"So the Stars Can Be Seen"
Shabbat in the Sukkah with Kumeyaay Wisdom
Friday, September 25, 6:30 p.m.
Shabbat in the Sukkah with Kumeyaay Wisdom
Friday, September 25, 6:30 p.m.
Sukkot invites us into a week of embodied Jewish practice, joyful community gathering, and reflection on the fragile beauty of life. The festival is understood not only as an ancient agricultural celebration but as a living, evolving ritual that helps us connect with nature, one another, and our ethical responsibilities in the world. Come join us for Erev Shabbat service in the Sukkah and a chance to shake the lulav, one of the mitzvot of Sukkot.
The Sukkot holiday includes a number of elements that celebrate the land and the fall harvest. These values overlap considerably with the wisdom teachings of our Kumeyaay neighbors. Join us in the JCC sukkah for a Shabbat service and special guest teacher, Professor Chris Alvarado Waipuk. Chris will talk about the values common to both of our traditions, and ways in which he and his colleagues are reinvigorating the Kumeyaay way of life.
The Sukkot holiday includes a number of elements that celebrate the land and the fall harvest. These values overlap considerably with the wisdom teachings of our Kumeyaay neighbors. Join us in the JCC sukkah for a Shabbat service and special guest teacher, Professor Chris Alvarado Waipuk. Chris will talk about the values common to both of our traditions, and ways in which he and his colleagues are reinvigorating the Kumeyaay way of life.
Chris Alvarado Waipuk is a tribal member of the San Pasqual Reservation, Ahmukatlatl. His clan is Waipuk, which means "King Snake." Chris carries a deep passion for serving his community. He is a bird singer who knows the entire song cycle, a storyteller of oral traditions, and a teacher of the Kumeyaay way of life to the next generation. Raised on the San Pasqual Reservation, he had the honor of learning from elders across the Yuman family — from San Diego, Baja California, and Arizona. He earned his Master of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences from San Diego State University. He is also a Professor at San Diego State University where he teaches American Indian Studies and Marketing.
Chris is the Founder and CEO of Waipuk Agency, named in honor of his clan, where he leads marketing and digital strategy for major global brands across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Through the agency's portfolio, he founded The Yumans (theyumans.com), an online cultural learning platform where community members can reconnect with bird songs, the Ipai AA language, and oral traditions — taught by culture keepers, at each learner's own pace. Everything Chris does is for his people, and he is dedicated to making the pathways easier for future generations.
Chris is the Founder and CEO of Waipuk Agency, named in honor of his clan, where he leads marketing and digital strategy for major global brands across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Through the agency's portfolio, he founded The Yumans (theyumans.com), an online cultural learning platform where community members can reconnect with bird songs, the Ipai AA language, and oral traditions — taught by culture keepers, at each learner's own pace. Everything Chris does is for his people, and he is dedicated to making the pathways easier for future generations.