SAN DIEGO – While strolling through North Park the other day, I saw a quote from Ruth Bader Ginsburg posted outside Saigon Coffee on the corner of 30th and Lincoln. I thought it would be nice if everyone thought this way. Accept people for their differences, cultures, views and just be good to each other.
My 12-year-old twins are still in the “getting back into school routine.” I told them to find the positives in the day. No one is happy to be back at school (I am jealous and wish I was going back for a PhD). But showing up grumpy and annoyed will only make others around them, including teachers, label them or not want to talk to them. They took off on their walk with “pretend” smiles. When they came home that afternoon, my son said, “Have I ever told you, you are a genius, Mom?” I said “uhm, no? maybe?” He said, “well you are, finding something positive as I walked to school made the day a million times better. Thank you for changing my mind, but I still don’t like school.” It is okay to not like something. Everyone is in the same situation. Getting through the day with something positive outwardly or inwardly can go a long way.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Temple Emanu-El announces “End of Summer Shabbat Service” at 6 p.m., Friday, August 16 at Ventura Cove. Bring your picnic dinner and stay for the bonfire. Click here to watch the livestream.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue announces “Pray at the Park” at 6:15 p.m., Friday, August 16 at Lake Murray Community Park. Preschool parent, Torah School teacher and B’Nai Mitzvah tutor, Becca Lantry will lead this family-friendly service. Bring picnic blankets, lawn chairs, jackets and a dairy or pareve picnic dinner if you wish. Click here to learn more.
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Chabad at La Costa requested a Minyan (a quorum of 10 Jewish men, 13 years and older) at 7 p.m., Friday, August 16 so Kaddish can be recited for a Yahrzeit. Click here if able to attend.
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Seacrest Foundation announces “Sunday Brunch Social” at 10 a.m., Sunday, August 18 at Seacrest Retirement Village. The program is intended for participants to learn more about how involvement with Seacrest Foundation can help change the future for Seacrest seniors in need. Click here to rsvp.
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StandWithUs is among the sponsors of a 2K run and walk “in solidarity with Hindus in Bangladesh” beginning at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Lake Miramar Concession Store (10710 Scripps Lake Drive). Registration is required via this link.
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Chabad of University City hosts“An Evening of Solidarity Dedicated to the Hostages” at 8 p.m., Sunday, August 18. The evening will feature an Israeli speaker sharing personal experiences and prayers for Israel.
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The Jewish Encounter presents an “Israel Poker Night Fundraiser” at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, August 22. Guests will enjoy a Texas Hold ‘Em style poker tournament, silent auction, and the chance to go head-to-head with Rabbi Arthur Zuckerman (former Rabbi of Congregation Beth Am) in the High Roller game. Click here for more information.
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Chabad of Downtown announces “That’s so Jewish! A Live Game Show with Comedian, Eitan Levine” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, September 3 at the David and Dorothea Garfield Theatre at the Lawrence Family JCC. Program will include a live game show based on the popular TikTok Series: “Jewish or Antisemitic.” Contestants will compete in rounds of trivia all with the goal of being crowned “Most Chosen.” Click here to reserve the group rate ticket pricing.
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Jewish Federation of San Diego, Impact Cubed, The Israel Democracy Institute and the Lawrence Family JCC present “The Ultra-Orthodox Community: Its Role in Society and Government” at 10 a.m., Thursday, September 5 on Zoom. This webinar will focus on the Ultra-Orthodox community in Israel, which is the fastest growing sector in the country. Featured speakers include: Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz, Director, IDI’s Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society, and Eliyahu Berkovits, Researcher, IDI’s Ultra-Orthodox in Israel Program and Religion and State Program. Click here to register.
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Hebrew Free Loan San Diego will participate in San Diego Gives on Thursday, September 5. San Diego Gives is a transformative campaign that brings the community together to support local nonprofits. Donating to HFLSD empowers members of the San Diego Jewish community to help themselves. Click here to donate.
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Hadassah San Diego announces “Hats Off to Hadassah” at 4 p.m., Sunday, September 8. This annual event honors the commitment to Hadassah by recognizing its annual givers and major donors. Featured speaker Richard Leib, a member of the UC Board of Regents, will discuss the Rising Level of Antisemitism on our College Campuses. Click here to register and to receive address.
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The San Diego Center for Jewish Culture announces “What’s at Stake in November? A Conversation with Bill Kristol and Harry Litman” at 7 p.m., Sunday, September 8 at the David and Dorothea Garfield Theatre at the Lawrence Family JCC. Bill Kristol, a leading conservative voice and former Chief of Staff to Vice President Dan Quayle along with Harry Litman will delve into the interplay of law, politics, and governance, focusing on the upcoming U.S. Presidential Election. Click here for tickets.
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Kindness Initiative announces registration is filling up quickly for its “Games for Good with Kindness” fundraiser at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, September 15 at Congregation Beth Am. Mah Jongg, Canasta, Scrabble, Rummikub, Bridge, and Kaluki are available. Contributions support those who are vulnerable and in need of assistance. Click here to register.
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Murray Galinson San Diego-Israel Initiative, Impact Cubed, and the Center for Jewish Culture announces the screening of “We Will Dance Again” at 7 p.m., Thursday, September 19 at the Garfield Theatre at the Lawrence Family JCC. The film is a stark portrayal of the October 7 experiences of those who survived and those who didn’t. The film meticulously reconstructs the horrifying events, capturing the raw emotions and heroism that emerged amid the senseless violence. Panel discussion following the screening will feature MGSDII Visiting Israeli Professors, Dr. Giora Goodman, a historian, and Tom Shoval, a filmmaker. Click here to register.
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American Jewish Committee (AJC) announces Leaders for Tomorrow applications are now open. This program is open to grades 10-12. Jewish teens will receive an education about Israel and antisemitism. Click here to apply. Space is limited.
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Young Israel of San Diego asks for sponsors for its “5785/2024-2025 Light of Shabbat Campaign.” Each year, “a beautiful and functional magnet featuring all the holiday and Shabbat candle lighting times” is distributed to over 500 homes in the Jewish community. Click here to sponsor this mitzvah.
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GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
California Assemblymember, Jesse Gabriel (District 46) announces that the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill (AB 2867) which aims to help California residents recover art and other personal property stolen during the Holocaust or other acts of persecution. California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis states “the decades-long effort to return confiscated property to Jewish families is morally courageous. I am proud to sponsor Gabriel’s bill and thank him for his leadership in empowering California families to retrieve stolen and looted property that is rightfully theirs.” The bill now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, where it must be signed into law or vetoed within 12 days.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.