ISRAELL'CHAIMNovember 2016

Women Make a Difference in Jewish Education at Chabad of Oceanside

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lchaim-chabad-of-oceansideBy Jessica Soria Korsunsky

 A once vibrant home for Jewish life, the Jewish Community in the northernmost part of San Diego has been recently revived. Rabbi Baruch and Nechama Greenberg came to Oceanside 12 years ago when Jewish life was all but extinct. The couple built a community from the ground up, hosting weekly Shabbat services, meals, and family programs out of their home. With the help of generous philanthropists, the couple opened a center on Sunset Drive three years ago and more recently a preschool, now in its second year.

“In the last ten years the community has grown tremendously. With young families flocking to the Oceanside/Vista area, the need for a Jewish preschool was apparent” says Rabbi Greenberg.

Welcoming children from all walks of life, The Garden Preschool fosters children’s intellectual, social, and emotional development as they are encouraged to explore their environment and express themselves through words, movement, drawing, painting, playing and other natural modes of expression. Judaism is seamlessly and naturally woven into the curriculum so that all children and families, regardless of familiarity with Judaism, are comfortable. The founder of The Garden, Nechama Greenberg is herself a mother of six, with over twenty years of early childhood education experience. She started the school with the belief that, “while Jewish children are a minority in the Oceanside/Vista area schools, our program develops Jewish students with a strong pride for being Jewish, love for Israel, and desire to make the world a better place.” (Contact director@thegardenpreschool.org to schedule a visit and see for yourself.)

On December 11, Chabad of Oceanside/Vista is hosting its first annual women’s fundraiser, chaired by Joyce Gerber: Women Make a Difference: Pre-Chanukah Luncheon and Silent Auction. The women of Chabad are honoring Sandra Fichter, a local army veteran and a true woman of valor, for giving endlessly to the community by helping newcomers find jobs and for keeping our local government officials in touch with the Jewish community. Fichter is a human resources consultant and tireless volunteer who founded the Veteran Career Transition Assistance Program (VetCTAP).

The event will feature a fashion show of handmade accessories and a talk and demonstration by a local artist and community member, Tami Zohar. Zohar creates one of a kind shawls handmade out of silk, silk fiber, and merino wool. Her shawls are in galleries and museum gift shops across the country. Shawls will be available for purchase on December 11. Dozens of silent auction prizes will include luxury beauty products and beauty services as well as other great Chanukah gift ideas.

Proceeds from the event will be used to support The Garden Preschool and to purchase additional prayer books for the growing community center. Women of all backgrounds are welcome.

L'Chaim

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