JFGSB Blog

Explore news and featured stories about Jewish Federation programs, volunteers, donors, special events and updates from our partners in Israel. Learn how you can become more in engaged with the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara.

May 25, 2020

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A Sabbath Message: Celebrating Jerusalem – City of Our Hearts

As Sabbath approaches, this week our thoughts and hearts turn eastward, toward Jerusalem... As a people, she inhabits our prayers, our poems, our songs, our souls – and today, on Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), we celebrate her. The newest holiday on the Jewish calendar, Yom Yerushal…

May 15, 2020

A Sabbath Message: Counting the Days…With Hope

"A storm came, behold it passed and the voice of the dove sings…The main thing is not to fear at all, for You are with me."– From Psalm 23

The natural rhythm of our week has once again brought us the gift of Shabbat…and with it, my thoughts turn this week to our Jewish calendar. I …

May 8, 2020

A Sabbath Message: Taking Care of Ourselves and Each Other

“Whoever saves a single life, saves the entire world.” – The Talmud

Sabbath arrives again…our weekly opportunity provided by our tradition to take a break and a breath…strange perhaps, especially when our days seem to run together and feel so similar. As this pandemic continues…

May 6, 2020

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A Sabbath Message: Choosing Gratitude

"If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude – a feeling that nurtures the soul." — Rabbi Harold Kushner

As Sabbath arrives again, I remember a quote from Albert Einstein: “In the middle o…

Apr 24, 2020

A Sabbath Message: Hashiveinu & Finding Personal Peace

“Spread over us the shelter of your peace…
Shield us and remove from us every enemy, plague, sword, famine and sorrow…”

– Hashiveinu Prayer, from Sabbath Liturgy

As Shabbat approaches, we acknowledge that the continued days and weeks at home remain a challenge. And yet we know …