LA MESA, California – Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. We eat apples and honey. Synagogue parking lots and synagogues are packed to maximum capacities, but we all celebrate together and see familiar faces we have not seen in a while.
This past weekend was opening day of apple picking in Julian, located in the picturesque Cuyamaca Mountains in San Diego County. Although it was a very warm afternoon in the mountains and not much wind was blowing, we picked our crop of varieties of apples, ranging from Jonathan’s, Empire, Gala, and Golden Delicious from Volcan Valley Apple Farm. They do not need any honey since they are just so wonderful by themselves.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Ohr Shalom Synagogue presents “Family Tot Shabbat with Jennifer Meltzer” starting at 10:30 a.m., on select Saturdays, Oct. 11, Nov. 22, Dec. 20, Jan. 10, Feb. 14, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 20, and August 8. This kid-friendly service will be led by Meltzer, and lunch is provided. Organizers say children are welcome to bring their non-electric musical instruments.
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San Diego Kollel presents its “Women’s Class at the Kollel with Rebbetzin Muka Rodal of Friendship Circle of San Diego” at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 16. Rodal will discuss the topic of the Torah’s approach to Special Needs.
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Beth Jacob Congregation presents its “Rosh Hashanah Dinner” at 8:10 p.m., Monday, Sept. 22. Dinner will follow services. Click here to register.
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Lawrence Family JCC announces its “Bark Mitzvah” event at 11 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 5, at Pacific Highlands Ranch Community Park. This event is a ceremonial recognition to celebrate the contributions to the quality of life of its human community. Organizers say to keep your pet(s) on a leash unless they are being supervised in the enclosed dog park and to pick up after your pet(s). Click here to sign up.
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Temple Emanu-El presents its “The Wisdom of Aging” course, which will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays starting Oct. 7 until Nov. 11. This program, co-led by Arlene Miller, creator of the Mi Shebeirach Tapestry, and Gail Braverman, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, is designed to give participants the tools to live meaningful and productive lives while coping with the unavoidable stresses of aging. Click here to register.
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Friendship Circle of San Diego announces its “Community Day” at 10 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 12, at a private residence. This event will include celebrating Rabbi Yossi Rodal’s birthday, gathering in the sukkah, cardio drumming, and breakfast foods. Click here to register and receive the address.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
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La Costa invites its congregation to attend its “Special Midnight Selichot Services” at 12:15 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 14. This 45-minute service will begin the conversation with the Creator that will last all month long, saying special Selichot prayers and beginning the verbal articulation of deficiencies and mistakes.
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Carmel Valley presents “Rudy Rochman: Roots and Resilience: Empowering the Next Generation” at 6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 15. Rochman will teach participants to be taught complex topics in an engaging way, gain first-hand experience in practicing debate and mastering the art of communication, and learn not only what to say, but how to say it effectively. Click here to register and receive the location.
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Chula Vista hosts a “Rosh Hashanah Community Dinner” at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 22. Click here to rsvp before Sunday, Sept. 14.
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Downtown has scheduled its “Rosh Hashana Dinner” at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 22. Click here to make reservations.
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University City announces its “Rosh Hashana Dinner” at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 22. Click here to make reservations.
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Poway hosts its “Rosh Hashana Dinner” at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 22. Click here to make reservations.
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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
Beth Jacob Congregation reports its Instagram account is “new and improved.” Follow @bjsd.life.
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SCY High reports its flag football team faced off against the Thunder this week. The boys played hard to the last second and never gave up hope of pulling off the victory. Under the leadership of Coach Ray, the athletics department is more than just winning games, but is about building up and instilling values like positivity, perseverance, and teamwork. Mazel Tov!
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue reportsthat the office will close at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22, and Wednesday, Oct. 1. This will allow time to make last-minute preparations for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. The entry gate will be closed, and the phones will be off. The gate will open 30 minutes before the beginning of Erev Rosh Hashana and Kol Nidre.
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San Diego Hebrew Day School preschool students sampled some of the Simanim of Rosh Hashanah, including pomegranate, dates, honey, and three kinds of apples, green, yellow, and red. The students also welcomed a visit from a beekeeper from Buzz About Bees, who explained how bees make honey and demonstrated the special tools used to care for them.
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Chabad at La Costa’s Channah and Arthur Hale Jewish Learning Center Building reports that Flooring installation has begun. Tile installation has been completed. Stucco work begins on Thursday. The installation of the lighting has been completed.
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OBITUARY NOTICE
Harriet Feit, mother of Pamela (Abraham) Broudy, Jason (Dena) Drotman, and grandmother of Benjamin and Yael Broudy, has died. The funeral service will be held in Phoenix, Arizona,Tifereth Israel Synagogue reports.
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Natan Gipsman, father of Marc and Felicia Gipsman, has died, SCY High reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.