By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
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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UPCOMING EVENTS
San Diego Center for Jewish Culture presents “Cooking Across Cultures with Lisa Kyung Gross, Author of The League of Kitchens Cookbook” at 6 p.m., Wednesday, September 23 at Coastal Roots Farm. The event includes a 4-course farm-to-table dinner and conversation with Gross, drawing from recipes and stories from immigrant home cooks around the world. This unique evening celebrates food as a bridge among cultures, generations, and communities. A portion of proceeds will support Coastal Roots Farm’s “Pay-What-You-Can” Farm Stand. Click here for tickets.
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Beth Jacob Congregation announces its “Halacha: Happy Hour with Sushi and Beer” at 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23. This event will be led by Rabbi Baruch Frankel and will discuss the experience of learning from Gemara to practical Halacha.
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Yiddishland announces its “Movie Night with Special Guest: Professor Amelia Glaser” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, in the Sherman Heights neighborhood. The event includes an evening of film, conversation, and community to celebrate Yiddish culture. Following the film, Glaser will explore the film’s historical, literary, and cultural themes. Click here to register and to receive the address.
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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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Ner Tamid Synagogue presents its “Community Pizza in the Hut” at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 30. The community is invited to enjoy pizza, sides, fulfill the mitzvah of dwelling in the Sukkah, wave the lulav and etrog, and make an edible Sukkah. Click here to register.
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Stand With Us and Antisemitism Task Force announce “Simchat Torah Storytime” at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, October 1 at the La Jolla Library. This event is for families in grades K-5 and will include stories, music, and hands-on activities. Click here to register.
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Young Israel of San Diego announces its “Annual Ice Cream Social” on Thursday, October 1. Stay tuned for more details.
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Ner Tamid Synagogue presents its “Family Shabbat and Simchat Torah” at 5:15 p.m., Friday, October 2. This family event includes dinner, services, rolling the Torah, and adults will leave to have desserts in a private home if children are attending the Simchat Torah Sleepover. Click here to register.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
East County announces a new season of Torah Studies, “Happiness is Learned,” at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 23; all sessions led by Rabbi Rafi Andrusier. “The Unsung Hero of Sukkot: The Willow Is More Than Just a Branch”. This session will examine why the willow is chosen for a special mitzvah, and how it teaches us the importance of simple, unwavering faith as the foundation for all other forms of observance. Click here to sign up.
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Coastal Chabads Women’s Group presents “Caffeine for the Soul: Elevate Your Daily Grind” at 1 p.m., Thursday, September 24. This weekly women’s discussion group will focus on Kabbalah topics. 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 presents “Rabbi, Rebbetzin and Retirees Luncheon” at noon, Wednesday, September 30. This event will include lunch and an inspiring message in the sukkah. Click here to rsvp.
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East County announces its “Simchat Torah: Hakafot Honoring October 7 Kedoshim and IDF Soldiers” at 7 p.m., Saturday, October 3. The event will include a grand buffet dinner and l’chaims, children’s activities, flags and swag, and spirited dancing. Click here to rsvp.
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Downtown presents its “Ladies Jewish Book Club” starting Wednesday, October 7 with discussion of Hostage: A Bestselling War Memoir of Survival and the Human Spirit in Gaza by Eli Sharabi. Click here to rsvp for the address and time. Other dates include Wednesday, December 16: The Matchmaker’s Gift, Wednesday, February 17: Conversations with My Rabbi, Wednesday, May 19: The Happiest Man on Earth, and Wednesday, July 21: Lioness: Golda Meir.
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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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AROUND THE COUNTY
Moishe House reports that a new location in Clairemont just opened. Residents include Abigail Traxler, Maya Robinson, and Aaron Brok. Traxler works as an engineer in pharmaceutical manufacturing, enjoys art and theatre, and was active in Hillel and Chabad in school. She is the leader of this group. Robinson recently graduated from Harvard and works in math education, enjoys baking and cooking, and is excited about Shabbat dinners. Brok works in Naval Information Warfare, is an avid sports fanatic, video gamer, and traveler. Click here for more information.
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Coastal Gan Preschool reports that its students learned about Yom Kippur and what it means to apologize and make things right. They learned that a real apology has three important steps: first, knowing what they did wrong; second, fixing it, cleaning it up or repairing what was hurt; and third, thinking of a way to help make sure it doesn’t happen again. Through simple examples, storytelling, and conversations, they practiced thinking about how actions can make things better.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.