Sukkot is here! Living in San Diego, we are a bit spoiled by the nice, cool-to-warm temperatures when the holiday rolls around.
One year it was blazing hot, pushing 100 degrees, and my twins were very disappointed I did not put up a sukkah in our yard. My son Alex was so upset he said I was the worst Mom in the world for not building us a sukkah, sigh.
But is the etrog safe to eat after Sukkot? The smell of the citron is so mesmerizing. It is sweet but has a slight lemon smell. I always take a lot of sniffs since it is so pleasant.
After the holiday, many people make etrog jelly, infused liqueurs, and add it to desserts. We open ours after the holiday, and after getting through the tough skin and white layer, we enjoy a piece or two. It is a less potent lemon, so no “lemon faces.”
Chag Sukkot Sameach!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Ner Tamid Synagogue announces its “Quarterly Shabbat Dinner” at 6 p.m., Friday, September 25. The event includes an evening of community and tradition together in the sukkah. Click here to rsvp.
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Congregation Beth El presents its “Sukkot Shabbat Dinner” at 6:15 p.m., Friday, September 25. This event includes Shabbat services, then a communal dinner in the Sukkah. Click here the rsvp.
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Ohr Shalom Synagogue announces its “Shabbat Kehillatit Dinner in the Sukkah” at 6:15 p.m., Friday, September 25. This family-friendly service and community dinner will celebrate Sukkot together as a community. Click here to rsvp.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue presents its “Shabbat and Erev Sukkot: Followed by an Oneg and a L’Chaim” at 6:15 p.m., Friday, September 25. This event includes Shabbat services, and following the service, Rabbi Hanan Leberman invites everyone to gather in the TIS Sukkah for Kiddush (nosh and l’chaim) to fulfill the mitzvah of dwelling in the Sukkah. Click here to rsvp.
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Beth Jacob Congregation announces its “Sukkos Dinner Under the Stars” at 7:15 p.m., Friday, September 25. This event includes Shabbat services, then a communal dinner in the Sukkah with catering by Moishe’s Grill. Click here to rsvp.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue presents its “Miller Introduction to Judaism” at 11 a.m., starting Sunday, September 27. This 18-week course, led by Rabbi Hanan Leberman, will explore topics including Jewish literacy, history, tradition, denominational Judaism, the modern State of Israel, Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah), customs, ethics, culture, and Jewish wisdom, all in a setting where questions are more important than answers. Click here for more information and to register.
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Congregation Beth Israel participates in “World Day of Migrants and Refugees: All Are Sacred” at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, at Balboa Park. This interreligious gathering is an opportunity to come together to honor the dignity and sacredness of migrants and refugees and stand in solidarity with those who have fled war, persecution, and hardship. The gathering begins with opening reflections and prayer from religious leaders, followed by a 1.1-mile community procession at 2:30 p.m. The afternoon will conclude with a call to action and closing prayer. Click here for more information.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Men’s Club announced its “Shawarma in the Sukkah” at 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, at the TIS Sukkah. The event will include your choice of chicken or vegetarian shawarma. Click here to register.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Sisterhood announces its “Sukkot: Bollywood Style! TIS Sisterhood invites you to celebrate the Jews of India” at 5 p.m., Monday, September 28, at the TIS Sukkah. The event includes a three-course meal, Bollywood dancers, and henna artists. Click here to rsvp.
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Temple Emanu-El presents its “The Wisdom of Aging” at 10:30 a.m. on September 29, the last Tuesday of the month, through December. This program, led by Arlene Miller, creator of the Mi Shebeirach Tapestry, and Gail Braverman, 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. Participants will have the opportunity to share their perspectives with each other while engaging in meaningful conversations. Click here to register.
