COURTESY PHOTOJay Lucas, former sports information director at UCSB, left Gaucholand to work with Dodgers’ manager Tommy Lasorda during their World Series season of 1988. Tommy Lasorda liked to needle former Los Angeles Dodger scout Bill Geivett about his bias for baseball players from his alma mater of UCSB. Read more » »

Congregation B’nai B’rith celebrates Hanukkah with community service COURTESY PHOTOJen Lewis, director of religious learning at Congregation B’nai B’rith, prepares lunch bags to distribute during the temple’s celebration of Hanukkah. Hanukkah begins at sunset tonight and will continue until sundown Dec. 18. Read more » »

Mrs. Jules Kaufman was one of the most important Los Angeles women in both Jewish and civic life in early 20th century Los Angeles. Erin Graffy’s research found she was Rachel Levy Kauffman, the only daughter of Santa Barbara’s first-known Jewish resident, Cerf Levy, who arrived around 1868. Read more » »

COURTESY PHOTOVolunteers assemble gift bags for High Holy Days, the 10 days between the start of the Jewish New Year and the Day of Atonement. For the first time in Congregation B’nai B’rith’s 92-year history, the holy days will be celebrated virtually. The Jewish New Year begins Friday, also known as Rosh Hashanah. Read more » »

Rav Debi Lewis begins her next chapter as spiritual leader of Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS“I think I came to a point in my life where I felt I wanted to make a bigger contribution to humanity,” said Rav Debi Lewis about changing her career from information technology to spiritual leadership. Read more » »