LA MESA, California – The celebration of Purim is here! This is a celebration of the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian empire from Haman’s plot to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews. This included the young and old, infants and women, in a single day.
At a grand feast, Queen Esther revealed her Jewish identity to the king and Haman later was hanged. The Jewish people were saved and that is why today, we eat, drink and celebrate!
Instead of giving my 13-year-old daughter a generational Hebrew name, a few years ago, while attending Hebrew School at Chabad of East County. I gave her the choice and she chose Esther. She said Queen Esther was a courageous woman, stood her ground and saved our people. She mentions the strength Esther had and how she applies this in her daily life.
When I bake hamantaschen each year, my 13-year-old twins, bite the top immediately and say, “never again.” DZ Akins has hamantaschen in the bakery year-round so even in the middle of July, they will ask for a cherry- or apricot-filled hamantaschen and bite the top saying “never again.”
PURIM CELEBRATIONS TODAY
Chabad of University City invites the community to attend its “Royal Purim Feast” at 5 p.m., Friday, March 14. The event includes an order of the crown: a noble feast that will feature a jester Improv show and a Purim/Shabbat meal. Click here to rsvp.
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Chabad of Poway invites the community to its “Purim Shabbat Feast” at 5:30 p.m., Friday, March 14. The event will include Megilla reading, Shabbat davening and Purim Shabbat feast. Click here to rsvp.
AROUND THE COUNTY
American Jewish Committee San Diego and Congregation Beth Israel will co-sponsor “Ladino Jewish Coalition Seder” at 5 p.m., Thursday, March 20. The event includes a Seder led by Rabbi Jason Nevarez and Rabbi Cantor Jeremy Gimbel. The Seder will create an inclusive space for individuals from diverse backgrounds and share traditions and stories of overcoming challenges and forging alliances. Click here to register.
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Lawrence Family JCC announces its “Ocean by the Sea: Shabbat Dinner and Movie” at 5 p.m., Friday, March 21. The event includes a dinner and a thought-provoking film about climate change and the impacts to our planet. Click here for tickets.
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Congregation Beth El’s Tikkun Olam Volunteers announce they will make pillows for breast cancer patients at 9:45 a.m., Sunday, March 23. The pillows will be donated to the Moore Cancer Center at UCSD. Volunteers can help by bringing a sewing machine to help sew up the outer pillowcases and children can help with this Mitzvah by filling the inner pillows with stuffing. Click here to register.
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San Diego Magazine has opened voting for its “Best of San Diego 2025” with Bekker’s Catering owned by Olga Worm and Bivouac Ciderworks and Adventure Lodge owned by Lara Worm in the running. Click here to vote for Bekker’s Catering in the Caterer category. Click here and here, to vote for Bivouac Adventure Lodge in the Speakeasy and New Bar category. Click here and here to vote for Bivouac Ciderworks in the Brewery, Alt-Drink, Alcoholic (Cider), Hard Kombucha, Canned Cocktails and Seltzer categories. Voting ends Monday, March 24.
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Temple Emanu-El’s Sisterhood invites the community to attend its “Passover Wine Pairing Party” at 6:15 p.m., Wednesday, March 26. The event includes an evening of Kosher wine tasting paired with a selection of matzah and cheeses, Passover desserts and juice options available. Click here to rsvp.
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Chabad of East County’s Jewish Women’s Circle announces its “Create Your Own Resin Seder Plate” at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 27. Click here to rsvp.
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Ohr Shalom Synagogue’s Speaker Series is co-partnering with American Jewish Committee San Diego and Hillel of San Diego in presenting “Antisemitism Throughout Our Community” at 10 a.m., Sunday, April 6. Speakers include Regional Director of American Jewish Committee San Diego, Sara Brown, PhD, and Executive Director of Hillel of San Diego, Karen Parry. Click here to rsvp.
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Kindness Initiative announces the grand opening of Kindness G’Mach’s New Distribution Center at 1 p.m., Sunday, April 6. The event includes a ribbon cutting, mezuzah hanging ceremony, refreshments, and officially welcoming the community to its new expanded space.
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OBITUARY NOTICES
Robert Ilko, husband of Marie Ilko z”l, has died. The funeral service was held at 3 p.m., Thursday, March 13 at El Camino Memorial Cemetery. Donations in Ilko’s honor can be made at Scripps Mercy Hospital Scripps Health, Congregation Beth Israel reports.
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The funeral service for Stu Schaffer z”l will be held at 10 a.m., Sunday, March 16 in the sanctuary of Seacrest Retirement Community. The family will remain at Seacrest following service until 12:30 p.m. to receive comfort and consolation, Congregation Dor Hadash reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.