LA MESA, California – The holiday of Shavuot starts Sunday night, June 1, and ends Tuesday night, June 3. This is the holiday after Pesach anticipated by the counting of the Omer. It is traditional to eat dairy items and one of those favorites is cheesecake.
My kids ask as it gets closer when they can pick out their cheesecake. They discuss where we are going to purchase one and debate the flavor. We usually must get a few small ones since they both don’t agree on sharing.
I heard one preferring cherries on top and the other saying chocolate on top. Good thing DZ Akins has individual-sized cheesecakes so there will not be a fight on who gets the last bite.
Wishing you all a Chag Shavuot Sameach! (Confession: I am not a fan of cheesecake.)
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SHAVUOT CELEBRATIONS
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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Congregation Dor Hadash invites the community to attend its “Shavuot Celebration and Heartfelt Tribute to Rabbi Yael Ridberg” at 4 p.m., Sunday, June 1. The event includes honoring Ridberg for her contributions to the Dor Hadash community, opportunities to learn, and refreshments. Click here to volunteer.
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Ohr Shalom Synagogue announces its Shavuot Services will start at 8 p.m., Sunday, June 1; 9:30 a.m., Monday, June 2 and 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 3. Teachers for Tikkun Leyl starting at 8 p.m., Sunday, June 1 include congregants: Eti Chall “From Counting to Receiving”, Ruth Levy “Chag Habikkurim: Israeli Customs and Memory, Marvin Yudkovitz “Revelation in Art” and Rabbi Scott Meltzer’s late-night teaching “Liberty Before the Bell”.
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Temple Emanu-El presents its “Shavuot for the Table” at 6 p.m., Sunday, June 1. Rabbi Devorah Marcus and Barry Lander will lead this event which will include learning how to cook a Jewish meal and learning about Shavuot. Click here to register.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue presents its Shavuot Program at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, June 1. The event includes candle lighting, services, and learning opportunities from Dr. Abraham Broudy, Dr. Seth Krosner, and Rabbi Hanan Leberman along with dairy noshes. Click here to rsvp.
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Congregation Beth El announces its Shavuot Services starting at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, June 1. The event includes an evening of Torah study and celebration. Click here to register. At 9:30 a.m., Monday, June 2 and on Tuesday, June 3, the events both include morning services and Torah studies. A festive meal will be served on Tuesday, June 3. Click here to register for the luncheon.
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Congregation Beth Am presents its “Tikkun Leil Shavuot Zimrat Yah Service, Seeking the Face of God: A Night of Divine Encounter” at 8 p.m., Sunday, June 1. The prayer, study, and song session will be led by Rabbi Daniel Kornberg, Steve Kahn, Rachel Selk, and Ephron Rosenzweig.
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Congregation Adat Yeshurun invites the community to attend its Shavuos Dinner at 8:30 p.m., Sunday, June 1. The event includes services before a catered meal by Nena from Felicia G. Catering and before attending the all-night learning. Click here to rsvp.
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Ohr Shalom Synagogue invites the community to attend its Shavuot Services starting 8 p.m., Sunday, June 1; 9:30 a.m., Monday, June 2; and 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 3.
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Beth Jacob Congregation invites the community to its “Mexican Fiesta Shavuot Dinner” at 9 p.m., Sunday, June 1. The event includes a fish taco bar and many other Mexican side dishes, desserts, and drink stations. After dinner, the congregation will observe Tikkun Leil Shavuot, an all-night learning program. Click here to rsvp.
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Young Israel of San Diego invites the community to attend its “Shavuot Dairy Dinner and Learning” at 9 p.m., Sunday, June 1. The event includes dinner followed by Torah classes with community speakers. Click here to rsvp.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
Chula Vista invites the community to attend its “Ice Cream Party” at 5:30 p.m., Monday, June 2. The event includes hearing the 10 Commandments, followed by a dairy buffet and ice cream party. Also, it’s “Shavuot Prayer and Yizkor Service” at 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 3. The event includes services and honoring and remembering loved ones. Click here to rsvp.
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Carmel Valley invites the community to attend “Shavuot Celebrations” starting Sunday, June 1 with all-night learning. At 11 a.m., Monday, June 2 with the reading of the Ten Commandments followed by a dairy Kiddush, and at 6 p.m., June 2 with the reading of the Ten Commandments followed by an ice cream party and Mincha.
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Downtown invites the community to attend its Shavuot celebrations. At 7:30 p.m., Sunday, June 1, the event will include services, dinner and late-night learning. At 10 a.m., Monday, June 2, the event will include services, hearing the Ten Commandments followed by a dairy buffet luncheon. At 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 3, the event will include services, the Yizkor memorial followed by a dairy buffet luncheon. Click here to rsvp.
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East County invites the community to attend its “Celebrate Shavuot” at 10 a.m., Monday, June 2. The event includes services, a reading of the Ten Commandments, and a dairy buffet. Click here to rsvp.
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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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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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To view other events, previously listed in this column, please visit our San Diego Jewish Community Calendar page.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports the Rock and Roll Marathon will be happening on Sunday, June 1, and Monday, June 2. Office staff advise congregants to check their route before coming to services to allow extra time for parking.
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Young Israel of San Diego congratulates Amalya Rosenberg, Hindy Lapp, and the entire Torah High School class of 2025 on their high school graduation. Yasher Koach!
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.