LA MESA, California – “It’s the Final Countdown!” All those who celebrate Chanukah and/ or Christmas, we are all in high stress mode! Five days until it all comes down.
I was at Target the other day and people were loading up their carts with gifts. I looked in the Chanukah section, and I had to make a call to the “Chanukah fairies” to urge them to send them as gifts to my twins.
According to Google search, the first night of Chanukah coinciding with Christmas has only occurred four times since 1900. The last time Christmas Day and Chanukah were on the same day was in 2005. In 2016, Chanukah fell on Christmas Eve. This will happen again in 2027. But the first night of Chanukah won’t coincide with Christmas Day again until 2035.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Young Israel of San Diego invites the community to attend its “Hannukah Fun” at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 28 at San Diego Community Kollel. The event will include a children’s program, games, and a dairy and pareve options dinner. Click here to rsvp.
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Congregation Beth El announces its “Chai Shabbat” at 6:15 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10. The event includes Kabbalat Shabbat Service followed by a Shabbat Dinner. Click here to register.
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CHABAD HAPPENINGS
Chabad Encinitas, Chabad at La Costa and Chabad Carlsbad North invite the community to attend their “Chanukah Block Party” at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 25. The event will include latkes, donuts, crafts and more. Click here for the location.
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Chabad Downtown and Chabad Pacific Beach invite the community to attend their “Chanukah Concert” at 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 26 at Liberty Station. The event will include menorah lighting, live music by DJ Ezzi, crafts for children and ice skating.
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Chabad Downtown invites the community to attend its “Seaport Village Public Menorah Lighting” at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 28. The event will include Dancing with Fire entertainment, live DJ, kosher food, crafts, and donuts. Click here to rsvp.
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Chabad of East County invites the community to attend its “Grand Lego Menorah Lighting” at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 29. The event includes an LED robot show, latkes, donuts and more. Click here to rsvp.
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Chabad of Chula Vista invites the community to attend its Chanukah celebration at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 29 at the Otay Ranch Town Center (in front of Macy’s). The event will include latkes, donuts, gelt, free menorahs, children’s crafts, LED light show and Chanukah music. Click here to rsvp.
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Chabad of North County Inland invites the community to attend its public menorah lighting on at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 29 at Rancho Bernardo Town Center (to the right of the Vons). The event will include a 9-foot menorah lighting, latkes and donuts, crafts for children and musical entertainment.
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Chabad at University City invites the community to attend its “Grand Menorah Lighting” at 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 29 at UTC Mall (Macy’s Courtyard). The event will include music, donuts, dreidels, crafts and an LED show.
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Chabad at La Costa invites the community to attend a live Chanukah concert with singer, Yossi Rodal and ventriloquist, Joe Gandelman at 4:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 30 at the Carlsbad Premium Outlet Mall. The event will also include menorah lighting.
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AROUND THE COUNTY
House of Israel reports its “Festival of Lights Silent Auction” link will run from Wednesday, Dec. 18 until Wednesday, Dec. 25. Click here to view auction items.
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San Diego Community Kollel is partnering with the Middos Challenges starting Sunday, Dec. 22. The initiative is a 1-minute chessed (kindness) challenge and short daily inspiration. Reply anonymously to the WhatsApp group when a challenge is completed to be entered into a raffle to win a $100 Amazon gift card. Click here to join the WhatsApp group.
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Congregation Beth El is encouraging its congregation to help deliver Hanukkah packages to its senior congregants and to visit with them Friday, Dec. 20 through Monday, Dec. 23. If able to volunteer, click here to be contacted.
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JEWISH HUMOR
Chabad of East County shares the following joke: “Gourmet food” Harry was walking down Regent Street and stepped into a posh gourmet food shop. An impressive salesperson in a smart morning coat with tails approached him and politely asked, “Can I help you, Sir?” “Yes,” replied Harry, “I would like to buy a pound of lox.” “No. No,” responded the dignified salesperson, “You mean smoked salmon.” “OK, a pound of smoked salmon, then.” “Anything else?” “Yes, a dozen blintzes.” “No. No. You mean crepes.” “Okay, a dozen crepes.” “Anything else?” “Yes. A pound of chopped liver.” “No. No. You mean pate.” “Okay,” said Harry, “A pound of pate then and I’d like you to deliver all of this to my house on Saturday.” “Look,” retorted the indignant salesperson, “we don’t schlep on Shabbos!”
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OBITUARY NOTICES
Celia Gomez Guellar, mother to Maria (Dean) Gomez Laurens died. Shiva will take place with the Ohr Shalom Synagogue’s Minyan at 6:15 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 22 until Thursday, Dec. 26 on Zoom, Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports.
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Liza Nelson died Tuesday, Dec. 17. The funeral was held Friday, Dec. 20 at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park. Donations in Nelson’s honor may be made to Jewish Family Services of the Desert, Attn: Cheryl Scarlett, “Let’s Do Lunch Program by Julie Hirsh,” Congregation Beth Israel reports.
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Ilene Stone died and the funeral took place Friday, Dec. 20 at Greenwood Memorial Park, Tifereth Israel Synagogue reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.