SAN DIEGO – “Happy Holidays?” “Happy Chanukah?” “Chag Sameach?” “Merry Christmas?” How to greet people is always a discussion as December rolls around. I really didn’t know what Christmas was until I started kindergarten since I would hear it so often in the stores and in public school. It just seemed like something you would wish someone as it was after Thanksgiving.
In high school and college, I worked in retail so was asked to say something as people received their receipts and bought items so would say “Happy Holidays” unless it was apparent the person had something identifying with the holidays. Sometimes people would correct me and say “It’s Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays” which I would smile and say “have a good holiday!” But most people appreciated the non-identifying “Happy Holidays” which also includes Kwanzaa and Diwali.
When my twins started kindergarten, their teacher mentioned this was the first year she could not have a “Christmas” party, due to school regulations, it had to be a winter party. She didn’t like that but she understood that we can’t assume everyone celebrates Christmas. Over the years there have been snowman/winter parties so those have been fun to hear about on the last day before winter break.
My two cents: this can be a stressful time of the year financially and emotionally for many people. Wishing someone a “Happy Holiday” usually sparks a smile of relief and if that person corrects you with the holiday he or she celebrates, it is okay. Wishing someone a “Happy” something is better than not saying anything in my experience.
Likewise, if I am wished a “Merry Christmas” at a store, I just say “thank you and same to you.” I don’t feel I need to correct anyone. The fact is that that overworked tired employees are just doing their jobs, having been told to say something, as I was told many years ago. It is appreciated and is just showing kindness during this hectic time of the year.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Temple Emanu-El invites the community to attend its Hanukkah Happening at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14. The event will include games, crafts, music, snow, Hanukkah Spectacular Musical Review and food and drinks available for purchase. Click here to register.
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Beth Jacob Congregation hosts a “Candle Making and Old Town Picnic” at noon, Sunday, Dec. 15, at Toby’s Candles in Old Town San Diego. The event includes dipping candles for Chanukah and then a “bring your own picnic” or pre-order kosher pizza from La Mesa Pizza Works with other members. Click here to make your reservation.
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Lawrence Family JCC will be celebrating all things Hanukkah at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 15. The event will include a family concert by The LeeVees, a Hanukkah Shuk, face painting, crafts and a latke-eating contest. Click here for tickets.
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Anti-Defamation League of San Diego for parents and caregivers in the K-12 schools on how to combat antisemitism at 11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 16. Participants will gain insight into the antisemitic incidents and trends occurring in K-12 schools and learn how to combat them. Click here to register.
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Chabad at La Costa invites the community to join in celebration of the “19th of Kislev: The Chasidic New Year” at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 19, at which Rabbi Yossi Rodal will lead in Chasidic niggunim and share the story of the Alter Rebbe and his redemption from Czarist prison. Refreshments will be served. Click here to rsvp.
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Ohr Shalom Synagogue invites congregants to sign up for its “Chanukah Shidduchs” Wednesday, Dec. 25 to Wednesday, Jan. 1. Members are invited to host in their own homes or to be hosted at a member’s home. Hosts will receive a gift bag from Ohr Shalom with fun Chanukah goodies to help make the celebration with friends even more special. Click here to fill out the form.
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Chabad Downtown invites the community to its “First Annual Menorah Lighting at Sea World” at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 25 at Sea World San Diego. The event includes menorah lighting, latkes and doughnuts. Click here to register.
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Chabad Jewish Center of Rancho Santa Fe and Chabad of Carmel Valley invite the community to attend Chanukah at One Paseo at 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 26 by the shopping center’s koi pond. The event will include menorah lighting, Chanukah s’mores, donuts, live music, face painting and crafts for kids. Click here to rsvp.
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Congregation Dor Hadash hosts a Hanukkah party at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 27 at a private location. Click here to rsvp, bring a dish to share and your menorah with 4 candles.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
Congregation Dor Hadash reports it is partnering with the Jewish Family Services Safe Parking Program. Click here to donate if you are able to help provide families sleeping in their cars with a warm meal and type in “Safe Parking Program.”
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Chabad of Carmel Valley informs that prices will increase in January for Kosher burial plots in the Garden of Eden Section of El Camino Memorial Park. Click here to contact Rabbi Yisroel Dinerman.
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Chabad at La Costa’s Hebrew School reports pupils learned about Hebrew letters and some words they start with. The students have also begun alef champ which is a self-paced Hebrew reading program.
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Young Israel of San Diego shares the following recipe: “Baba’s Orange Cake”
Ingredients:
2 eggs
7 oz of sugar
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup of water
½ cup of vegetable oil
1 cup dark raisins, finely chopped
1 orange, its juice and rind
1 ¼ cup orange juice
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a bundt pan with oil. In a large mixing bowl, combine the vegetable oil and sugar. Mix until smooth. Add the eggs, baking soda, baking powder, salt and water. Mix well. In a separate bowl, zest one orange and squeeze out its juice. In a food processor, pulse the raisins with the orange juice until finely blended. Add the raisin mixture, orange juice, and orange zest to the batter. Mix until fully incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
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OBITUARY NOTICES
David Jacobs died on Wednesday, Dec. 4. The funeral and internment was scheduled for Friday at El Camino Memorial Park with Rabbi Ralph Dalin, Chaplain for Jewish Federation of San Diego as officiant. Reception will be at Powerhouse Park in Del Mar following services, Am Israel Mortuary reported.
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Susan Isenberg, sister of Paula Mantell, died, Young Israel of San Diego reports.
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Efi Mizrachi’s funeral was held Friday, Dec. 13 at Home of Peace, Chabad of Carmel Valley reported.
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Stanley Rabin died on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The private funeral will take place on Sunday, Dec. 15 at El Camino Memorial Cemetery. Donations in Rabin’s memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Congregation Beth Israel reports.
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Elisa Vinograd’s funeral was held Friday, Dec. 13 at El Camino Memorial Park, Chabad of Carmel Valley reported.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.
In El Cajon, the unwritten rule seems to be that if you’re not wearing a hijab, it’s “Merry Christmas” by default, especially in family-owned businesses, which I prefer to support as opposed to corporate chains.