LA MESA, California – Can you believe students are heading back to school soon? It just gets earlier each year, it seems!
Jewish Family Service of San Diego’s Back-to-School Backpack Drive is in full swing. This mitzvah helps families prepare for school and sends students off on the right track with everything they need in a backpack. JFS’s goal is to provide 500 kids with bags filled with school supplies.
When shopping for your kids, consider picking up a few new items for donation. Requested items include a backpack (for grades K-12), a three-ring binder, a pack of loose-leaf lined paper, a pack of black or blue pens, a pack of glue sticks, a pack of #2 pencils, a pack of colored pencils, a highlighter, a pencil case, and a sharpener. The backpack drop-off is at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 31, and 10 a.m., Friday, August 1, at JFS. Click here to register.
If you want to drop off your supplies closer to East County, Tifereth Israel Synagogue has a collection bin in the front office. Items can be dropped off before Friday, July 25. Click here for more information.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Temple Emanu-El reports it is not too late to sign up to sing with the “Adult High Holy Day Choir” or the “High Holy Day Youth Choir.” Youth Choir meets at 5 p.m., Wednesdays, and the Adult Choir meets at 6 p.m., Wednesdays. Click here to sign up.
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Beth Jacob Congregation announces its “Summer Seed Camp” at 9 a.m., Sunday, August 10 until Thursday, August 14. This event is for boys and girls aged 3 to 10. Organizers say to bring a packed lunch, water bottle, and tznius swimwear/change of clothes each day. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth Israel’s Caring Community: Mending Hearts group will meet at 10 a.m., starting on Sundays, September 7, 14; October 5,12, 26; November 2,16; December 7,14; January 11, 25; and February 1. This bereavement program will be facilitated by Rabbi Aliza Berk, LMFT, Jewish Educator, Chaplain, and Spiritual Director, and Gail Braverman, LMFT, Certified Art Therapist, Certified Amherst Writers and Artists Facilitator, Yoga Instructor. Both facilitators will guide participants through the healing process with love and support. Click here to register.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
Downtown’s Jewish Women’s Circle presents its “Birthday Event” at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, July 20, at Hamitbach restaurant. Women are invited to celebrate the congregants Rosita Silvera, Shulamit Silva, and the other July birthdays. Click here to rsvp.
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La Costa presents its “Summer Pop-Up BBQ: Dan’s Place, The Friendship Restaurant” at 5 p.m., Sunday, July 20. This event supports the Friendship Place and includes an all-you-can-eat feast of burgers, hot dogs, wings, chili con carne, fries, coleslaw, green salad, and desserts. Click here to rsvp.
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Carmel Valley presents its “Torah Life Center: David and Dina Guedalia: Heroism and the Ultimate Sacrifice” at 7 p.m., Monday, July 21. On Simchat Torah, Oct 7, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem, Yosef and his friend decided not to wait for orders and drove down to Kfar Aza. They fought an intense battle, often face to face with hundreds of terrorists, evacuating the injured, and saving many lives. 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 to its congregants to avoid taking the 163 freeway this weekend to attend services due to the Pride Parade Festival. Staff recommend using other routes, checking traffic, and considering carpooling to morning services.
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Young Israel of San Diego shared the following recipe: Spiral Asian Cucumbers (Sivan’s Kitchen)
Ingredients:
4 Persian cucumbers (the bigger the better)
Kosher salt
Dressing:
¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar
2 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp chili paste
1 tbsp brown sugar
Juice of ½ a lime
Optional for garnishing: black and white sesame seeds
Directions: Wash the cucumbers thoroughly. Slice each cucumber between two skewers: first with straight cuts, then flip and cut diagonally. Salt with about 1 tbsp kosher salt and let sit to release water. Mix the dressing ingredients in a bowl. Rinse and dry the cucumbers after 5 minutes. Arrange cucumbers in a circular pattern on a serving dish. Dress and garnish with the prepared sauce and sesame seeds. Serve cold, delicious, fresh, or even after a few days.
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San Diego Jewish Experience reports it has reached 96% of its campaign goal. Click here to donate to reach $200,000.
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Chabad at La Costa reports that its Channah and Arthur Hale Jewish Educational Center’s HVAC work is complete, and the individual a/c units are being installed. The painting is complete. The T-bar grid for the dropped ceiling is progressing and almost done. The custom-made doors and windows have arrived and are awaiting installation when the space is properly prepared. Prep work has commenced. The elevator company has made great progress and indicated that the elevator should be here by the middle of August or earlier.
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Beth Jacob Congregation reports volunteer opportunities which include volunteering to lein, prepare for Kiddush or Shalosh Seudos cholent, checking the Eruv, bagels and lox for Sunday, spearheading a project, setting the shul for Shabbos, and earning ACE hours. Click here for more information.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.