By Donald H. Harrison
NATIONAL/ INTERNATIONAL – House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff, in a New York Times report, says his committee will be “making sure the policy of the United States is being driven by the national interest, not by any financial entanglement, financial leverage or other form of compromise.” President Trump responded that Schiff is “just a political hack. He’s trying to build a name for himself.” Schiff countered: “I can understand why the idea of meaningful oversight terrifies the president. Look, several associates of his have gone to jail. Others are awaiting trial.” … Newly elected Congressman Mike Levin, a Democrat who represents portions of San Diego and Orange Counties, has been named by Houe Speaker Nancy Pelosi to a new Select Committee on Climate Change, according to the Times of San Diego. … Philanthropist Adam Milstein is backing the newly formed Center for Combatting Hate in America. He wrote in the Jerusalem Post that the group is intended to “diminish the influence of hate groups and bigots by researching their members, networks, and activities, exposing their work to the public, and alerting authorities of imminent threats stemming from radicals and extremists.” …Jill Abramson, former executive editor of The New York Times, has been accused by Vice News national correspondent Michael C. Moynihan of plagiarizing certain passages in her new book Merchants of Truth. In response, according to an Associated Press story she tweeted, “I take seriously the issues raised and will review the passages in question. I endeavored to accurately and properly give attribution to the hundreds of sources that were part of my research.”
E-MAIL FROM I’RAEL – Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is exultant over the U.S. decision to purchase two batteries of Israel’s portable, short-range missile defense system known as Iron Dome. The BBC quoted him as saying, “This is another manifestation of the deepening of our steadfast alliance with the United States, and an expression of Israel’s rising status in the world.” … Shimon Rosinger of Hadera is being credited by United Hatzalah with helping a distraught mother cope with the loss of her child due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Rosinger is a member of the paramedic group’s Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit (PCRU) which tends, on the spot, to the psychological needs of people suffering mental trauma…. Magen David Adom paramedic Tal Morag not only performed resuscitation on Yossi Yehuday of Petach Tikvah following his heart attack, she visited his home after he was released from the hospital to teach him and his family proper resuscitation techniques in case any of them experienced another medical emergency.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY – San Diego City Councilwoman Dr. Jennifer Campbell was on the losing end of a 3-1 committee vote authorizing elimination of parking requirements in neighborhoods near mass transit. Proponents say it will help make housing more affordable. Campbell, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, argues that the measure could cause chaos in neighborhoods that already are parking deficient. Such a measure should be “one of the last steps we should take to get away from car-centric transit, instead of one of the first steps” … San Diego City Councilmember and mayoral candidate Barbara Bry wants to explore low interest housing loans to police officers to encourage living in the communities they serve, the Union-Tribune reported. …. Political consultant Larry Remer’s Primacy Group received a $16,000 fee for coordinating the mailing of holiday cards to the constituents and supporters of Congressman Juan Vargas, in a good will campaign that cost over $100,000, including printing, mailing labels, and postage, the Union-Tribune reported… The U-T’s Karen Pearlman told in a feature story of Dave Eisner who participated in a “These Eyes Have Seen..” panel at the Waterford Retirement Community in La Mesa. Once when his parents were trying to rent a house for the summer, they crossed out “church” on the application form and substituted “synagogue.” Suddenly, the rental agent told him that the house was no longer available … Philanthropists Lee & Frank Goldberg are on the cover of this month’s issue of L’Chaim San Diego Magazine. The story by Eva Trieger describes how their love of opera helped the San Diego Opera bring such luminaries to Sn Diego as Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and Beverly Sills. Trieger quoted Lee Goldberg as saying, “Everyone can enjoy opera, no matter what language it is performed in, thanks to the projected lyrics overhead.” …Norman & Roberta Greene are deriving lots of nachas from another L’Chaim feature: an interview of pianist/ storyteller Hershey Felder by their grandson Spencer Matorin, a fourth grader. He is the son of Dana Greene and Dr. Robert Matorin.
SAN DIEGO ARTS AND CULTURE — Jacqueline A. Silverman, executive director of the San Diego Art Institute, is readying two simultaneous exhibitions for Feb. 16 opening in its Balboa Park space. One is called “Deviate/ Landscape” and the other “That We Should Be Heirs.” Additionally, Feb. 16 will be opening night for the art institute’s new fundraising campaign, “Roots to Rise.” …… Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes by Tony Kushner will be performed March 6 through April 20 at the Cygnet Theatre in San Diego. The two parts, “Millenium Approaches,” and “Perestroika” will be performed in rotation. … Violinist Joshua Bell will perform a concerto by Max Bruch in San Diego Symphony appearance April 14. Although not Jewish, Bruch is well-known as the composer of a traditional Kol Nidre melody.
ELSEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA — Ami Magazine writer Shraga Simmons describes the Pico-Robertson corridor in Los Angeles as a Torah Boomtown. In a 20 minute walk, she encountered “30 shuls, kollelim and outreach programs — Persian, Modern Orthodox, kiruv, yeshivish, Chabad, Carlebach, Yemenite, Chasidic, Israeli. There are boutique shuls for musicians and artists, one for Moroccans, another for French-Moroccans. And there are more than 30 kosher restaurants.”
MAZAL TOV — To Benett Hurtado who had her bat mitzvah January 26 at Temple Beth Shalom. She is the granddaughter of the congregation’s president Arlene LaGary … To Nosson Andrusier, 3-year-old son of Chabad Rabbi Rafi & Chaya Andrusier, who will have his first hair cut at a traditional upshernish on March 10. The ceremony will mark the time the boy starts to wear a kippah and tsitzis.
MEMORIALS/ TRIBUTES – StandWithUs CEO Roz Rothstein paid this tribute to the late Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founding president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. “Before most considered the alliance, Rabbi Eckstein envisioned the potential power of connecting Jewish and Christian Zionists. He awoke thousands of Christians to their love for Israel and improved countless lives in Israel and in the diaspora with his good deeds. His leadership is treasured by anyone who cares about Israel, and he will be sorely missed. May his memory always serve as a source of blessing to his family, the Jewish people, and their Christian allies.” … Ellen Hershkin, national president of Hadassah, said: “Rabbi Eckstein’s strong connection to HMO’s [Hadassah Medical Organization’s} treatment philosophy of ‘bridges to peace,’ offering equality of medical service to all who walk through its doors, resonated deeply with him. Since his founding of the IFCJ in 1983 to build bridges of goodwill between Christians and Jews, Rabbi Eckstein raised over $1.4 billion in donations for Israel. He exemplified selfless, compassionate humanitarian service to G-d, Israel and the Jewish people. We will remember him as a man of great warmth, with a spirit of generosity and passion for service to Israel.”
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Harrison is the editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com