By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, is central to Jewish life, although the Torah provides few specific instructions for its observance beyond prohibiting work.
After the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, rabbis developed traditions that shaped modern Shabbat observance. They identified 39 categories of prohibited labor and established rituals such as kiddush, the blessing over wine, along with prayers and songs that made Shabbat a time of spiritual renewal and celebration.
Over the centuries, Jewish communities developed different approaches to Sabbath observance. Some refrain from driving or using electricity, while others follow more liberal interpretations of Jewish law. Despite these differences, Shabbat remains a defining feature of Jewish identity.
As Jewish thinker Ahad Ha-Am famously observed, “More than the Jewish people has preserved the Shabbat, the Shabbat has preserved the Jewish people.”
Shabbat Shalom!
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JEWISH/ISRAELI NBA PLAYERS TO WATCH THIS SEASON
Deni Avdija, a forward for the Portland Trail Blazers, is the first Israeli in NBA history to be selected to play on the All-Star team. He is 25 years old, from Beit-Zera and career highs in points (24.2) and assists (6.7) per game.
Danny Wolf is a forward for the Brooklyn Nets who is 22 years old and in his second year on the team. He averaged 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game with 15 starts. Wolf is from Illinois but gained Israeli citizenship to play for Team Israel in international competitions.
Ben Saraf, shooting guard also on the Brooklyn Nets, is a 20-year-old and Israeli native. He averaged 7.5 points and 3.3 assists per game and has 11 starts.
Domantas Sabonis, three-time All-Star and center on the Sacramento Kings, converted to Judaism in 2023. Last year he played in only 19 games due to a knee injury but has a career average of 16.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
Noam Yaacov, an Israeli Danish point guard, signed a training camp contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and has played professionally in Israel and Europe.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Congregation Beth Israel announces its “Mending Hearts: Finding Hope and Meaning After Loss” at 10 a.m., Session 1: Sundays, October 18, 25, and November 1 and 15. Session 2: Sundays, January 31, February 7, 21, 28, March 7, and 14. This small support group, facilitated by Rabbi Aliza Berk, LMFT, Jewish Educator, Chaplain and Spiritual Director, and Gail Braverman, LMFT, Certified Art Therapist, Certified Amherst Writers and Artists Facilitator, and Yoga Instructor, will guide participants through the healing process with love and support. Click here to register.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue presents its “Miller Introduction to Judaism” at 11 a.m., Sunday, October 18. 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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Coastal Roots Farm announces its “Farm-to-Table Dinner with Menu by One Kitchen Collaborative” at 5 p.m., Sunday, October 18. This event will feature a multi-course pescatarian menu with just-harvested organic vegetables, sustainably sourced fish, and wine pairings for each course. Click here to register.
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StandWithUs announces its “San Diego Leaders of Tomorrow Gala” at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, October 18. The event includes a performance by Idan Raichel, keynote speaker Loay Alshareef, and honoring Jenny Josephson and the legacy of Julian Josephson. The evening will celebrate leadership, courage, community, and the power of standing together. Click here to register and to receive the location.
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Beth Jacob Congregation announces its “Semichas Chaver: Revolutionize Your Torah Learning with Rabbi Baruch Frankel” Mondays, October 19. These weekly sessions led by Frankel will include the most common halachos that arise daily, take-home question-and-answer sessions to discuss at your Shabbat table, and an understanding of the ethical and philosophical background of the halachos. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth Israel presents “Conviction without Contempt: Finding Our Jewish Moral Compass in a Politically Divided America” at noon, Wednesday, October 21. This session will be led by Rabbi Jason Nevarez, who will explore how Jewish tradition teaches us about moral courage, political responsibility, and finding common ground without compromising principles. Click here to rsvp.
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Lawrence Family JCC presents its “Survey of Zionist Thought” at 10:30 a.m., Tuesdays, October 20, 27; November 3, 10, 17; December 1, 8, and 15. This class will be led by Rabbi Phil Graubart, who will explore the history and evolution of Zionist thought, from its early roots to today. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth El presents its “Jewish Meditation Cohort” at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20. Craig Parks will lead these sessions, which will provide going into a deeper and more spiritual practice alongside a caring community. Click here for more information.
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RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust presents its “Opening Reception” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, October 20 at the San Diego Central Library. This event will include a ribbon-cutting and speeches from community members.
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Beth Jacob Congregation announces its “Adventures in Bereshis with Brandon Fisher” at 7 p.m., Tuesdays, October 20, 27, November 3, 10, 17, 24. These sessions will discuss life-changing insights for personal growth and everyday life from the first book of the Torah. Click here to join the WhatsApp for updates.
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Temple Emanu-El announces its “Music with Michelle Jirkovsky” at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 22. These weekly sessions led by Jirkovsky will explore the stories, songs, and soundtrack of Jewish life. Listen, learn, reminisce, sing, and share memories of the music that has shaped the identities and communities. Click here to register.
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Jewish Networking Hub Powered by Hillel presents “The AI Advantage: How to Get Hired and Get Ahead in the New Age of AI” at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3 at the Beverly and Joseph Glickman Hillel Center. Hear from experts on how AI is reshaping business and hiring. Learn practical ways to use AI to land a job and advance your career. Connect with industry leaders, alumni, students, and community members. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth El announces its “First Friday Family Shabbat” at 5:45 p.m., Friday, November 6. This family-friendly event will include Shabbat services with songs and blessings, Shabbat dinner, games, and activities. Click here to register.
