LA MESA, California – The month of Elul is upon us and marks the period of soul-searching leading up to the High Holidays.
Elul is the sixth month of the Jewish year, which immediately precedes Rosh Hashanah. It is a time to reflect as we prepare for the New Year. Before eating and sleeping, it is a good time to reflect on your soul and search for good deeds, intending to improve. Just like we make those New Year’s resolutions in January, we make more spiritual improvements in our faith.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
American Technion Society presents “Technion, Israel, and the Jewish People: A Special Evening with Rabbi David Wolpe” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 9, La Jolla. Wolpe will address the complexities of being Jewish in a polarized world and the impact of antisemitism on the global academic landscape. Click here to register and receive the address.
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The San Diego Center for Jewish Culture announces “An Evening with Dennis Ross: Author of Stagecraft 2.0” at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 10, at the Lawrence Family JCC. Ross will discuss his book, which outlines a bold vision for U.S. leadership in today’s complex world. Click here for tickets.
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Trinity Theatre presents the play Thorn and Petal: Written and Produced by Daniel Redman and Directed by Dr. Kate B. Turner, showing Friday, Sept.12, until Sunday, Sept.21. The interactive play is loosely based on San Diego Jewish World’s editor and publisher Donald H. Harrison’s biography, Louis Rose: San Diego’s First Jewish Settler. Rose was a German-Jewish immigrant and visionary who helped shape the early identity of San Diego in the mid-1800s. Click here for tickets.
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Laugh Factory presents Laugh Through the Heartbreak with Shahar Cohen at 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept, 13. Created by acclaimed producer Erez Safar and co-produced by Menachem Silverstein, the show brings together world-renowned talent and rising stars. The show will feature Cohen from Israel on his My Life tour along with Silverstein, Daniel Lobell, and Safar. Click here for tickets.
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Lawrence Family JCC announces its “Rosh Hashanah Block Party” at 11 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 14. This event includes the first Shabbat Market of the new year, with “Shuk to the Core” as the theme, dancing, Rosh Hashanah-inspired drinks, Kosher and Kosher-style food, and assembling Mitzvah Bags for the Homeless with Little Menches. Click here to rsvp.
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Congregation Beth Israel’s Speaker’s Forum and Dinner Sponsored by the Men’s Club presents “Ethical Issues in Vaccine Mandates and Vaccine Exemptions” at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 17. Dr. Lainie Ross will explore the framework for pediatric decision making, including who makes decisions for children, what principles should guide them, and when the state should intervene. Click here to rsvp for in-person or Zoom attendance.
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Temple Emanu-El presents “Casino Night” at 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20. The event will include food, fun, and games to support the preschool. This is an adult-only event. Click here for tickets.
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Coastal Roots Farm presents its “Harvest to Table: A Cooking Class on the Farm” at 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 28. This event includes a hands-on culinary adventure using ingredients participants will pick from the fields and prepare a seasonal community meal. Click here to register.
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Jewish Federation of San Diego announces a save the date for “FED360: All In” on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center. The event includes celebrating who we are, the strength of what we’ve built, and the unstoppable energy of what lies ahead. Click here if interested in joining the Host Committee or exploring sponsorship opportunities.
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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
Lawrence Family JCC reports that they need hosts to provide a room with a bed; no meals or transportation are required from September 11 – 14. Twenty-three small business vendors will be flying in from Israel to take part in the Shuk to the Core marketplace. Click here if you have a spare room and are willing to host.
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Ner Tamid Synagogue reports that Rabbi Ryan Newfield has a channel on WhatsApp. Every Friday, Newfield will share a short message to welcome the peace of Shabbat and guide everyone into the week ahead. Click here to join the channel on WhatsApp.
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Seacrest Foundation reports that it hosted the 211 Club Patron Recognition Party, “Visionaries of Jewish Eldercare.” The evening celebration was held at a private home in Solana Beach with more than 150 contributors in attendance. Support from this group is directed to Seacrest Village Retirement Communities and Seacrest at Home so that they can meet the charitable care needs of their residents and clients. Mazel Tov!
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The Conrad, La Jolla Music Society reports it has come to an agreement with Music Director Inon Barnatan for a new five-year contract, through 2030. Barnatan, an internationally acclaimed concert pianist, has been Music Director of SummerFest since 2019. Barnatan’s activities outlined in the contract include overseeing the jury that selects SummerFest Fellowship Artists annually from an international pool of applicants. He also participates in various SummerFest Learning and Engagement events, including Coaching Workshops, Encounters, Open Rehearsals, and Artist Lounge conversations. He performs in multiple SummerFest concerts each summer. Mazel Tov!
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San Diego Hebrew Day School reports its first graders had a wonderful first week of school. They jumped right into starting the day with Tefilah and the Hebrew calendar, followed by introductions of their Hebrew curriculum. At the end of the week, they celebrated their first Shabbat party, and the children sang tefilot and berachot together.
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Chabad of University City reports that Rebbetzin Sura Leider’s books have been selected by Kodesh Press for publication. One book is titled The Torah Raises a Child. The second one is called, What’s on the Door, a children’s book about a Mezuzah. Mazel Tov!
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OBITUARY NOTICES
Sylvia Byer has died. The funeral and internment will be at 1 p.m., Thursday, August 28, at El Camino Memorial Park, Am Israel Mortuary reports.
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Martin Shoman, husband of Roberta Shoman, father of Greg and Evan, and grandfather of Alexander, Nicolas, and Jordan, has died, Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports.
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Maryon (Happy) Stone, mother of Lisa Pritzker, and Larry (Anne) Stone, has died. The memorial service will be held out of town. Donations in Stone’s honor can be made at the San Diego Food Bank, Temple Emanu-El reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.