As I watched the wind swirl around and through Dodgers’ Stadium last night as my SF Giants were winning last night’s playoff game, I was reminded that fall, in fact, is here. Although there was a nip in the air yesterday and this morning, it appears the temperature will pick back up again later this week. Looks like we are in for a “typical” fall here in Southern California.

 

This is always an interesting time in the Jewish world. We are now a couple of weeks post-holidays. Around this time each year, Jews tend to be a bit more engaged… recommitted to Judaism. Maybe it is the power of the shofar or the fact that people feel a deeper connection Jewishly at this time following the holidays. Whatever the case, it is an exciting time as our local Jewish organizations are busy preparing lots of different programs and activities for people to experience and participate in.  

 

The Jewish Federation is no exception.

 

Our Cultural Arts’ JFed Players just completed a highly successful run of Scapino! this past weekend. Close to 250 people attended the outdoor performances, put on by the 20+ cast and crew members.

 

Tomorrow (October 13), I will be hosting a Virtual Town Hall presenting the results of our 2021 Community Survey and discussing the survey’s findings and how they will impact our community moving forward.

 

In exactly two weeks on Tuesday, October 26, the 23rd Annual Jewish Book Festival kicks off with an incredible lineup of authors offering a little something for everyone – from Food America that focuses on the people and stories behind America’s favorite dishes and to two highly sought after authors exploring the current state of Israel, to a children’s event about a very vocal and precocious stuffed bear and our annual Kristallnacht memorial event with the University of La Verne that looks at the secret Jewish commandos of WWII. Plus, a collection of authors who wrote wonderful novels, including The Last Mona Lisa (one of People magazine’s best summer books of 2021).

 

And as if we were not busy enough with all of this, we are also actively planning our annual Festival of Jewish Music (Sunday, December 12), Every Person Has a Name (January 22 – 23, 2022) our community’s 25-hour commemoration and vigil in honor of UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day which will once again return to Pasadena City Hall, our annual Shabbaton, a weekend retreat for our community’s 3rd – 9th graders (February 4-6), and the return of the Jewish Food Festival to Monrovia's Library Park on Sunday, April 10.

 

To learn more or to register to attend any of the above events, visit www.jewishsgpv.org. And check out what programs and activities our local synagogues are offering.

 

I would encourage all of us to take this opportunity to find a way to not only re-commit but also re-engage with the community – whether it is for a single event or multiple events. And remember… that show you want to watch on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Disney+, or any other streaming channel will be waiting for you.