SAN DIEGO – Why do we eat apples and honey during the High Holidays? This was the fruit that was most available in many parts of the world. The combination has been used for centuries to wish everyone a sweet New Year.
Apples are grown in many varieties. In recent times, with hybrids, there are too many to name. Apples can be fermented to make alcoholic ciders and can be used for many holistic purposes such as vinegar and pectin which can heal a stomachache.
Honey is produced by bees but how is that kosher? According to halachic law, bees are non-kosher. But it has been determined that the sac the honey is produced is outside of the body, so it is considered kosher. However, honey is not considered vegan. Personally, I use agave nectar in place of honey.
Being health minded, I enjoy a healthy treat to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Freckles, my angora rabbit, is a fan of sliced apple. When she gets a whiff of it, she emerges from her nap and hops around my feet. Apple-picking season in Julian is here and our family will head up there this weekend. I do need to pack some Dramamine since the drive is a bit rough.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Chabad at University City offers a new class: “Mystical Musings with Rabbi Yudell Reiz” at 8:45 a.m. following mincha service on Sunday, Sept. 15. Class is for men and women and breakfast included.
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Chabad of Poway invites the community to celebrate congregant Gabriel Shulman’s Hanachat Tefillin at 9 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 15. Boys are obligated to lay tefillin when they turn 13. Learning how to do it correctly takes practice. It is customary to begin putting on Tefillin two months before a bar mitzvah.
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Chabad of Chula Vista presents “Torah and Tea” at 10 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 15 and 29. Rebbetzin Mushka Begun will lead the discussion about preparing for the High Holidays with other women in the community. Click here for the Zoom link.
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Lawrence Family JCC’s Little Mensches group will celebrate its 10th anniversary at 1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 15. The program will begin with a brief talk about homelessness by a JFS representative. Mensches will help to assemble necessity bags for distribution and enjoy celebratory treats. Program is for children ages 4-8. Click here to register.
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Lawrence Family JCC presents “Challah Making with the Challah Prince” at 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 22. A native of Tel Aviv, challah baker Idan Chabasov advocates infusing artistry into baking. He will guide participants through crafting and braiding Challah, ready to be baked at home. Click here to register.
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JEWISH HUMOR
Chabad of East County shares the following joke: “The Proud Mother” Harry Goldberg has been elected the next President of the United States—the first Jewish boy to reach the White House. He is very proud and phones his mother in New York to invite her to the inauguration. Harry: Momma, guess what! I’ve just been elected president, won’t you come to my inauguration? Mother: Harry! You know I hate trains. I can’t face the journey all the way to Washington. Maybe next time. Harry: Momma! You will take no train. Air Force One will collect you. The journey will be over in 30 minutes. Come to my inauguration, please… Mother: Harry, I hate hotels. The non-kosher food! Nahh, maybe next time. Harry: Momma!! You will stay in the White House, a kosher chef to yourself. PLEASE come. Mother: Harry! I have nothing to wear! Harry: I have someone on his way to take you to Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s to make you look perfect. You must come!!! Mother: Okay, okay, I suppose I will come. Inauguration day comes. Mother is on the front row, next to the Secretary of State. Harry is called up to become the next President. Mother digs the Secretary of State in the ribs and says, “Hey, you see that boy, Harry? His brother is a very successful doctor!”
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Chabad of Poway shares the following joke: “Make me a Cohen, please.” Manny approached the rabbi of his synagogue and said “Rabbi, please make me a Cohen.” The Rabbi, taken aback, tells Manny that it is impossible. Manny offers the Synagogue 10,000, but the Rabbi won’t budge. He offers 50,000…then 75,000. Finally, the Rabbi, reluctantly, gives in. He teaches Manny Torah. He teaches him Talmud. After 6 months of classes, the Rabbi tells Manny, “OK, now you can be a Cohen.” The next Shabbat, Manny is called up for the first aliya in the Torah reading. He goes up, with a big smile on his face, says the brachot and afterwards returns to his seat. But the Rabbi is still troubled and a little curious. He approaches Manny the next day and asks him why it was so important to him to be a Cohen. Manny answers, “Rabbi, my grandfather was a Cohen; my father was a Cohen. I wanted to be Cohen too!”
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MISCELLANY
Temple Emanu-El announces its “Mitzvah of the Month: Toiletries and Laundry Soap for Rachel’s Women’s Center.” Donations include shampoo (for adults and children), toothpaste/toothbrushes (for adults and children), hand soap (bar or liquid), deodorant, and laundry detergent. Rachel’s Women’s Center offers a safe space for women with little to no resources by providing women with shower and laundry facilities, food, a mailing address, behavioral and mental health support and referrals. Click here for more information.
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Chabad of East County Jewish Women’s Circle hosted a special kiddush honoring Rebbetzin Chaya Andrusier’s birthday on Saturday, Sept. 14.
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San Diego Hebrew Day School reports its 4th graders took part in a hands-on writing workshop focused on developing peer editing skills. Students learned how to give and receive constructive feedback on their writing, enhancing both their own work and their classmates’ stories. The workshop encouraged collaboration, critical thinking, and the use of positive language while editing…. Hebrew Day announces it has been awarded the highest accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the California Association of Independent Schools.
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Coastal Roots Farm sent out a community survey encouraging feedback and planning for its 10-year anniversary in 2025. Click here for the survey. Responses due by Monday, Sept. 30.
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GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
San Diego Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) and her Republican opponent, El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, will appear at a candidates forum at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8 at Temple Emanu-El. Click here to register.
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OBITUARY NOTICE
Regina Brand, 74, died on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Funeral will be at 9 a.m., Sunday, September 15 at El Camino Memorial Park with Rabbi/Cantor Arlene Bernstein of Congregation Beth Israel as officiant, Am Israel Mortuary reported.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.