A Message from JFGSB President Adam Weiss

Adam S. Weiss President, Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara

RANDOM ACTS OF CHALLAH Would you like to receive, prepare, sponsor, or deliver Shabbat challot? challah@jewishsantabarbara.org

MITZVAH MAKER For information and to sign up, visit jewishsantabarbara.org/ volunteer/mitzvah-makers

A Message from Our President, ADAM S. WEISS

What a pleasure it is to share Shalom Santa Barbara with you! Now in its second year, Shalom Santa Barbara is a signature project of the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara, whose mission includes “building a vibrant and inclusive local Jewish community.” There is no better way to demonstrate the vibrancy and diversity of Jewish life in our region than to feature all of our community’s organizations and programs in one enlightening and practical publication.

PEOPLE OFTEN ASK: HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED IN THE FEDERATION? There are so many ways! Here are a few examples of what we do, who our beneficiaries are, and how you can participate actively as a volunteer.

Many Federation activities are designed specifically to unite our diverse community. Perhaps the most significant of these are the shared resources we create for all Jews in our area: the website: jewishsantabarbara.org, and Shalom Santa Barbara magazine. Together, these resources offer a treasury of information about local Jewish life and furnish useful guides for both current and prospective residents. Likewise, our annual, all-community Tashlich and other holidayrelated programs bring people together in celebration. The popular Shabbat delivery program, Random Acts of Challah, unites us. By distributing communitywide thousands of challot baked in our Federation kitchen, we metaphorically break bread together. These are just highlights of some of the many programs found on the pages of Shalom Santa Barbara and the Federation website.

WHO ARE FEDERATION’S BENEFICIARIES? In short, we all are. From the nutritionally-insecure person who receives a meal through Schmooze in a Box, to the elderly or homebound resident who enjoys a friendly “drop-in” from a Caring Visitors program volunteer, to the adolescent receiving Jewish Family Service counseling — our entire community benefits from Federation’s varied roles. With gratitude, we all benefit from the foresight and dedication of the generations that came before us. Our Jewish Community Center at 524 Chapala houses Jewish Family Service, the Portraits of Survival and Upstanders exhibits, Art at the JCC exhibitions, Matinee at the J film screenings, mahjong games, and so much more. The JCC was built on the contributions of many doers and donors, each of whom also asked at some point, “How can I get involved?” HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE AS A FEDERATION VOLUNTEER?

• Become a Mitzvah Maker to participate in meaningful activities through

Shalom Corps, a collaboration between the Federation and the Government of Israel, the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, and the Jewish Agency for Israel. • Spread the love by preparing and delivering challah and other items throughout the community • Join a committee to participate in the planning and implementing of activities

Whatever your background, knowledge, or level of observance, there is a place for you in our Jewish community. May this guide help you learn more about it!

L’hitraot,