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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 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

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 …

Apr 18, 2020

A Sabbath Message: Staying the Course

“Community is society with a human face—the place where we know we’re not alone.”
                                            
— Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Former Chief Rabbi of the UK and current Member of Parliament

For this first Sabbath following Passover, I …

Apr 8, 2020

A Passover Prayer For 2020-5780: A Most Unusual Year

Tonight as the sun sets…we continue the unbroken chain of the generations of our people and observe one of our most sacred traditions: the Passover Seder. But this year, we ask with renewed interest: 

Why is this night truly different from all other nights? Why is this Passover different…