By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
Pumpkin has a rich and often overlooked history in Sephardic Jewish cuisine. Introduced to Europe from the Americas in the 16th century, it was quickly embraced by Jews, who incorporated the versatile vegetable into dishes across the Mediterranean and beyond.
Sephardic Jews fleeing Spain brought pumpkin to Italy, where it became an ingredient in ravioli, fritters, and other dishes. As Jewish communities spread, they adapted pumpkin to local cuisines. Turkish and Greek Jews made sweet pumpkin pancakes, Syrian Jews prepared spicier versions, and Moroccan and Tunisian Jews served pumpkin with couscous. Bukharian Jews used pumpkin in savory pastries, while India’s Bene Israel community incorporated it into curries and sweets.
Pumpkin also holds symbolic significance for some Sephardic Jews during Rosh Hashanah. Its golden color represents happiness and prosperity, while its thick rind symbolizes protection for the coming year. A traditional prayer asks that harsh decrees be torn up and that one’s merits be proclaimed before God.
Jewish communities likely embraced pumpkin because it was inexpensive, filling, and adaptable to different cuisines. Migration, trade, and cultural exchange helped spread the ingredient throughout the Jewish world.
Today, pumpkin remains a delicious reminder of Sephardic Jewish heritage and the resourcefulness of Jewish cooks who transformed an unfamiliar vegetable into a treasured culinary tradition.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Beth Jacob Congregation presents its “Halacha: Happy Hour with Sushi and Beer” at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. These sessions are led by Rabbi Baruch Frankel, who will explore learning from Gemara to practical halacha.
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Women of Congregation Beth Israel announce its “Cooking with Tammy Vener” at 6 p.m., Thursday, October 15. This women’s event will be led by Vener and will include an appetizer/wine reception, a taste of all the dishes demonstrated, and desserts. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options will be available. The program will also include a raffle with prizes, and all guests will leave with a booklet containing recipes for all dishes presented. Click here to register.
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Jewish Federation of San Diego presents its “Mosaic Session: Is AI Coming For You?” at 7 p.m., Thursday, October 15, in North Park. This session will be led by Professor Orly Lobel, who will engage in a lively conversation and audience question-and-answer, with the first 25 rsvp’s getting a free copy of her book, The Equality Machine. Click here to rsvp and receive the location.
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Coastal Roots Farm announces its “Farm-to-Table Dinner with Menu by One Kitchen Collaborative” at 5 p.m., Sunday, October 18. This event will feature a multi-course pescatarian menu with just-harvested organic vegetables, sustainably sourced fish, and wine pairings for each course. Click here to register.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue announces “Mah Jongg Lessons” at noon, Wednesdays, October 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18, and December 2. This is a six-week session to learn how to play Mah Jongg in a fun, welcoming environment. If you are new to the game or have always wanted to learn, this is a great opportunity to learn the basics, meet new people, and enjoy a game that brings people together across generations. Click here for more details.
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Ner Tamid Synagogue announces “Kol Tefillah: Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma’ariv Services” at 7 p.m., Friday, October 23. This event will include bringing in Shabbat with joy, music, intimacy, and an awareness of God’s presence. Oneg following services.
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Ner Tamid Synagogue presents “Corks and Community: A Wine Tasting Event” at 5 p.m., Saturday, October 24. This event will feature wines from Bread and Butter Winery, an array of gourmet cheese from Barons Market, and will end with Havdallah afterward. Click here to register.
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Jewish Community Symphony announces its “Beethoven, Schubert, and the Voice of the Viola” at 3 p.m., Sunday, October 25 at the Lawrence Family JCC. Under the direction of Robert Zelickman and featuring viola soloist Gabriel Mayer, the orchestra will perform Beethoven: Overture to Fidelio, Schubert: Symphony No.8 “Unfinished”, Telemann: Concerto for Viola and Strings, and Max Bruch: Romance for Viola and Orchestra. Click here for tickets.
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San Diego Center for Jewish Culture presents “Celebrate Sigd: Honoring Ethiopian Jewish Culture with Yossi and Yarden Vassa, Artist Talk” at 11 a.m., Tuesday, October 27 at the Lawrence Family JCC. Yossi, creator and star of the Emmy-winning sitcom Nevsu, shares his journey from Ethiopia to Israel through comedy, sitcom clips, and his graphic novel, exploring how humor helps overcome adversity and break barriers.
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San Diego Center for Jewish Culture presents “Graphic Novel Book Talk” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27 at the Lawrence Family JCC. Yossi Vassa and illustrator Yarden bring Yossi’s immigration story from Ethiopia to Israel to life through animation, live painting, readings, and illustrated slides, exploring how personal experiences become a graphic novel. Click here for artist talk and click here for graphic novel book talk.
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San Diego Center for Jewish Culture announces “Beejhy Barhany: Restaurant Owner and Author of Gursha” at 7 p.m., Thursday, November 12 at the Lawrence Family JCC. Barhany will share through conversations and storytelling, and will share reflections on heritage, migration, resilience, and the rich traditions of Ethiopian Jewish life. Click here to register.
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Ner Tamid Synagogue announces a “Save the Date: Chai Tea” at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 13. This event will honor its community members age 90 and beyond with an Israeli-inspired afternoon tea with noshes and live harp music. Click here to volunteer for this event.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
Chula Vista’s Jewish Women’s Circle presents “Mahjong and Mingle” at 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 14. This women’s event will include learning to play Mahjong with Guila or bringing along another game you want to play. Click here to rsvp.
