By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
This past weekend, I was a part of Tifereth Israel Synagogue Sisterhood’s Havdalah service. I was given the honor to return the Torah to the Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark), which is close to the end of the service.
I am always so humbled and honored to be asked and trusted to carry such a sacred possession through the aisles as people kiss their siddurim (prayer books) or tallits (prayer shawls) and touch them to the Torah. The Havdalah Torah is lighter than the Torah used in the Shabbat service. They both are equally a tad bit heavy, but nothing I can’t manage.
I often reflect on our ancestors carrying the Torah out of dangerous situations or carrying it through the desert. Now I am being handed it to hold with all my strength as I protect it.
My 13-year-old daughter opened the Ark with two other young girls, so it was a moving moment seeing her up there honoring our ancestors. They all shared smiles as the Torahs were glimpsed through the opening Ark doors.
As we enter another Shabbat, please reflect on how to add more light to the world.
*
UPCOMING EVENTS
Other pending events, previously reported in this column, may be found in our Jewish community calendar.
*
Temple Emanu-El presents its “Adult Beginning Hebrew 2026” at 2 p.m., on select Sundays starting Jan. 25. This event will include a 10-week session led by Michelle Jirkovsky on learning to read and write Hebrew. Intermediate Hebrew sessions will begin in the fall of 2026, and Advanced Hebrew sessions will be offered in Spring 2027, which will culminate in the opportunity to enroll in the Adult B’nai Mitzvah class in Fall 2027. Click here to register.
*
RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust announces its “Holocaust Remembrance Day: Film Screening” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the La Jolla/Riford Branch Library. This event will honor the International Day of Remembrance and will screen the short documentaries: Try to Remember Never Forget: Memoirs of Holocaust Survivor Ruth Goldschmiedova Sax and The Beautiful Life of Maria Jurasi Coleman: A Story of Resilience, Memory, and Choosing Beauty.
*
San Diego County Assessor, Jordan Marks, hosts “Free Non-Profit Empowerment Summit” at noon, Thursday, Jan. 29, in the San Diego County Operations Center Chambers. This event includes Marks delivering to San Diego non-profits, churches, museums, and other organizations operating for the welfare of the community the tools directly from the Assessor’s office, California Franchise Tax Board, and the California State Board of Equalization to help them save money on their taxes so they can better serve the community. Click here to rsvp.
*
Kindness Initiative announces its “Omer Wenkert: Transforming 505 Days in Captivity” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3, is almost sold out. This event will feature Wenkert discussing his first-hand account of resilience and survival. Click here to register and to receive the address.
*
Temple Emanu-El presents its “Lunar New Year Family Shabbat” at 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6. This event includes a Chinese food dinner, followed by a family Shabbat service led by its Torah School’s 2nd and 3rd graders. Click here to register.
*
Jewish Community Symphony presents its “Cinematic and Classical: A Jewish Community Symphony Performance” at 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Lawrence Family JCC. This symphony event will be led by conductor David Amos and will feature music from the film The Terminal, Vaughan Williams’ Overture to The Wasps, and Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Suite. Clarinetist and assistant conductor Robert Zelickman will play in Weber’s Concertino, followed by John Williams’ Viktor’s Tale, Khachaturian’s Gayane Dances. Click here to purchase tickets.
*
Terra Lawson-Remer, chair of the County Board of Supervisors, announces a “Townhall: Fighting Scams and Predatory Practices” at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18, at University City High School. This event includes discussion about the “junk fees and surprise charges, insurance denials made by algorithms, not doctors, scams targeting seniors, immigrants, and working families, and the Tijuana River Pollution that shuts down the beaches and drives up health costs. Click here to rsvp.
*
Trinity Theatre Company presents “Richard Lederer: Jest for the Pun of it” at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 13, and Sunday, March 14. Lederer is a language columnist and international punster of the year. He will explain what a pun is and will perform some of the funniest puns ever created. Lederer will be signing his books during intermission and after the performance. Click here to register.
*
AROUND THE COUNTY
Coastal Gan Preschool reports it has been exploring Tu B’Shvat, and welcomed a new tree into the classroom as part of its learning. The children engaged in a creative art process, making crumpled flowers by following a three-step sequence: crumble, dip, and stick, supporting both fine motor skills and early sequencing.
*
Temple Emanu-El reports its hamantaschen online ordering opens Monday, Feb. 2. They will be offering traditional flavors, which include raspberry, chocolate, lemon, poppyseed, prune, and apricot, sold by the dozen. Assorted flavor mix which includes 3 raspberry, 3 lemon, 3 chocolate, and 3 apricot, sold by the dozen. Gourmet flavors which include fig and brie, raspberry cheesecake, and chocolate marshmallow s’more. Click here to place your order. Organizers say they apologize for not being able to accommodate substitutions or custom orders, and flavors are subject to ingredient availability. 100% of proceeds go directly to the Campership Fund to help send kids to summer camp.
*
Chabad of Poway reports grandparent Frank Felber has returned from Israel after visiting his new granddaughter. Mazel Tov!
*
Jewish Community Symphony reports it is welcoming talented local musicians to join its upcoming rehearsals and concerts. Whether you’re an experienced performer or looking to reignite your musical journey, they would love you to be a part of their community. Click here to learn more.
*
Chabad at La Costa Channah and Arthur Hale Jewish Learning Center Building reports that the walk-in coolers have been assembled. Shelving is installed and will be powered up after the elevator installation. Condenser installation begun. Doors have been hung and painted, and doorknobs installed. Baseboards done. Bathroom accessories installation progressing (changing table in). The kitchenette countertop and sink have been installed. Laundry room sink installed. Appliances have arrived.
*
Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.