LA MESA, California – Henna is a vegetable-based dye that is used to color skin or dye hair temporarily. Traditionally, it has been incorporated into wedding celebrations in the Middle East and South Asia.
Jewish communities have also incorporated this practice into their marriage rituals. Henna is seen to ward off the evil eye and increase fertility. In recent generations, more Jews with Sephardic roots are incorporating this practice into their nuptials.
I attended a Bat Mitzvah a few years ago, and all the women and young girls had the opportunity to receive a henna design on their hands. My daughter and I thought it was so cool, and the design lasted for a few days, so it made for good conversation when people asked if the ink was permanent.
*
UPCOMING EVENTS
Congregation B’nai Tikvah announces its “Welcome Back Shabbat” service at 6:30 p.m., Friday, September 5, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The service will include a guest speaker, Richard Lederer, whose feature “A Way With Words” is carried by the San Diego Union-Tribune.
*
The San Diego Center for Jewish Culture presents “Roots and Recipes” at 3 p.m., Sundays: September 14, October 12, and November 16 at the Lawrence Family JCC. Natan, Jewish educator and youth leader at the JCC, will lead a holiday-themed cooking workshop for kids ages 8-11 and their grandparents. During the sessions, participants will share stories, cook, build a family cookbook, and celebrate heritage. Click here to register.
*
Ohr Shalom Synagogue presents “Choir Concert in Honor of Ana Galicot” at 6:30 p.m., Monday, September 15. This event will celebrate 10 years of the Ohr Shalom Choir. Click here to rsvp.
*
Congregation Beth El announces “An Evening with Haviv Rettig Gur: What Matters Now” at 7:30 p.m., Monday, September 15. Gur, senior analyst for The Times of Israel and host of the Ask Haviv Anything podcast, will share what he sees as the most urgent and defining issues facing Israel and the Jewish world today. Click here to register.
*
Coastal Roots Farm presents “From Page to Plate: Jake Cohen’s Dinner Party Animal” at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, October 12. Cohen, New York Times bestselling author and host of Jake Makes it Easy, will host this session with a live cooking demo, audience question and answer session, and book signing. Click here for tickets.
To view other events previously listed in this column, please visit our San Diego Jewish Community Calendar page.
*
AROUND THE COUNTY
Young Israel of San Diego reports its “2025/2026 Light of Shabbat Campaign” has started. Each year, the synagogue designs a practical magnet featuring all the Shabbat and holiday candle lighting times for the coming year. Click here to sponsor and choose “Magnet Sponsor” in the dropdown.
*
Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports to its congregants, warning them of a scam email circulating requesting gift cards to be purchased. The office emails should come from ohrshalom.org. Contact the office if you are suspicious of any correspondence.
*
OBITUARY NOTICES
Alexander Bercovitz, brother of Jacob (Leslie) Bercovitz, has died. The funeral was held Sunday, August 10, at El Camino Memorial Park, Tifereth Israel Synagogue reports.
*
Joel Berick, husband of Erica Berick, father of Michael (Rachel), Lisa Samuels (Brian), and grandfather of Hannah, Ethan, Mariah, Naomi, and Max, has died, Congregation Beth Israel reports.
*
Anita Lawson, wife of Rabbi Emeritus Marty Lawson of Temple Emanu-El, has died. The funeral was held Monday, August 11, at Temple Emanu-El, and Internment followed at El Camino Memorial Park, Tifereth Israel Synagogue reports. The two congregations engage in activities together.
*
Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.