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Temple Emanu-El announces its “Music with Michelle Jirkovsky” at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29. These sessions, led by Jirkovsky, include a journey through Jewish music history, from ancient melodies and cantorial greats to Broadway composers, camp songs, contemporary Jewish artists, and secular musicians with Jewish roots. Participants are encouraged to listen, learn, reminisce, sing, and share memories of the music that shaped our identities and communities. Organizers say bagels and coffee will be available. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth El presents its “Jewish Meditation Cohort” at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29. Craig Parks will lead these sessions, which will provide going into a deeper and more spiritual practice alongside a caring community. Click here for more information.
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Young Israel of San Diego announces its “Annual Ice Cream Social: Sponsored by National Jewish Outreach Program” at 6:45 p.m., Thursday, October 1 at a private residence. This event will include pizza and ice cream while dwelling in the sukkah. Click here to register and to receive the address.
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Lawrence Family JCC presents its “Survey of Zionist Thought” at 10:30 a.m., Tuesdays, October 6, 13, 20, 27; November 3, 10, 17; December 1, 8, and 15. This class will be led by Rabbi Phil Graubart, who will explore the history and evolution of Zionist thought, from its early roots to today. Click here to register.
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Lawrence Family JCC announces its “Remember October 7: To Dream Again” at 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 7. This event will include gathering in remembrance, art, song and silence, to hear the voices of those who lost and kept going, and to stand together in the strength it takes to dream again. Click here to rsvp and to receive the location.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
La Costa announces its “Sukkot Under the Stars” at 6:15 p.m., Friday, September 25. This event includes a gourmet holiday meal in the sukkah following Shabbat services. Click here to rsvp.
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East County announces its “Celebrate Sukkah Under the Stars” at 7:15 p.m., Friday, September 25. This event will include Shabbat services, Shabbat dinner in the sukkah, l’chaims, good company, and the mitzvah of dining in the sukkah. Click here to rsvp.
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East County presents its “Sukkot Art Café” at 4 p.m., Monday, September 28. The event will include a creative Sukkot experience with hands-on activities designed for kids, and Bureka Box Food Truck will be selling food for purchase. Click here to rsvp.
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Chula Vista announces its “Mi Casa es Sukkah-sa” at 4 p.m., Tuesday, September 29 at a private residence. The event will include tacos and tequila, shaking the lulav and etrog, and kids’ activities. Click here to rsvp and to receive the location.
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Downtown Adult Education presents its “Jewish Insights” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, September 29. This weekly Torah study course led by Rabbi Zalman Carebach will provide inspiration, learning, connecting, and growth. Click here to rsvp.
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La Costa announces its “Suktoberfest” at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 30. This event includes a family BBQ and beer-making “HeBrews”. Click here to register.
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Chula Vista’s Men’s Club announces its “Scotch and Steak in the Sukkah” at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, October 1 at a private residence. This men’s event will feature steak, scotch, and conversation. Click here to rsvp and receive the address.
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La Costa presents its ‘Simchat Torah” at 7 p.m., Saturday, October 3. This event includes Hakafot dancing with the Torah and is family-friendly. Click here to register.
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ONLINE OFFERINGS
Congregation Beth Israel’s Men’s Club announces its “Men’s Discussion Group” at 10 a.m., Monday, September 28, on Zoom. This forum is for men who are members to meet together, enjoy camaraderie, and discuss relevant issues. Meetings are held every second and fourth Monday of each month. Click here to receive the Zoom link.
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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, September 28, at San Diego Kollel and on Zoom.
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Congregation Beth Israel announces “Morning Mindfulness with Julie Potiker” at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays on Zoom. Potiker will lead these sessions to start the day and move from a place of fear to a place of calm. In these sessions, participants will experience bringing their attention to the present moment without judgment. Click here to register.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
SCY High reports that its students helped build Sukkahs for community members throughout the city. This tradition is part of the “Caring Community” for doing chesed in forms such as students helping to build Sukkahs, preparing and checking Lulavim with Rabbi Reich, moving Schach from community members, helping decorate shul Sukkahs, caring for the community’s children, and more.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.