By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
The Major League Baseball postseason has arrived! The San Diego Padres defeated the Chicago Cubs tonight at Petco Park, and the city has been buzzing over the last few days.
Here is a breakdown of the Jewish players to keep an eye on as October ball gets underway.
Max Fried and hthe New York Yankees hosted their rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in the Wild Card round that started tonight. He missed time from an injury this season but posted a 2.80 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 20 starts. In the postseason, he helped lead the Atlanta Braves to the 2021 World Series with a 5.31 playoffs ERA.
Alex Bregman of the Chicago Cubs is recovering from an injury but is a postseason legend, ranking in the top 10 all time in playoff games (102), home runs (19), RBIs (55), hits (91), runs (63), and walks (56). Tonight, the Cubs were shut out 8-0 by our hometown Padres.
Garrett Stubbs of the Philadelphia Phillies is the team’s backup catcher but does not play much. He has played in the postseason with the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies. Tonight, the Phillies were defeated by the Atlanta Braves by a score of 5-3.
Max Lazer has been called up from Triple-A to join the Philadelphia Phillies but most likely wouldn’t make the postseason roster.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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: Sponsored by National Jewish Outreach Program” at 6:45 p.m., Thursday, October 1, at a private residence. This event will include pizza and ice cream while dwelling in the sukkah. Click here to register and to receive the address.
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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 dessert in a private home if children are attending the Simchat Torah Sleepover. Click here to register.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue presents “Simchat Torah” at 7 p.m., Saturday, October 3. The evening event will be filled with ruach (spirit), which will include hakafot (Torah processions) for all, music, dancing, and singing led by Rabbi Hanan Leberman and ShinShin Shai, the unrolling of the Torah, and chocolate bars and apples for all. Click here for more information.
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Beth Jacob Congregation announces its “Simchas Torah: Yom Tov Potluck Dinner” after hakafos, Saturday, October 3, and “Simchas Torah: BBQ Lunch”, after hakafos, Sunday, October 4. Click here to rsvp.
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Lawrence Family JCC announces its “Remember October 7: To Dream Again” at 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 7. This event will include gathering in remembrance, art, song and silence, to hear the voices of those who lost and kept going, and to stand together in the strength it takes to dream again. Click here to rsvp and to receive the location.
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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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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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Antisemitism Task Force San Diego, Stand With Us, Art Over Hate Collective, and Christian and Jewish Alliance announce “The Third Annual Solidarity Event: Christians and Jews Unite with Israel and Against Antisemitism” at 6 p.m., Sunday, November 1, in Carlsbad. This event will be led by Rabbi Hanan Leberman of Tifereth Israel Synagogue, survivors of the October 7 attack, Guy and Gal Gilboa-Dalal, and Pastor Dave Menard of The Mission Church. The program will include unity, music, love, and prayer. Click here to rsvp and to receive the address.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
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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La Costa announces its “Suktoberfest” at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 30. This event includes a family BBQ and beer-making “HeBrews.” Click here to register.
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Coastal Chabads Women’s Group presents “Caffeine for the Soul: Elevate Your Daily Grind” at 1 p.m., Thursday, October 1. This weekly women’s discussion group will focus on Kabbalah topics. Click here to rsvp.
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Chula Vista’s Men’s Club announces its “Scotch and Steak in the Sukkah” at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, October 1 at a private residence. This men’s event will feature steak, scotch, and conversation. Click here to rsvp and receive the address.
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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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La Costa presents its ‘Simchat Torah” at 7 p.m., Saturday, October 3. This event includes Hakafot dancing with the Torah and is family-friendly. Click here to register.
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ONLINE OFFERINGS
My Jewish Learning announces “The World of Sholem Aleichem” at 4 p.m., Tuesdays, October 13, 20, 27, November 3, and 10, on Zoom. Aleichem is one of history’s more beloved Yiddish writers, and Tevye the dairyman stories were the basis for Fiddler on the Roof. These sessions, led by Debra Caplan, associate professor of theatre at Baruch College, CUNY, will read and discuss a new short story each week, including stories involving Tevye’s comic mishaps, unpack Aleichem’s singular blend of humor and heartbreak, and explore why his characters still feel so relevant today. Click here to register.
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PHILANTHROPY
Father Joe’s Villages reports that Irwin Jacobs, Ph.D, committed to donating $50 million over a 5-year partnership that will address the region’s long-standing affordable housing shortage and the growing population of seniors in homelessness. These new services for seniors will include assisted living, healthcare, job and housing programs that will be designed around the unique needs that an aging population faces in transitioning out of homelessness. Groundbreaking will begin in early 2028, and construction will be completed by 2032.
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Harold Grinspoon Foundation reports a $50 million matching grant through its JCamp 180 program, which helps Jewish nonprofit camps thrive well into the future. With this commitment, JCamp 180 will award up to $10 million in matching grants each year over five years to support more than 100 Jewish overnight camps. For every dollar that HGF grants, the camps must raise $3. This $50 million challenge grant and corresponding camp fundraising efforts will infuse a total of $200 million in the camp ecosystem over five years. Camps can use the funds to make critical physical improvements, build their endowments, and meet emerging needs such as increased scholarship or security expenses.
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Jewish Federation of San Diego reports that the Zeff family has made a generous gift to help make the First Timers pre-trip to Israel more financially accessible. The Feldman family has also made a generous gift for young adults 45 and under to help make the post-trip to Budapest more accessible. Click here to register for the trip happening May 18-25, 2027.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.