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Both Lunch & Learn sessions will be held in person at Congregation Beth Israel, 9001 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, CA 92122, or you may participate via Zoom. Hosted by Congregation Beth Israel and First United Methodist Church featuring Rev. Trudy Robinson and Rabbi Jason Nevarez.
The Unexpected Divine is a two-part interfaith lunch-and-learn exploring mystery, Sabbath, and sacred time through Jewish and Christian texts – curious, conversational, and deeply human.
Together, Rev. Trudy and Rabbi Jason will guide participants through conversation, teaching, and shared reflection, creating space for curiosity, learning, and connection across faith lines. No prior knowledge is needed –
just an open heart and a willingness to learn.
Whether you come seeking spiritual depth, interfaith understanding, or simply a meaningful pause in the middle of your day, this series offers nourishment for mind, soul, and community.
Session 1: The Mystery of God
Wednesday, January 28 | 12:00–1:30 PM
What do our traditions say about the unknowable nature of God?
How do we live faithfully with questions, uncertainty, and awe?
Drawing from Hebrew Bible and Christian scripture, this session explores how mystery is not something to solve – but something
sacred to encounter.
Session 2 – The Power of the Sabbath
Wednesday, February 4 | 12:00–1:30 PM
What happens when we stop?
How does sacred rest transform individuals and communities?
This session examines Shabbat and Sabbath through Jewish and Christian lenses, offering ancient wisdom for modern lives shaped by urgency, burnout, and constant motion.
Cost: $10 per Lunch & Learn session.
Rev. Trudy Robinson has been in the ministry for over 25 years, serving in congregations in Westminster, Loveland, and Littleton, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming prior to coming to San Diego, California. As an ordained United Methodist elder, she brings a message of grace, hope, and love, an orientation of openness toward all kinds of diversity, and an invitation to John Wesley’s faith that believed, “There is no holiness apart from social holiness.
Rev. Trudy has been the Lead Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of San Diego since January 2020. Yep, she arrived just a few weeks prior to the pandemic shutting everything down. Yet, neither she, nor the church leadership, waited for things to get back to normal. Rather, we took our cues from what was happening around us and envisioned a new kind of church for a new era in the 21st century: a church that provides options for inspiration, flexibility for busy schedules, and opportunities for you to be involved in making the world a better place, no matter where you live. Learn more.
Rabbi Jason Nevarez is proud to serve as the Senior Rabbi of Beth Israel, where he brings a passion for rehumanizing community, immersive learning, and strengthening Jewish life across generations. Deeply committed to building bridges throughout the region, he currently serves as President of the San Diego Board of Rabbis and Cantors, on the board of Jewish Family Service of San Diego and the Steering Committee of Faith Leaders of San Diego, a member of the President’s Council of Hebrew Union College, and an inaugural advisory board member to both the LGBTQA+ Jewish Coalition Of San Diego County and The Finest Community Coalition. His leadership reflects his belief that the synagogue’s sacred work must extend far beyond its walls – into the broader civic, multifaith, and justice-minded fabric of the city.
Rabbi Nevarez’s rabbinate is rooted in connection, innovation, and global engagement. His efforts have taken him across Israel and Latin America for outreach, educational initiatives, and social-impact work. He is committed to creating learning environments where people of all ages can deepen their Jewish identity, engage in courageous conversations, and experience spiritual growth. He works closely with individuals and families through pastoral counseling, life-cycle moments, and spiritual guidance, helping them navigate life’s complexity with authenticity and compassion.Learn more.