diego Jewish Film Festival
Saturday, February 11 at 7:00 p.m.

Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra (TICO) and Tifereth Israel Synagogue are proud to be Community Outreach Partners in this year’s San Diego Jewish Film Festival presentation of Amnon’s Journey.

“You can hear the suffering…when these violins are played.” Israeli master violin-maker Amnon Weinstein crafts beauty from despair by lovingly restoring instruments once played by Jews in Holocaust ghettos and concentration camps. Trained by his father Moshe, whose violins were played by Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zuckerman, Amnon is on a mission to locate these special Holocaust violins, to research their owners’ stories, and to preserve their voices. This lyrical film features stirring performances by international virtuosos and culminates in the breathtaking “Violins of Hope” concert performed in Jerusalem’s Old City.

The film will be shown at Reading Cinemas Town Square 14 at 4665 Clairemont Drive, San Diego 92117, (858) 274-9994.

TIS member, Eileen Wingard will introduce the film and share information about Amnon Weinstein and his commitment restoring string instruments which once belonged to victims of the Holocaust.

In addition, the short film I Will Not Die, inspired by the poetry written by the children of Terezin, will also be shown in its first American premiere. Inspired by surviving poetry written by children in Terezin Camp in Czechoslovakia during the Holocaust, Canadian violinist Ruth Fazal composed the beautiful “Oratorio Terezin” which changed the lives of all the participants.

An additional opportunity to see both films will be held on Friday, February 17 at 1:30 p.m. at the same location. David Amos, TICO conductor, will be the guest speaker.

To purchase tickets at a discounted fee call the JCC Box Office at (858) 362-1348. The Code is TICO12. Your tickets will be ready for you at the Will Call table on the night of the film.

The historical musical drama Parade will be opening next month at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. TIS will offer multiple opportunities, featuring discounted tickets, to attend this production. Currently, we are considering these dates:

• Thursday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m.

Let us know if you are interested in attending the show and which date(s) you would prefer. There is no obligation. Email Beth Klareich or call (619) 697-6001 ext. 108.

Parade tells the true story of Leo Frank, a Jew, accused and convicted in 1913 of murder of thirteen-year-old, Mary Phagan in Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more about the play and the production here.

On Saturday, February 11, Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Midrash Shabbat will feature members of Parade‘s cast: Sandy Campbell (Lead Actress), Brandon Maier (Lead Actor) and Sean Murray (Director). In addition, Tifereth Israel member Marlene Recht, Anti-Defamation League (ADL) National Commissioner and Regional Board member, will share the impact of the case on the formation of the ADL.

Please read our RSVP policy.

Joining us this month will be members of the cast of Cygnet Theatre’s upcoming musical production, Parade: Sandy Campbell (Lead Actress), Brandon Maier (Lead Actor) and Sean Murray (Director) (pictured below, left to right). Appearing with them will be Tifereth Israel member, ADL National Commissioner and San Diego Regional Board member, Marlene Recht.

Parade tells the true story of Jewish Northerner and pencil factory manager Leo Frank, accused and convicted in 1913 of murdering thirteen-year-old, Mary Phagan in Atlanta, Georgia. Set against the backdrop of his controversial trial and conviction, Parade explores the deep love that grows between Leo and his wife Lucille as they work together to fight for his freedom.

There were major doubts about Frank’s guilt, and charges that false testimony helped convict him. But Frank quickly became a convenient scapegoat in a South still reeling from Civil War losses, and rife with anti-Semitism.

At trial, Frank received the death penalty, which was later commuted to life imprisonment by Georgia’s governor. But on August 17, 1915, the prisoner was yanked from his cell and hanged from an oak tree by a group of men.

The well-publicized incident spurred the formation of the Anti-Defamation League, which fights anti-Jewish bigotry, and a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan.

Shabbat services begin at 9:15 a.m. After services everyone is invited to enjoy a light Kiddush lunch followed by the presentation and discussion. Childcare will be available during the presentation.

Join us to see Parade as part of our ongoing series Tifereth Israel Presents…, providing unique programming, discounted tickets, or other benefits to members and friends with an enduring interest in local cultural events. You may also email Program Director, Beth Klareich or phone her at (619) 697-6001 ext. 108 for more information.

