LA MESA, California – The Jewish month of Elul is here and precedes Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In the secular world, we can view this as the period leading up to the new year. Secular New Year, we may make resolutions to lose weight or be more active, but for the Jewish community, religious New Year is about a spiritual connection.
During the month of Elul, weekday mornings after daily prayer service ends, the blast of the shofar (ram’s horn) can be heard or blown. This serves as a daily reminder that Rosh Hashanah, the Day of Judgment, is on its way.
Yesterday, I attended Chabad of East County’s Jewish Women’s Circle “Torah and Tea.” At the end of the lesson, Rabbi Rafi Andrusier emerged from his office and blew the shofar. When I hear its sound, I always close my eyes and imagine myself transported to Israel, joining my ancestors and the generations before me in the shared act of listening, praying, and setting intentions. In that moment, the shofar’s sound connects me to a tradition of personal reflection and spiritual renewal.
The experience of hearing the shofar can be very moving, especially for those who are struggling. Afterwards, offering a listening ear to someone visibly upset can provide comfort. As we listen to the shofar daily or as often as possible, it is an opportunity for silent reflection. This pause allows us to consider our own spiritual growth and to be present for others in moments of need.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Beth Jacob Congregation presents its “The End of Summer: Meat and Greet: Welcome The Frankels” at 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4. The event includes a special BBQ menu from Moishe’s available for purchase, moonbounce, and more.
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Congregation Beth Am conducts a “Campfire Shabbat Service” at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 5. This musical service will be led by Rabbi David Kornberg and Ephron Rosenzweig on guitar. Camp-style songs will be sung around the campfire.
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Congregation Beth Israel’s Caring Community announces its “Hands-on Round Challah: Learn and Bake for Rosh Hashanah” at 10 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 7. This event will be led by Sari Hartman and will give hands-on instruction on forming the round challah. Click here to register.
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Congregation Adat Yeshurun Youth presents its “Back to School Bash” at 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 7. The event includes laser tag, balloon art and a bourekas box.
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Lawrence Family JCC announces its “Shofar Factory” at 4:30 p.m., Monday, Sept.8. During this presentation, participants will help saw, drill, polish, and shellack a ram’s horn to create a genuine kosher Shofar, as well as gain new insight and the significance of the Shofar and its role during the High Holiday season. Click here to sign up.
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Temple Emanu-El hosts “Situational Awareness Security Training” at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 10. This event is open to all members and families and will be conducted by the Jewish Federation of San Diego Community Security Director, Bill Ganley, as well as Security Committee Chair Greg Houska. The training teaches individuals the skills to observe and understand their surroundings and to recognize potential threats. enabling them to react quickly and effectively. Click here to register.
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Young Israel of San Diego’s Women’s Circle announces its “Pre-Rosh Hashana Event: Shaping Sweetness” at 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 14. Save the date for this event, which will be led by Kelilah Federman. Click here to rsvp.
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Adopt a Family Foundation announces its “Gala Under the Stars” at 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Leichtag Commons. This event is to remember those we lost, and celebrate those who survived. Also, an exclusive preview of the Chai Concert by Shanee Zamir, honoring the heroes of October 7. Click here to register or to donate.
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The LGBTQA Jewish Coalition of San Diego County presents its “Organizing Meeting” at 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18, at Temple Emanu-El. The meeting will focus on key elements like how to report an incident to the Anti-Defamation League and a discussion of the H.E.A.T. map, an interactive map of incidents. Click here for more information.
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Congregation Beth Am’s “All-In Retreat” is scheduled for the weekend of Friday, Jan. 30, until Sunday, Feb. 1 at Camp Dovid Oved Retreat Center in Running Springs (Big Bear), California. The retreat is an opportunity for the congregation – children, teens, adults, and empty nesters to step away from the busy-ness of daily life and immerse themselves in the joy of Jewish community. Activities include Shabbat, learning, music, and community. Musician/Teacher in Residence, Rabbi Aviva Funke, will bring a blend of scholarship, music, and spirit to Shabbat services and workshops. Click here to make reservations.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
Downtown announces its “Newborn Baby Girl Kiddush Celebration of Leah Noga Shavit” at 12:15 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 30. Drs. Ayal and Yael Shavit invite the congregation to join them after Shabbat services for a Kiddush luncheon in honor of the birth of their daughter.
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Chula Vista’s Kids Club conducts a “Shofar Sound Lab Event” at 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 7. This event is for children ages 5-12 and will unlock the mysteries of the sounds of the Shofar. Click here to register.
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University City’s Men’s Club announces its “Men’s Night Out” at 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 11, at a private residence. The evening includes a conversation to prepare for Rosh Hashanah, food, and company. Click here to rsvp and receive the address.
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La Costa celebrates Miriam Reisman’s 90th Birthday at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 13. The celebration will follow Shabbat services.
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Carmel Valley’s Hebrew School is open for registration. Classes are at 4 p.m. Wednesdays at Torah Life Center. Click here to register.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Congregation Beth Am reports the launch of its Elul Campaign – an initiative to raise $90,000 by Yom Kippur in support of the congregation’s vital operations and programming. They have raised $22,445 toward this goal. Click here to contribute.
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Chabad at La Costa’s Channah and Arthur Hale Jewish Educational Center Building reports its T-bar grid for the dropped ceiling is done. Tiles will be installed after the inspection has been scheduled for everything above the ceiling grid. The hallway emergency exit door and the Teen Lounge exit door have been framed, and windows installed. The sunlight windows were installed. The custom cabinet plan was confirmed this week, with the cabinet maker now doing the work, and the process will take a few weeks.
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Chabad of Poway’s High Holiday preparations include engaging with a Cantor, refreshing the Sanctuary and Banquet Hall, and looking forward to a full house celebrating 5786.
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Chabad of Carmel Valley announces Moshe Ahron will be turning three and will be receiving an upsherin (hair cut). The ceremony will be at 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4, at Congregation Levi Yitzchok (kollel) in Los Angeles. Mazel Tov!
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Chabad at University City is purchasing 80 outdoor chairs for its backyard patio. Click here if interested in donating.
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San Diego Hebrew Day School’s preschool classes have been learning independence by signing themselves in each morning and moving their pictures to the “at school” list when they arrive. The older children have been practicing spelling their names with magnetic letters and tracing the letters in their names. A special bonus water day was added to help beat the heat, and they also enjoyed their first music class and learning Rosh Hashanah songs. The children have also been hearing the shofar each day, sometimes blown by middle school students who crafted their own in class.
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OBITUARY NOTICES
Joe Hartman, husband of Barbara, father of Elizabeth, has died. The funeral will be at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, August 31, at Home of Peace, Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports.
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Masuda Moryosef, mother of Moti Moryosef, grandmother of Hadassah, Naomi, and Avigal, has died. The funeral took place in Israel, San Diego Hebrew Day School reports.
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Sylvia Wechter, wife of the late Aaron Wechter, mother of Dana, Randy (Janet), and Kevin (Jamie), grandmother of Shane, Jaden, and Michaela Baxter, Ryan and Jenney Wechter, and Cassidy and Cody Wechter. Funeral services were held Friday, August 29, at B’nai Zion Cemetery in El Paso, Texas. Donations in Wechter’s honor can be made at B’nai Zion Synagogue or Jewish Federation of San Diego, Congregation Beth Israel reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.