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Friendship Circle of San Diego presents its “Friendship Walk 2026” at 1 p.m., Sunday, November 8 at the Lawrence Family JCC. This afternoon event will feature a 750 feet route around the JCC field, fair activities such as video games, arts and crafts, inflatables, bungee jumping, bubbles, bunnies, face painting, and treats from Brigette’s Bakery. Every registered walker receives a T-shirt, water bottle, and snacks. Click here to register.
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Temple Emanu-El announces its “Torah for the Table: The Jewish Holidays 2.0 – Not Your Bubbies Recipes” at 6 p.m., Wednesdays, November 18, December 9, January 13, February 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, and June 16. These sessions are led by Rabbi Devorah Marcus and Barry Lander, who will be exploring the Holiday traditions with new twists on the foods we often associate with the holidays. Click here to register.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
Downtown presents its “Monthly Shabbat Dinner” at 6 p.m., Friday, October 16. This event includes Shabbat services followed by dinner and celebrating Shabbat as a community. Click here to rsvp.
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Poway announces its “Kiddush Celebration Honoring the One-Year Anniversary of the Passing of Albert Kadosch” Saturday, October 17, after services. Kiddush is sponsored by Frank Felber and will honor the memory of Kadosch and the lasting impact he made on the community.
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Chula Vista’s Men’s Monthly Tefillin Club presents “Bagels, Lox, and Tefillin” at 9 a.m., Sunday, October 18. Men are invited to start the week off right with a kosher “BLT” that includes breakfast, Tefillin, and a Torah discussion. Click here to rsvp.
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Downtown announces its “Jewish Insights” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20. This session will include inspiration, learning, connection, and growth. Torah study class that is open to men and women. Click here to rsvp.
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East County announces its “Tanya Soul Sessions” at noon, Tuesdays, starting October 20. This weekly Torah class will discuss the what’s and whys of Judaism based on Kabbalah and Jewish philosophy and also include lunch. Click here to sign up.
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University City presents its “Kabbalah and the Hidden Architecture of You with Rabbi Effy Kahn” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20. Kahn will lead these six lessons on reincarnation, soulmates, dreams, names, and what these mysteries reveal about the hidden design of your life. Click here to sign up.
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Downtown presents “Rabbi and Retirees Luncheon” at noon, Wednesday, October 28. This event will include lunch and an inspiring message. Click here to rsvp.
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ONLINE OFFERINGS
My Jewish Learning announces its “Ethiopian Jewish History: From Ancient Origins to Today” at 4 p.m. on Monday, October 19 on Zoom. This six-week course led by Steven Kaplan, professor emeritus at Hebrew University, will explore travel across time and space from ancient Africa to modern-day Israel, learning about Ethiopian Jewish customs, traditions, and heroism along the way. Click here to register.
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Yiddish Book Center announces “Memoir Writing Then and Now: Reading and Writing with Rokhl Feygenberg’s The Winding Road” at 4 p.m., Tuesdays, October 20 and 27 on Zoom. Each week, participants will read a section of the book and explore its themes in depth. Then, participants will use themes as prompts for their own memoir writing, with weekly prompts on such topics as: transformative power of genre fiction; how illness changes family dynamics; and the loneliness of being caught between tradition and freedom. Click here to register.
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My Jewish Learning announces “The World of Sholem Aleichem” at 4 p.m., Tuesdays, October 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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Yiddishland presents “Forging Survival: Operation Bernhard and the Holocaust with Jeremy Stern” at 11 a.m., Sunday, November 8 on Zoom. This session will be led by Stern and will discuss what happened during Operation Bernhard and the difficult choices prisoners faced by making fake British banknotes for the Nazis. Click here to register.
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Kveller presents “Mapping the Infinite: The Art and Journeys of Benjamin Sacks” at 3 p.m., Monday, November 16 on Zoom. This session, led by Sacks, will discuss the hand-drawn world of cities and labyrinths, inspired by his globe-trotting journeys as well as historical cartography and architectural drawings. Click here to register.
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Yiddishland announces “Beginner Judeo-Spanish with Esther Rute” at 9 a.m., Mondays, January 4, 11, 18, 25 and February 1 on Zoom. These lessons taught by Rute will be a beginner course to cover basic words, simple conversations, grammar, and a little about Sephardi songs and traditions. Click here to register.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Temple Emanu-El’s Mitzvah of the Month will be supporting Kitchens for Good by collecting new and gently used kitchenware, cookware, tools of the trade, silverware and china, linens, cutlery, and home décor items that will be sold in their Pacific Beach location. The sales support individuals enrolled in a tuition-free California State apprenticeship program to begin careers in the food and hospitality industries. Bring donations to the white Social Action barrel in the front office lobby.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue reports that beginning Friday, November 6, Kabbalat services will begin at 5:15 p.m., due to the shorter days of fall and winter. Beginning Friday, March 19, Kabbalat services will return to 6:15 p.m. throughout the spring and summer months when the days are longer. Saturday Shabbat morning services will remain at 9:30 a.m.
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SCY High School reports that “The Band,” consisting of students Asher Breskin, Jonah Adelman, and Simon Factor, played at Beth Jacob Congregation’s Simchas Beis Hashoeva event over Sukkot. Even though this is a band elective, they have been playing at community events, weekly school-wide concerts, and bringing their talents and passion to the broader community, always making time to perform at local shuls. Yasher Koach!
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.