SAN DIEGO – Recently I read an interesting article on myjewishlearning.com debating when it’s best to wish someone a good Shabbat. Immediately thought, “Duh? It is sundown Friday night until sundown Saturday night, right?” Not necessarily, this article gave an interesting perspective acknowledging the middle of the week as the focal point of Shabbat.
It mentioned that Sunday-Monday-Tuesday are the beginning days of the week when many of us greet each other with Shavua Tov or good week. Wednesday-Thursday-Friday many of us can greet each other with Shabbat Shalom or Good Shabbos in anticipation of the new week.
In college and occasionally now and then, a few of my friends would wish each other a Shabbat Shalom in a group text and would laugh each week to see who would say it first. I sometimes would have to check the date if a friend messaged on a Wednesday to make sure I didn’t have my days mixed up.
As we head into Shabbat today, message or call on someone to wish them a Shabbat Shalom. I have noticed it means a lot to friends who may live alone or are feeling lonely with the upcoming holiday season to know there are people out there that care about them.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Ohr Shalom Synagogue presents “Tots in PJ’s” at 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22. Congregants are encouraged to bring their toddlers in pajamas to welcome in Shabbat in song. An activity will be followed by Family Kabbalat Shabbat. The synagogue will also host a “Lunch and Learn” at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23 and a reading of The Madwoman in the Rabbi’s Attic: Rereading the Women of the Talmud by Pardes instructor Gila Fine” at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26 on Zoom.
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Chabad of Downtown presents the screening of Golda at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23. Click here to rsvp. Popcorn and drinks provided.
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Beth Jacob Congregation announces a Cowles Mountain hike at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 24. Meet at Cowles Mountain for a 4-mile hike to the summit. Click here to register.
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Temple Emanu-El invites the community to attend an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at 5.p.m., Sunday, Nov. 24 at San Carlos United Methodist Church. Rabbi Devorah Marcus will read a scripture passage during the service. The Temple will also host an “Ugly Sweater Family Shabbat” at 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6. Click here to sign up for dinner reservations.
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Chabad of Carmel Valley presents “The Secret of the Aleph Bet with Rebbetzin Dini Polichenco” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26 at the Torah Life Center.
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Chabad at La Costa invites the women in the community to attend “SD Nshei Chabad Event” at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 4, at Chabad of Scripps Ranch. This is a women’s gathering of prayer, learning and inspiration for our brother and sisters in Israel. Click here to rsvp.
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Chabad of East County’s Jewish Women’s Circle presents “Torah and Tea” at noon, Dec. 5. This is a study group for women. Click here to rsvp.
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Congregation Dor Hadash announces its “First Friday Shabbat Services with Song Leader, Hilly Rubin” at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6. Gesher Vav and B’nai students are encouraged to attend. The congregation will also host “Shabbat Services and New Member Dinner” at 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13. More details soon, organizers say.
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Congregation Beth Am announces its campfire Shabbat service at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6. Rabbi David Kornberg will lead this musical service in the Arch courtyard with guitar accompaniment by Ephron Rosenzweig.
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Congregation Beth Israel presents “”Lessons in Hope and Resilience” with Rabbi Yael Vurgan. At 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, Vurgan will discuss celebrating Shabbat with people in her community, Sha’ar HaNegev, San Diego’s sister city in Israel, at the Young Family Shabbat. At 6:15 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, Vulgan will delve into themes from this week’s Torah portion. At 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, Vurgan will discuss how she has called upon tradition, prayer, and rituals to develop and maintain Jewish community, after kibbutzniks from the Sha’ar HaNegev region were displaced and the plan to rebuild. At 9:15 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, Vurgan will share stories about the value of leaning into Jewish community for stability and consistency, as families navigate through life’s most beautiful and most challenging moments.
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Young Israel of San Diego and Chabad at La Costa present an evening to benefit Renewal” at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, at Southern California Yeshiva (SCY) High School. Rabbi Doron Silverman (kidney donor) Zack Plotzker (Renewal National West Coast Rep) will discuss kidney donation.
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Chabad of University City announces a “Grand Menorah Lighting Ceremony” at 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 29 at Westfield UTC Mall.
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JEWISH EDUCATION
San Diego Hebrew Day School reports its Kindergarten through middle school students exemplified the values of Avraham and Sarah in a remarkable way. The students invited parents into a replica of Avraham and Sarah’s tent for a special learning experience. Parents were touched by the experience, with one noting “It was inspiring to see my child so engaged in these timeless values and to share in their meaning. This event was a beautiful reminder of the importance of bringing Torah lessons into our everyday lives.”
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Chabad at La Costa reports its Hebrew School learned about the letter Gimmel and Geshem. Students started with the curriculum where they will go through all the Alef Bet and learn about something that they are grateful for, starting with the letter of the week.
AROUND THE COUNTY
Chabad of East County has announced a campaign to purchase property located at 7183-7189 Navajo Rd. The vision is to expand into a major campus to house Hebrew School classes, more Jewish learning classes and provide community activities. Click here to donate.
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Anti-Defamation League sponsors a campaign to pledge to fight antisemitism and end hate. Click here to sign the pledge.
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Israeli American Council reports that every dollar donated up to $250,000 before “Giving Tuesday,” Tuesday, Dec. 3, will be doubled. These funds will fuel programs that empower children, teens, and students to build a lifelong connection to Israel. Click here to donate.
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Chabad of Downtown reports that Rabbi Zalman Carlebach will attend the “Annual Kinus Hashluchim Conference of Chabad Rabbis and Lay leaders” on Thursday, Nov 28. until Sunday, Dec 1. in New York. He will visit the gravesite of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Click here to send a message to Carlebach to bring to the Ohel or mention your name.
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Young Israel of San Diego shares the following recipe: “Babka in a Bag (aish.com).
Ingredients/Dough:
2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
1/3 cup warm water
1 egg
½ teaspoon orange zest
2 tablespoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons butter softened
1 ¾ cup flour
Filling:
13 oz Nutella
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Syrup:
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons sugar
Directions:
To a large Ziploc bag, add the yeast, water, egg, orange zest, sugar, salt, vanilla and butter. Close the bag and squeeze to mix thoroughly. Open the bag and add the flour. Squeeze and knead until the dough is a somewhat even consistency. Place the bag in a bowl of warm water to rise for 1 hour. Remove the dough and place on a floured surface. Roll it into a large rectangle. Spread Nutella on the dough, avoiding 1 inch around the edges. Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly. Starting from one of the long edges of the dough, roll up the dough into a rope. Cut the dough in half down the middle of the rope. Place one strand on top of the other to create a large X, then twist the remaining ends. Place in a greased 8” loaf pan, cover and place in a warm part of the kitchen to rise for one hour or until doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the babka from the oven then place a small sauce pan on medium heat. Add the water and sugar then bring to a simmer. Once sugar is dissolved, brush the syrup on top of the babka.
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OBITUARY AND MEMORIALS
Errol “Bud” Kader died on Friday, Nov. 22, after a long battle with kidney disease and dementia. Kader was born in San Diego and was a proud San Diegan who graduated from Hoover High School and San Diego State University. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 24 at Sholom Mausoleum Greenwood Memorial Park, Chabad of East County and Congregation Beth Israel report.
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Chabad of Downtown invites congregants, family and friends to three unveilings of memorial stones Sunday, Nov. 24, at El Camino Memorial Park. David Diamond at 10 a.m.; Ashley Weiss” at 11 a.m, and Ben Harouni at 11:30 a.m.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.