Upcoming Events
Welcome Shabbat on Friday, September 27, 2024
Time: 7PM
Where: Chabad Student Center at 430 S. Hill Avenue, Pasadena
RSVP: Please text Sheva at 347-225-4048 to RSVP by Thursday 9/26/24.
Join the Chabad at Caltech and Caltech Hillel student clubs for a community Shabbat dinner and meet the Caltech Jewish community before the school year starts. Enjoy a delicious 4 course meal while making new friends. Feel free to come late or leave early.
High Holidays 2024
Here's a list of some local synagogues that will have High Holiday services.
Orthodox: Chabad Student Center in Pasadena
For more details and to RSVP view their website or the Chabad at Caltech club website.
Rosh Hashanah Schedule:
Rosh Hashanah Eve on Wednesday, October 2
6:55 pm Evening Service
7:15 pm traditional Rosh Hashanah Dinner
1st day of Rosh Hashanah on Thursday, Oct. 3
4:30 pm Shofar, Short service and holiday snacks
7:30 pm traditional Rosh Hashanah dinner
Friday, Oct. 4
7:00 pm Shabbat Dinner
Yom Kippur Schedule:
Yom Kippur Eve on Friday, October 11
4:45 Pre fast feast
6:15 Kol Nidrei service
Yom Kippur Day on Saturday, October 12
6:00 Neilah closing service
7:00 Deluxe break-fast
Conservative: Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center
PJTC, a local Conservative synagogue, are generously extending their hospitality to any Jewish students at Caltech seeking a synagogue to attend for services. Students wishing to obtain free tickets should make a reservation at pjtc.net/form/hhd-5785 and select the "college student" ticket option.
Rosh Hashanah services begin on Wednesday evening, October 2, at 7:30 pm at 1434 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena, CA, 9007. Services on October 3 and 4 start at 9:00 am.
For Yom Kippur, Kol Nidre services begin on Friday, October 11, at 7:30 pm, and Yom Kippur Day services start on Saturday at 9:00 am.
Conservative/Egalitarian: Temple Beth Israel of Highland Park and Eagle Rock
Formerly a Conservative synagogue but technically unaffiliated and egalitarian, TBI has been very welcoming of Caltech students, and they will be hosting services for the High Holidays. The synagogue is right off the gold line - those interested in attending can probably arrange to carpool or take public transit together. Find more information about their events/services and tickets here: https://www.tbila.org/form/2024-hh-tickets-non-member-form.html
Depending on the level of interest, we can look into getting tickets fully or partially refunded through club funds or can reach out to TBI about whether there are discounts possible for group student tickets. Their undergraduate student rate is very reasonable, but they do not want to turn people away because of finances. I know the Rabbi there, so we can definitely work out an agreement if needed. If this is of interest to you, please let us know ASAP by emailing hillel@caltech.edu.
Reform: Temple Beth David in San Gabriel Valley
Temple Beth David is (apparently) the only Reform Temple in the San Gabriel Valley. Last year, Rabbi Ira Rosenfeld said the synagogue would be delighted to have students join them for services, and I'm sure they'd be equally welcoming this year. He said that anyone who is interested in or has any questions about anything Jewish can feel free to email him at rabbi@templebd.com or call/text him directly on his mobile phone, 818-486-9685.
Nova Exhibition & Dinner
When: Afternoon of Sunday, October 6, 2024
This is an extremely moving, powerful experience. Not an easy visit, but as the 1-year anniversary of October 7th approaches, it will be on our minds, and it will be a meaningful way to pay tribute to the lives taken on that day. For more information, please visit https://www.novaexhibition.com
The plan is to go the afternoon of Sunday, October 6, and we can go grab dinner somewhere together afterwards before heading back to Pasadena. All expenses will be covered by the club. If you are interested, PLEASE RSVP BY SUNDAY EVENING 9/29.
Sukkah Exhibit at the Skirball Museum
When: Sunday, October 20, 2024, time TBD
The Skirball Cultural Center, a local Jewish museum in LA, is building an amazing Sukkah installation. For more info please visit https://www.skirball.org/museum/sukkah-project-force-majeure. Here are couple snippets from the description:
"This year's sukkah, by multidisciplinary artist Jonathan York, combines a monumental burnt wood sculpture with a living garden of more than 200 plants, symbolizing renewal and rebirth after a tumultuous year of conflict. Enhancing the visual experience of moving through the sukkah is a multi-channel soundscape recorded by York in Israel during the Israel-Hamas War, designed to transport visitors to Israel's forests, streams, deserts, and beaches.
"The sukkah will activate all of the senses—beginning with the sight of 6,000 pounds of wood, hand burned by the artist. The sukkah also incudes wood recovered by York from destroyed homes in Kibbutz Beeri. From various corners of the exhibition space, visitors will be enveloped by the sounds of nature—the waters of the Jordan River, honeybees of Galilee, and the wind of Negev."
Plan is to go on Sunday, October 20. All those interested will carpool together! RSVP ASAP!