SAN DIEGO – Why is Rosh Hashanah so “late” this year? I have many memories of Rosh Hashanah occurring around going back-to-school and the end of summer. But some years it starts in October. Some Jewish years are leap years, in which an entire extra month is added to the calendar. This can result in certain Jewish holidays coming much later than in non-leap years.
The Jewish leap year ensures that the lunar year and the solar year are not too far out of phase with each other. It is a 19-year cycle which includes seven leap years. A full month is added every seven years.
Following the 19-year cycle, the Jewish holidays fluctuate by a month or so in relation to the 365 1/4-day, solar, Gregorian calendar. Rosh Hashanah should fall sometime in the fall so landing in September or October is accurate.
With the heat wave moving on, I am looking forward to enjoying a warm coffee in the sukkah in October. In hopes we will not experience “Summer 2.0” in San Diego.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Congregation Beth El hosts “New Babies Brunch” at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 15. Families with new babies are invited for a morning of music, dance, brunch and a chance to meet new and old friends. Click here to rsvp.
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Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival (JFest) and New Village Arts present “Un Hombre, A Golem Story” by Stephen Kaplan at 7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 15 at the Ray Charles Stage in the Conrad Prebys Theatre. A sculptor struggles to get back on track after the untimely death of her husband until a little magic transforms a hunk of clay into the answer to all her problems. Click here for tickets.
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Hadassah San Diego announces a new networking group for Jewish business owners “Kehilat Kasharim” at 11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 16, in Encinitas. Click here to register.
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Jewish Federation of San Diego, American Jewish Committee, Union for Reform Judaism, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Secure Community Network, and Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations presents “High Holidays Safety and Security Webinar Series” at 11 a.m., and at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 16 on Zoom. Organizers say that attendees will be shown how to take personal responsibility for the safety and security of themselves, families, and their community and learn skillsets that help them identify, protect, and respond to all hazards. Click here to register for the 11 a.m. Zoom. Click here to register for the 5:30 p.m. Zoom
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Jewish Federation of San Diego, Impact Cubed, The Israel Democracy Institute and Lawrence Family JCC present “Israel’s Moment of Truth Amid Preparations for a Post-War Reality” at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 16 at the Lawrence Family JCC. Yohanan Plesner, IDI President will share insights into the resilience of Israeli communities, the ongoing impact of the war, and IDI’s plans for democratic renewal in the aftermath of this terrible conflict. Click here to register.
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American Constitution Society San Diego Chapter will honor Councilmember Colin Parent and Johanna Schiavoni with the inaugural Howard Wayne Award at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 17 at the California Western School of Law. Wayne was a founding member of the ACS San Diego Lawyer Chapter and a long-time ACS leader. Click here to purchase tickets.
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Congregation Beth Israel Men’s Club Dinner Forum presents “Understanding the November Ballot Initiatives” at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept, 18, with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Jason Bercovitch, Beth Israel member and District Director for Congressman Scott Peters, plans a non-partisan, unbiased presentation on what each ballot measure would actually do, and who supports and opposes each proposal. Click here for the Zoom link and click here for the dinner registration.
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Coastal Roots Farm presents the grand finale of its Farm Film and Music Series with the showing of We Can Get There from Here and The Big Oyster at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with live music from Emma Frances. Click here for tickets.
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Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education and Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival (JFest) present “Women of STEM” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Elementary Institute of Science Auditorium. This original full-length play honors six local women in San Diego who have made significant contributions in STEM fields. Their stories have been woven into a narrative using monologues and music. Honorees include: Dr. Laura Becerra, researcher in both Electrical Engineering and Nano Engineering, Sarah Tuakli Cooper, Executive Director of the Elementary Institute of Science; Dr. Odesma Dalrymple, Industrial and Systems Engineering; Aleesa Elbaum, Embryologist; Dr. Mwenda Kudumu Biggs, Vice President of Community Service and Engagement at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center; Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire, President, President and Chief Executive Officer of the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. Click here for tickets.
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Bat Shemesh Hadassah San Diego has urged its members to volunteer at the “October 7 Memorial and Commemoration” at 5 p.m., Monday, October 7 at the Lawrence Family JCC. Volunteers will assist with set up and help during the event. Click here to rsvp by Friday, September 20.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue has set a deadline of 10 a.m, Friday, Sept. 20, for purchases of Lulav and Etrog for Sukkot. Click here to order.
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San Diego State University’s Jewish Studies program cosponsors “A Conversation With Nathan Thrall” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, October 8 at SDSU Arts and Letters 201. Thrall, author of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize winning book A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy, will be interviewed by SDSU Political Science professor Jonathan Graubart.
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MISCELLANY
Beth Jacob Congregation reports that congregants Eli and Anjali Levine welcomed a baby boy. Mazel Tov!
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.