If you are interested in sponsoring a Midrash Shabbat Kiddush lunch, please speak with Norm Katz, Perry Arenson, or Rabbi Rosenthal.

Read’s the President’s Kol Nidre Address

The President will be in

• Wednesday, February 22^nd, at 6:15 p.m.
  Spending time at Silverman Preschool’s Parent Committee Meeting

This month I’ll be spending some time just with our preschool families during their Parent Committee meeting. I look forward to hearing their ideas to keep our community thriving while looking forward to the future.

Although it won’t be an opportunity to talk business, it will be my pleasure to greet so many friends at our annual gala, Moulin Rouge. The evening promises terrific fun while supporting our congregation. If you haven’t made your reservations, please do so by February 13th.

I am doing my best to alter dates and time to better meet the needs of everyone’s busy schedules. If you should wish to reach me outside of our monthly gatherings feel free to email me.

Seth Krosner, President
Tifereth Israel Synagogue

President’s Address to the Congregation
Kol Nidre, October 7, 2011 / 5772

In the last four years, I lost my Mother and my Mother in law, both after long battles with cancer. I fathered a son. I built a new home. And I became legally married. These are perhaps the five most important events in my adult life. I cannot imagine having gone through any of them without my synagogue family.

I’ve read that 90% of San Diego’s population was born elsewhere. Most of us live far from our extended families. We lead busy, disconnected lives: we work long hours, we drive long distances, we are over-scheduled, and like many generations of Californians before us, we come from other places. I, and probably many of you, hunger for a sense of having emotional “roots.” I want to feel I have a home, and I’m not talking just about the driveway you pull into after work every night. This synagogue is also home for me, and it can be for you. I want each of you to feel that this shul IS your home. I hope you’ll come chat with me during my monthly “President Is In” office hours. Share with me the things you like about our synagogue, and also the things you’d like to add or improve about synagogue life. I want to hear your ideas and opinions: I value them.

I’d like to ask you now to turn to the people on either side of the folks you came to services with tonight. Chances are you don’t know them, or only know them by sight. I want you to introduce yourselves to them. Just tell them your name, and ask them theirs. Wish them a Shabbat Shalom, and a Shanah Tovah. I’ll wait.

See, that was not so hard. (By the way, I hope you got it all out of your system, because as far as I know, there’s not going to be talking during the Rabbi’s sermon.)

People come to synagogues for many reasons: for prayer, for reflection, for spiritual renewal, for education. None of these need a special building — you can pray and reflect at the top of Cowles Mountain (or, for that matter, at the bottom and save the hike), and you can certainly feel spiritually renewed watching the sun set over the Pacific. You can read and study in a library, at home, or even in Starbucks if you have an IPad.

So what does a synagogue offer you? A community. When I said Kaddish here, for my mother, may she rest in peace, I didn’t feel less sad, or miss her less. I still miss her. I miss her now. But I felt less alone. When, just one year later, I held my infant son here during new baby Shabbat, I didn’t love him more, and I wasn’t more proud of him. That would not have been possible. But I got to watch him become part of my family, and part of my world. And I got to feel myself as a father by watching my community see me as one. And it made my life richer.

I’m not here to speak with you tonight about God, or our religion. Those topics are for the Rabbi. But I do know about the hunger for connection, and the real need to feel part of an extended family, to belong. This synagogue is my community, and yours. It takes little more than just showing up to be part of this community. Just come, show up, be here. This is your community.

When I moved to San Diego more than 13 years ago, I made the rounds of the Conservative and Orthodox shuls. At Tifereth Israel someone made a point to say Hi to me and introduce themselves, so I came back. And Tina Friedman, thanks for chatting with me that Shabbat morning – that’s why I chose this shul over the others in San Diego. That’s why I’m here now. Tonight someone said hello to all of you, and wished you well. And you reached out and met someone new. Next year, or the year after that, when you have, God willing, something wonderful in your life, the people you met tonight may be there to celebrate with you. And if, God forbid, you suffer a loss like I did, those people who were strangers when you walked in tonight might be the friends who come to sit shiva with you. Because that is what a community is for. And this is your community.

Tifereth Israel Synagogue. Tradition. Community. A future with you.

I wish each of you a meaningful fast and a year filled with joy. May you be inscribed, and sealed, in the Book of Life. Shabbat Shalom.