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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.

Dec 21, 2020

A Sabbath Message: A Final Hanukkah Tribute in Praise of Women

“A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is, until you put her in hot water.” – Eleanor Roosevelt, (1884-1962)

When Sabbath arrives this evening, Hanukkah will depart – but before it does, there is more to say about the history, or I should say the “her-stor…

Dec 11, 2020

A Sabbath Message: Shining a Light in the Darkness – Hanukkah Edition

“A candle is a small thing. But one candle can light another. And see how its own light increases as a candle gives its flame to the other. You are such a light.” – Rabbi Moshe Davis, (1916–1996)

On this first day of Hanukkah, as Sabbath arrives, we light a second candle on a holid…

Dec 4, 2020

A Sabbath Message: Finding Light in Darkness – Preparing for Holiday Season

“The proper response, as Hanukkah teaches, is not to curse the darkness, but to light a candle.” – Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg

Sabbath this week brings the start of the month of December, a month usually filled with joyous holiday celebrations and gatherings, as we are again re…

Nov 27, 2020

A Sabbath Message: Gratitude Challenge Check-In

“When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude.” – Elie Wiesel, z”l (1928–2016)

On this day after Thanksgiving, Sabbath approaches once again – and perhaps as we conti…

Nov 20, 2020

A Sabbath Message: The Faith of Persistence

“’Those who sow in tears will reap with joy.’ (Psalms, 126:5). Faith means the courage to persist through all the setbacks, all the grief, never giving up, never accepting defeat…For at the end (there is) the serenity of the destination after the storms along the way.”

– Rabbi …