LA MESA, California – Pumpkins, pumpkins, everywhere. Some have faces and some don’t. My kids like to make faces, and I have two bowls, one for the seeds and one for the “guts.” I roast the seeds in olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt. The “guts” I puree and make a pumpkin bisque, and I also set aside a bit to use the puree as a facial mask, which I do not eat. I make sure to utilize all of the pumpkin this time of year.
Jewish Mom hack: If you do not celebrate “Halloween,” think of Purim. Costumes at certain places and online go on sale and can be used in the late Winter/Spring of Purim. In 2026 (can you believe we are even mentioning 2026?), Purim lands on Monday, March 2.
Advice for children: Tonight, if you celebrate, be careful, watch for cars, stay in your group, and do not go inside a stranger’s home. Be safe and be mindful.
*
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tifereth Israel Synagogue presents its “East County Lecture Series: The Colossal Emma Lazarus: Sephardic American Poet, Activist, and Visionary: Featuring Dr. Joellyn Zollman” at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4. Zollman will lecture about the American literary phenomenon and Jewish visionary, Emma Lazarus. This lecture puts Lazarus and her Statue of Liberty sonnet in the context of her life and work. Click here to rsvp.
*
Congregation Beth Israel announces its “Courageous Conversations Series with Rabbi Alana Ackerman-Hirsch and Rachel Wegner” at 6 p.m., on Tuesdays, Nov. 4 and 18 and Dec. 2 and 9. This series of workshops reflects on how to engage in conversations and to gain tools to have challenging conversations that allow for increasing connections across differences. Click here to register.
*
Young Israel of San Diego announces its “Women’s Seudat Shlishit” at 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8, at a private residence. Click here to rsvp and to receive the address.
*
Beth Jacob Congregation announces its “Annual Cholent Cookoff” with Preparation at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 20, and Tasting and judging on Saturday, Nov. 22, during Kiddush. Organizers will provide potatoes, onions, barley, beans, ketchup, mustard, salt, and pepper. All ingredients brought by contestants must be sealed and have acceptable hechsherim. Click here to register, and in the Notes Box, include your team name, the names of all participants on your team, and a description of your unique cholent entry.
*
CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
Downtown announces its “Lunch with the Rabbi” at noon on Wednesdays, Nov. 5, Dec. 3, Jan. 7, Feb. 4, March 11, and April 29. This monthly event includes food, conversation, and timeless wisdom. Click here to rsvp.
*
Downtown’s Jewish Women’s Circle presents “Israeli Salads” at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 10. This event includes women learning how to make Israeli cuisine and a hands-on experience led by Shaked of Mama Jackline Catering. No cooking skills are required. Click here to register.
*
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
Please check our Jewish community calendar for upcoming events that were reported in previous columns.
AROUND THE COUNTY
San Diego Hebrew Day School reports that students enjoyed a field trip to Legoland, and in the middle of the day, they took a break and had lunch at Chabad La Costa under the sukkah. Students recited blessings and celebrated the holiday with learning and tradition.
*
Chabad La Costa reports that Rabbi Sholom, Rebbetzin Mushka, and Shima Fruma Eilfort have moved to San Diego and are unpacking and settling in. Rabbi Sholom will be helping to grow the Youth Activities, Senior Programs, Minyanim, Adult Education, and several other areas of its community’s life. Rebbetzin Muska has been hired as Assistant Program Director of the Friendship Circle and will be helping in its Preschool and Women’s Programs.
*
Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra reports its 2025-2026 season will be held at the Lawrence Family JCC and will be changing its name to Jewish Community Symphony. Organizers ask their patrons if bus transportation is provided with a pickup location in the area near Tifereth Israel Synagogue, will patrons take the bus if one is provided? Are patrons willing to pay a small fee to take the bus? Click here to respond to those questions.
*
Chabad of University City reports that congregants Eli and Galia Ottis, welcomed the birth of their baby boy, Bris Milah to be announced. Mazel Tov!
*
Coastal Roots Farm, responding to the government shutdown and to those affected by loss of SNAP benefits, offers its Organic Food Access Program. It provides nutrient-dense, organic produce and farm-fresh eggs to more than 40,000 children, seniors, and families across San Diego County each year. The Pay-What-You-Can-Farm Stand never turns anyone away for inability to pay – even as other programs come and go. Click here to visit the Farm Stand and click here to support the Farm.
*
La Mesa Arts Academy reports 22 students attended the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place For Hate Student Leadership Conference on Tuesday, October 21, at the STEAM Academy. No Place for Hate is an organizing framework for K-12 schools committed to creating sustainable change that leads to improved school climate. Participating schools are able to incorporate ADL’s anti-bias and anti-bullying resources with their existing programming to form one powerful message that all students belong. In the training, students completed activities around the following topics: Hurtful Language – offensive jokes, and slurs. Impact – how to be an Ally. My 8th-grade son, Alex Acosta, attended the conference representing LMAAC.
*
The East County Art Association presents “Unconventional Surfaces Exhibition” starting Nov. 1 until Nov. 30 at The Gallery in El Cajon. Artist Roni Breite’s works “Rooted Reaching”, “Agitator”, and “Dust Wizard” will be on display.
*
Beth Jacob Congregation reports emeritus headmaster of San Diego Hebrew Day School, Rabbi Simcha Weiser, is engaged to Debra Askotzky from Milwaukee, WI. Mazel Tov!
*
Beth Jacob Congregation reports grandparents, emeritus Rabbi Avram and Rebbetzin Leah Bogopulsky, and parents Hadassah and Jeremy welcomed the birth of a baby girl. Mazel Tov!
*
Congregation Beth Am reports that congregant Frederick Schenk was honored with the Author E. Hughes Career Achievement Award from the University of San Diego on October 9. This prestigious award recognizes Schenk’s outstanding legal accomplishments and the meaningful impact he has made throughout his career. Mazel Tov!
*
San Diego Jewish Academy reports over 340 people attended the annual “Grandparents and Special Friends Day.” Visitors joined their students for a day of learning and classroom activities, including grandparents sharing family recipes, discussing what makes their family special, and exploring family origins and ancestral journeys. The entire school and guests came together for a lovely outdoor Kabbalat Shabbat lunch.
*
OBITUARY NOTICES
Albert Kadosch, husband of Patricia Kadosch, has died. The funeral will be in Israel, Chabad of Poway reports.
*
Vlad Eduardovich Kogan has died. The funeral will be at 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 3, at El Camino Memorial Park, Chabad of Poway reports.
*
Robert Kriegsman has died. The service is tentatively being held at 11 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 2, at its synagogue, Young Israel of San Diego reports.
*
Marvin Lavine, husband of Rose Lavine, father of Mark (Lorna) Lavine, and Debi Lavine, and her partner, John Bielby; grandfather of Logan and Marlie, has died. The funeral was held in Toronto, Canada, Congregation Beth Israel reports.
*
Sheldon Swartz has died. The funeral was conducted Thursday, Oct. 30, at El Camino Memorial Park, Am Israel Mortuary reports.
*
Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.