Santa Barbara Annual Jewish Festival Will Be on May 15

11Apr11

“It will be a wonderful day for Southern Hadassah Californians to travel up–or down–to beautiful Santa Barbara for a joyous Jewish experience,”says Dorie Kirtman, Santa Barbara Hadassah Group and member of the Jewish Festival Planning Committee.

The Santa Barbara Annual Jewish Festival will be on Sunday May 15th, 10AM-4PM at Oak Park. The Santa Barbara Hadassah Group will be participating and holding a Children’s Rummage Sale.

The Festival will have musical entertainment with Congregation B’nai B’rith’s band and Adult and Youth Choirs–including a Debbie Friedman musical tribute–the Ventura Klezmer Band’s European Klezmer music and Sephardic music by the Kol Sephardic Choir. There will also be a “Mishpohcha” Stage with wonderful comedy acts. The Festival will also feature a Bubbie & Zadie Talent Show, Birthright Expo through UCSB’s Hillel, an art, essay and poetry contest on “What’s Jewcy about being Jewish”, a community blessing of our children’s ceremony with Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaefer and a pre-school costume parade. Included, as well, will be a meditation and movement to “Embody the Devine” guided by Rabbi Alyson Solomon—Santa Barbara’s only female Rabbi.

There will be great Jewish foods, arts & crafts vendors, Israeli dancing and kids’ activities. A silent auction will round out the festivities. An Official 63rd Israel Independence Day Ceremony and Dedication with elected Officials will be featured. The event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara.

Hadassah Southern California will have booths at Israel Festivals throughout Southern California:

Desert/East Area – HSC Booth at Israel Festival will be on SundayMay 15th, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at Temple Sinai, Palm Desert.

Orange County – HSC will be sharing a booth with Young Judaea at the OC Israel Expo on Sunday, May 22, 1:00-6:00 pm (see: http://www.jewishorangecounty.org/israelexpo2011.aspx )

Los Angeles County – HSC will share a booth with Young Judaea on Sun., May 15, 2011, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm in Woodley Park, Van Nuys, CA (http://www.israelfestival.com/ )

San Diego – San Diego’s Israel Festival will be at a new location yet to be announced. Check ‘Areas and Groups’, ‘San Diego’ at http://www.hadassah.org/southerncalifornia for more information.