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East County’s Jewish Women’s Circle announces its “Torah and Tea: Reclaiming Tzedakah, The Art of Giving” at noon, Thursday, October 15. This women’s event is a time to pause from the busy week, refresh your spirit, and connect with friends. Click here to rsvp.
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Coastal Chabads Women’s Group presents “Caffeine for the Soul: Elevate Your Daily Grind” at 1 p.m., Thursday, October 15. This weekly women’s discussion group will focus on Kabbalah topics. Click here to rsvp.
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University City’s Men’s Club announces its “Soulfire: Kumzitz Night” at 8 p.m., Thursday, October 15. Men are invited to join around the campfire, share words of wisdom and real connection. Click here to rsvp.
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La Costa presents “Kabbalah and the Hidden Architecture of You with Rebbetzin Nechama Eilfort” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, November 3. Eilfort will lead these six lessons on reincarnation, soulmates, dreams, names, and what these mysteries reveal about the hidden design of your life. Click here to register.
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ONLINE OFFERINGS
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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Ohr Shalom Synagogue presents Parshat HaShavua Im Meforshim at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 14, on Zoom. Rabbi Scott Meltzer will lead these weekly classes on the Torah portion through the eyes of traditional commentators. Click here to join the session.
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Kveller announces its “Contemporary Art: Tracing Texts for and by Jewish Women, An Artist Talk with Danielle Alhassid” at 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, on Zoom. In this presentation, Alhassid will discuss the relationship between stop-motion animation, contemporary art, and Yiddish texts for and by immigrant women, materials that have shaped and inspired her recent research-based artistic practice. The conversation will include a preview of her upcoming exhibition in collaboration with the CCNY Special Collections (NY), as well as an introduction to previous projects: “Two Pieces” (Brooklyn Museum, NY), “Go Forth O Daughters” (Amsterdam Museum, Netherlands), and “Shtibl of One’s Own” (Venezia Contemporanea, Italy). Click here to register.
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Young Israel of San Diego presents “Let’s Talk Parsha with Rabbi Eddie Rosenberg” at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 15 at San Diego Kollel. This event is a weekly parsha discussion and will be held in person and on Zoom.
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My Jewish Learning announces its “Ethiopian Jewish History: From Ancient Origins to Today” at 4 p.m. on Monday, October 19 on Zoom. This six-week course led by Steven Kaplan, professor emeritus at Hebrew University, will explore travel across time and space from ancient Africa to modern-day Israel, learning about Ethiopian Jewish customs, traditions, and heroism along the way. Click here to register.
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Anti-Defamation League Southern California announces its “Behind the Screen: Understanding and Countering Online Extremism Among Teens and Young Adults” at 1 p.m., Wednesday, October 22, on Zoom. From white supremacist youth pipelines to anti-Zionist radicalization cloaked in activism, extremist recruiters meet teens in the games, chats, and apps they already use every day. Learn the warning signs and what you can do before a crisis. Click here to register.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue presents “Understanding the Ballot Propositions with Jason Bercovitch” at 10 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, on Zoom. This session will be led by Bercovitch, who will help gain a greater understanding of the various propositions on the upcoming November ballot. Click here for the Zoom link.
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American Technion Society announces its “After the Vote: Michael Oren on Israel’s Future, A Webinar on Israel’s October 27 Elections” at 9 a.m., Monday, November 2 on Zoom. Former Israeli ambassador Oren will lead this session and decode the results and explore the political forces shaping not just coalition negotiations, but Israel’s future. Discover what voting patterns reveal about a profoundly changed Israeli electorate, how three years of conflict have reshaped public opinion, and what it all means for Israel’s security, national unity, and place in the world. Click here to register.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Beth Jacob Congregation reports that parents Rabbi Dovid and Malkie Bogopulsky and grandparents Rabbi Avraham and Leah Bogopulsky welcomed the birth of a baby girl. Mazel Tov!
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Coastal Roots Farm reports that Megan Freeman has been named Director of Programs. Freeman brings more than a decade of experience in environmental education and sustainable agriculture, along with a deep understanding of the Farm’s Jewish values, traditions, and communal role that she has developed throughout her years as Education Coordinator, Education Manager, and now Director of Programs.
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OBITUARY NOTICES
Robert Baum has died. He was the husband of Helaine, father of Andria Baum, Elliot (Shannon) Baum, grandfather of Kyra Gray, Bonnie Baum, Branden Baum, and great-grandfather to Ryder, Rylen, Melody, Shenandoah, Aiyana, Avander, and Luna Gray. The funeral was held Monday, October 12, at Greenwood Memorial Park, Congregation Beth Israel reports.
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Richard Braun has died. He was the husband of Susan Braun, father of Jennifer (David), Danny (Tricia), Benjamin (Debra), and grandfather of Emily, Rebecca, Noah, Phoebe, Natalie, Max, and Annie. The funeral details have not been finalized, Tifereth Israel Synagogue reports.
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Leon Saitowitz has died. The funeral was held at El Camino Memorial Park, Am Israel Mortuary reports.
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Gilda Servetter has died. The funeral was held at Home of Peace Cemetery, Am Israel Mortuary reports.
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Randy Stotland has died. The funeral was held on Sunday, October 11 at El Camino Memorial Park, Am Israel Mortuary reports.
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Kenneth Wiener has died. He was the uncle of Yosef Goodman. The funeral was held on Tuesday, October 13, at El Camino Memorial Park, Chabad of Carmel Valley reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.