By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
With school back in session from Kinder to College, the American Jewish Committee shares key resources and guidance designed specifically for schools, students, and parents to create learning environments that are inclusive of all identities, including Jewish identity, and safe from harassment and fear. Click here to view Confronting Antisemitism in Our Schools: Action Plans for Public K-12 School Administrators.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Beth Jacob Congregation announces its “Halacha: Happy Hour with Sushi and Beer” at 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19. This event will be led by Rabbi Baruch Frankel and will discuss the experience of learning from Gemarah to practical Halacha. This week’s sessions will focus on the topic of reheating food on Shabbos.
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American Jewish Committee San Diego and the Lawrence Family JCC announce their “Empowered Parents Workshop” at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, August 20, in the La Jolla area. This workshop is designed to equip parents of elementary, middle, and high school students with the knowledge, strategies, and resources to advocate for their children and be partners in their education journey. Parents will learn how to recognize and address antisemitism in educational spaces, gain expert insights into preparing their child for success, and learn what to ask, what to expect, and where to find support. Discover ways to empower your child to be a confident advocate for themselves and their community and understand the provisions of California’s landmark antisemitism prevention bill, AB 715. Click here to register and to receive the address.
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Ohr Shalom Synagogue announces its “Back to School: Shabbat Kehillatat: Service and Community Dinner” at 6:15 p.m., Friday, August 21. This event includes a family-friendly service, community dinner, and welcoming new Rabbinic Intern Lily Gross. Organizers say to bring a nonperishable item for the JFS Food Bank bins in the lobby. Click here to rsvp.
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Young Israel of San Diego presents “Let’s Talk Parsha with Rabbi Eddie Rosenberg” at 8:30 p.m., starting Monday, August 24 at San Diego Kollel and on Zoom.
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Congregation Beth Israel announces “Elul with Rabbi Elana Ackerman Hirsch” at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 25. This session will focus on uncovering what we want to leave in the past from this year and what we hope to see as precious and worthy of our time in the year to come. Click here to rsvp.
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San Diego Center for Jewish Culture presents “Cooking Across Cultures with Lisa Kyung Gross, Author of The League of Kitchens Cookbook” at 6 p.m., Wednesday, September 23 at Coastal Roots Farm. The event includes a 4-course farm-to-table dinner and conversation with Gross, drawing from recipes and stories from immigrant home cooks around the world. This unique evening celebrates food as a bridge between cultures, generations, and communities. A portion of proceeds will support Coastal Roots Farm’s “Pay-What-You-Can” Farm Stand. Click here for tickets.
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Hillel of San Diego presents its “Back to School Bash” at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, October 10, at the Melvin Garb Center at SDSU. The event includes food, drinks, music, and company, along with a few surprises. The night is to celebrate the thousands of Jewish students who find community, connection, and a sense of belonging. Click here to register.
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San Diego Center for Jewish Culture announces “Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony with Beejhy Barhany, Restaurant Owner and Author of Gursha: Timeless Recipes for Modern Kitchens” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, at Lawrence Family JCC. This event will include coffee, conversation, and storytelling. Barhany will share reflections on Ethiopian Jewish heritage, migration, resilience, and the traditions that connect us across generations. Click here for tickets.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
East County announces a new season of Torah Studies, “Happiness is Learned,” on Wednesdays, with all sessions led by Rabbi Rafi Andrusier. “One Person, Seriously?: Annoying News for Anyone Hoping to Stay Spiritually Off the Grid” at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 19. This session will explore a Torah view where every individual action counts, and where even one mitzvah can tip the cosmic scales.
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Coastal Chabads Women’s Group presents “Caffeine for the Soul: Elevate Your Daily Grind” at 1 p.m., Thursday, August 20. This weekly women’s discussion group will focus on Kabbalah topics. Click here to rsvp.
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University City announces its “Grand Reopening” at 11 a.m., Sunday, August 23. This event is open to the whole community and will be celebrating 40 years of Rabbi Moishe Leider’s leadership. Click here to register.
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La Costa announces its “BBQ Bounty” at 5 p.m., Sunday, August 23. This all-you-can-eat Glatt Kosher Barbeque includes burgers, hot dogs, wings (hot & BBQ), fries, green salad, coleslaw, condiments & garnishes, desserts of the day (cotton candy, snow cones, fruit, cake), iced tea and/or lemonade & water. Click here to register.
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Chula Vista’s Jewish Women’s Circle announces its “Babka Bake” at 7 p.m., Sunday, August 23. This women’s event will teach how to roll, fill, and twist and create babka from scratch, just in time before the High Holidays. Click here to rsvp.
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East County announces “Challah Babies: Rosh Hashanah Edition” at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, August 27. This event is for babies and toddlers ages 0-3 years old and will include baking fresh challah, engaging in creative sensory activities, enjoying music and movement, and connecting with other parents in the community. Click here to rsvp.
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University City presents “Pre-Rosh Hashanah Family Challah Bake” at 2 p.m., Sunday, August 30. Families will mix, knead, and braid their own challah to usher in the new year together. Click here to register.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Mem Global has named Alyssa Craft as the new executive director of Embark, its cohort program that supports interfaith and mixed-heritage couples to explore Jewish life together. Guided by a local rabbi and alongside a cohort of their peers, Embark couples learn how to bring Jewish learning and traditions into their lives in a way that feels relevant and accessible to them, without any prerequisites or expectations to convert. Craft, an alumna of Moishe House, also run by Mem Global, has over a decade of experience in the Jewish nonprofit landscape and now looks to bring Embark to more communities and couples across the country.
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Congregation Beth Israel reports that Rabbi Elana Ackerman Hirsch will be moving to the Bay Area in June when her contract ends, and soon the clergy team will begin forming a rabbinic search committee.
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StandWithUs and House of Israel report working on plans to create a permanent collective artwork honoring the Israeli hostages and the people who refused to let them be forgotten. Send your hostage tags, yellow ribbons, bracelets, pins, signs, stickers, posters, and other remembrance items to become part of this lasting tribute to the House of Israel.
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Helen Woodward Animal Center reports its 14th annual Remember Me Thursday campaign, naming Alicia Silverstone, acclaimed actor, producer, bestselling author, and longtime animal welfare advocate as its Featured Luminary. This campaign is an international movement uniting celebrities, animal welfare organizations and animal lovers across the globe to shine a light on the plight of orphan pets. Observed annually on the fourth Thursday in September will take place on Thursday, September 24, when supporters worldwide will share rescue stories, light candles, and flood social media with one powerful message: remember orphan pets and choose to adopt. Click here for more information.
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OBITUARY NOTICE
Jaime Benrey has died. He was the husband of Elena, father of Lizet (Francis) Benrey-Fuller, Albert (Indira) Benrey, Ricardo Unikel, Alfredo (Ronit) Unikel, and grandfather of Jonathan, Alex, Jordan, Nathan, Jacob, Noah, Samantha, and Alan. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, at Home of Peace Cemetery, Ohr Shalom Synagogue and Am Israel Mortuary report.
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Janet Gelb has died. She was the wife of Neil Gelb, mother of Larry (Valerie) Gelb, Lyndy (JP) Gelb Cuevas, and grandmother of Lauren Gelb, Kate Gelb, Joaquin Cuevas, and Katya Cuevas, Temple Emanu-El reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.