S. Diego Shluchim Join Forces

The United Jewish Federation hosted this year’s annual “San Diego Celebrates Israel Festival.” The event was Sunday, May 3rd, from 11am-3pm. Nine Chabad centers from across greater San Diego County banded together as they demonstrated universal Jewish unity on behalf of their respective communities.

Shluchim encouraged everyone to stop by their booth and do a mitzvah (good deed) for the welfare of the Holy Land and Jewish people worldwide.

Chabad’s booth featured a ventriloquist show, face painting, prizes for children, Jewish Birthday balloons, and much more. Visitors had their pictures taken with a backdrop of the Western Wall, the “Kotel HaMa’arvi,” and looked up their Jewish birthday.

Participating Chabad communities included: Chabad of Scripps Ranch, University City, Del Mar/Carmel Valley, Pacific Beach, Coronado, Downtown San Diego, La Costa (Carlsbad), Oceanside, and Beth Eliyahu of Bonita.

“In previous years, individual Chabad centers set up booths at the fair to provide religious resources to the public,” says Rabbi Michoel Shapiro, assistant Rabbi of Chabad at La Costa. “However, this approach divided our efforts and limited our reach. This time around Chabad centers all across the county have joined under one roof to magnify our contributions to the Jewish community.”

“We promote daily Jewish observance and spiritual growth,” continues Rabbi Shapiro.

Chabad is the world’s largest Jewish outreach organization, with over 4000 centers worldwide. Its purpose is to inspire every Jewish man, woman, and child to live proudly and faithfully by their Jewish heritage. San Diego has been home to Chabad for over 30 years and currently boasts more than 15 centers.