LA MESA, California – Finding balance in an unbalanced world can be complicated. Life is full of balance in everyday situations. How much time do you dedicate to a task or job and when do you stop and say no?
Many of us have been stuck working overtime to get the job done and many times it was needed. Sometimes assessing if this is necessary or can be accomplished the next day. This can backfire if the supervisor becomes reliant on employees who regularly stay late without acknowledging this might be causing undue stress.
As May wraps up Mental Health Awareness Month, finding balance and checking in with yourself is important. It is okay to say no to added work and not to feel bad for sticking up for your mental clarity.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Congregation B’nai Tikvah invites the community to attend its Shavuot Party at 6:30 p.m., Friday, May 30 at Bethlehem Lutheran. Organizers remind attendees to bring canned goods to be donated to Interfaith Community Services and gently used coats for Jonah’s coat drive to help those in need of clothing.
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Beth Jacob Congregation announces to the community its last chance to register for the Mexican Fiesta Shavuot Dinner at 9 p.m., Sunday, June 1. The event includes a fish taco bar, a buffet with Mexican sides, desserts, and a drink station. Click here to rsvp.
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Israeli American Council’s Shishi Israeli presents Shavuot Potluck at 6 p.m., Friday, June 6 in Carmel Valley. The event includes a kosher-style Shavuot potluck picnic, music, and community. Organizers suggest attendees dress in white and bring their favorite dairy dishes to share. Click here to register and receive the address.
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Jewish Federation of San Diego announces its last chance to sign up for Global Shabbat: Your Passport to Flavor, Culture, and Connection at 7 p.m., Friday, June 6 at Lawrence Family JCC. The event includes food and special guest Zoe Sadugor of JDC Entwine to discuss the next young-adult mission and destination. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth Israel announces a last chance to register for its Big Top: Annual Fundraiser at 6 p.m., Saturday, June 7. The event includes featured cocktails, dinner, entertainment, and more. Click here to register.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue invites the community to attend its “A Night in the Tropics: Annual Gala” at 4 p.m., Sunday, June 8. The event includes Happy Hour, Live Steel Drum Music, a Fire Dance Performance, an Island-style dinner and appetizers, dancing, games, and more. Click here to register.
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Hillel San Diego invites the community to attend its Annual Meeting at 10 a.m., Sunday, June 22 at the Beverly and Joseph Glickman Hillel Center. This event will introduce the new board slate for 2025-2026. Click here to rsvp for the meeting.
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Coastal Roots Farm presents “Cook, Dine, and Unwind: Farm-to-Table Dinner” at 6 p.m., Sunday, June 22. The event includes a multi-course menu crafted by local chefs. Kelston Moore and Ashley Miller of Haven Farm and Table will use Farm-grown produce, complete with wine and beer pairings. Click here to register.
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To view other events, previously listed in this column, please visit our San Diego Jewish Community Calendar page.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
University City invites the community to attend its Shavuot Dairy Dinner and Late-Night Torah Study at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, June 1. The event includes services and a catered dinner by Bibi’s Bakery and Café. After dinner, Rabbi Effy Kahn will lead two Torah study sessions, “Invented at Sinai: How the Torah Quietly Shaped the World” and “The Upside of Crime: Should a Good Ending Change a Bad Beginning.” Click here to rsvp.
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University City invites the community to attend its “Shavuot Ice Cream Kiddush” at 10 a.m., Monday 2. This event includes morning services, a reading of the Ten Commandments, and a dairy Kiddush. After Kiddush, women are encouraged to attend a class with Rebbetzin Doba Kahn.
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Poway invites the community to attend its “Shavuos Celebration” at 10 a.m., Monday, June 2 at Chabad of Poway. The event includes services, a reading of the Ten Commandments, and a cheesecake and ice cream buffet.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
San Diego Jewish Academy reports students Mario Modiano and Ava Woolf have been selected as finalists in the 2025 Shorashim – My Family Story project. This international initiative, led by ANU – Museum of the Jewish People, encourages students to explore and creatively present their unique family histories. Modiano and Woolf’s thoughtful projects stood out among hundreds of entries from across North America, earning them a spot as finalists in this year’s competition.
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Jewish Federation of San Diego’s Women’s Philanthropy Board is reaching out to women in the community to understand the kind of experiences that members are interested in attending. Whether it’s hands-on volunteering, learning about local partner organizations, joining small neighborhood groups, or creating spaces where Jewish women can come together and make a difference. Click here to fill out the survey.
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OBITUARY NOTICES
Deborah Friedlaender, mother of Daniel and Mara Friedlaender, has died. The funeral will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 29 at El Camino Memorial Park with Rabbi Avi Libman of Congregation Beth El as officiant. Donations in Freidlaender’s honor can be made at Congregation Beth El, Scripps Clinic, and the UCSD Moores Cancer Center, Am Israel Mortuary reports.
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Jack Kletzman, father of Julie Bodenheimer, has died. The funeral will take place on Friday, May 30 in the Bay Area, Congregation Beth Am reports.
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Arlene Sterling, mother of Steven (Joan) Sterling and Cheryl Goldbarg, has died. The funeral will be observed privately, Tifereth Israel Synagogue reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant director of the San Diego Jewish World.