SAN DIEGO – As the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 massacre approaches, San Diego’s Jewish community’s programming and thoughts focus on the people of Southern Israel, in particular those of Sha’ar Hanegev, San Diego’s Sister City which was ravaged in the attacks.
The Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, Impact Cubed, Lawrence Family JCC and Jewish Federation of San Diego will present “Sivani’s House: In memory of Sivan Elkabets and Naor Hassidim” at 5 p.m., Wednesday, September 11 at the Hive at Leichtag Commons. Sivani’s House is an interactive exhibit experience telling the story of Sivan Elkabets and her partner Naor Hassidim, who were murdered at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the communities of Sha’ar HaNegev. Click here to register.
Adopt a Family Foundation announces “Gala Under the Stars” at 6 p.m., Sunday, September 15 at the Leichtag Commons. Guests of honor, Natalia Casarotti, son was killed by Hamas at the Nova Music Festival and Dr. Leetal BenZvi, Expressive Arts Therapist. Click here to register.
Additionally, the Jewish Federation of San Diego has scheduled a “Preserving the Legacy” Storytelling Workshop for Descendants of Survivors” at 2 p.m., Sunday, September 29 at the Joseph and Lenka Finci Jewish Community Building. This workshop is dedicated to helping the descendants of Holocaust Survivors and those murdered on Oct. 7 to become more comfortable telling the unique and powerful stories of their families. Featured speaker, Aaron Henne, artistic director of Theatre Dybbuk, will lead participants through a meaningful session that will give attendees the tools and structures that need to craft their most impactful narratives. Click here to register.
The Nova Exhibition will be open until Tuesday, October 8 in Los Angeles. The installation sets out to recreate a festival dedicated to peace and love that was savagely cut short by a terrorist attack on that fateful day. Click here for tickets.
*
Meanwhile, at Chabad at La Costa, Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort notified congregants that Monday (August 26) marked the end of the Kaddish recitation period for the victims of the October 7 massacre. Eilfort urged congregants to honor their memory by increasing good deeds and performing mitzvot in their merit.
*
UPCOMING EVENTS
Hillel San Diego announces “San Diego Gives Volunteer Day” at 11 a.m., Thursday, August 29 at the Melvin Garb Hillel Center. Snacks and school supplies will be collected and go directly to Jewish students. Click here to view wish list and register.
*
Jewish Teen Foundation of San Diego announces applications are due Friday, August 30, for the 11th cohort, which will start soon for the fall semester. This program is open to Jewish 9th-12th graders in San Diego County and will meet in-person once per month during the academic year. Click here to apply.
*
Jewish Federation of San Diego, Impact Cubed, Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) and the Lawrence Family JCC present a webinar “The Ultra-Orthodox Community: Its Role in Society and Government” at 10 a.m., Thursday, September 5. 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 for the Zoom presentation.
*
Congregation Beth El will hold its “Welcome Back Membership Fair” at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, September 8. Congregants are invited to a BBQ, a bounce house, and slip and slide for returning students. Click here to register.
*
Chabad of Poway and Hebrew Order of David, Lodge Tzedek presents “Cigars, Whiskey, and Great Company” at 6 p.m., Sunday, September 8 at Chabad of Poway. Open for Hebrew Order of David members and guests. Click here to rsvp by Thursday, September 5.
*
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Councilmember Jennifer Campbell (District 2) announces the US Navy christened its newest ship, the USNS Point Loma, in honor of the decades-long relationship between District 2’s Point Loma community and the US Navy.
*
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-51) said highlights of her last several weeks were meeting with new and expecting parents and infant care providers, volunteering at Feeding San Diego, meeting with amazing young San Diegans, and getting to know small businesses in the College Area.
*
San Diego County Supervisor, Terra Lawson-Remer’s (District 3) proposal for the County to explore suing social media platforms for harmful mental health impacts of algorithms passed on a 3-2 vote. Lawson-Remer stated “I am extremely concerned that social media companies are deliberately creating algorithms that negatively impact the mental health of teens and youth, in order to maximize their profits. I am proud that today our County took action to hold opportunistic social media companies accountable and push them to change the way they do business.”
*
San Diego Representatives Scott Peters (CA-50), Juan Vargas (CA-52), and Sara Jacobs (CA-51) and the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission Commissioner Maria-Elena Giner, will host the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard R. Verma, for a briefing and tour of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant on Thursday, August 29.
*
Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.