The 2010 Santa Barbara Jewish Festival celebrating the
Santa Barbara Jewish Community
and Israel's 62nd Independence Day
Sunday, April 25, 2010, at Oak Park 

The 2010 Santa Barbara Jewish Festival was held at Oak Park on Sunday, April 25. The large crowd of 3-5,000 came from miles around, and enjoyed the array of falafels, kosher hot dogs and kugel. There was a variety vendor, artisan, and information booths, kid's activities and Israeli dancing. Music included the Ventura Klezmer Band, The Temple Band of Congregation B'nai B'rith and the adult and children's choirs, SoulAviv and Kalinka Klezmer.

The Jewish Festival is a vibrant part of Santa Barbara's rich history of ethnic celebrations, and of the Santa Barbara Jewish community itself. The Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara was proud to once again sponsor the community-wide event. The festival was very well attended, with an estimated crowd of 3-5,000 over the course of the day.

The ceremony celebrating Israel's 62nd year of independence was led by the Federation's Executive Director, Michael S. Rassler, and included the presentations of several Certificates of Recognition and a City Council Resolution acknowledging the special occasion by Congresswoman Lois Capps, Mayor Helene Schneider and Supervisor Janet Wolfe. Mr. Rassler read a formal statement from President Barack Obama commemorating Israel's independence and reaffirming the strong bond between the US and Israel. Cantor Mark Childs and choir led the crowd in the singing the American and Israeli national anthems. A special certificate of recognition was presented to Phyllis Keimach in honor of her late husband, Mel, whose vision and leadership helped establish the Jewish Festival many years ago. The ceremony concluded with a moving speech by Sigal Yavets, the Israeli Consul for Administrative Affairs in LA.

The Festival would not have been possible without the many outstanding volunteers from our community, and from each of the agencies and synagogues that helped coordinate the Festival under the leadership of Itzik Ben-Sasson.

Finally, the event would have been impossible without our corporate sponsors and underwriters. They included our Zahav (Gold) Sponsors of $2,500 or more: Montecito Bank & Trust, Wilson Printing, Pamela Taylor @ Sotheby's International Realty, and Jody Belsher - Graphic Design. Our Kesef (Silver) Sponsors of $1,000 or more included: Gelson's Markets, Congregation B'nai B'rith, and the Community Shul of Montecito and Santa Barbara. Our Bronza (Bronze) Sponsors of $500 or more included: Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Jack and Sylvia Camiel, Gina M. Meyers @ CB Commercial, SoulAviv, and Brown and Brown Insurance.

For more information please contact Itzik Ben-Sasson
at the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
805-957-1115 x122 or email: Jewishfestival@sbjf.org