Other items in today’s column include:
* Doing Mitzvot
* Political bytes
* Mazel tov! Mazel tov!
SAN DIEGO – U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) was part of a delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) on a previously unannounced weekend trip to Jordan, where they met with King Abdullah II to discuss Turkey’s invasion of Syria. The group also went to Afghanistan where they met with President Ashraf Ghani.
The Jordanian king expressed hope that refugees that fled the northeastern portions of Syria will be permitted to return to their homes and that Syria’s territory will remain intact.
Pelosi said the congressional delegation discussed the impact of increased numbers of refugees in the Middle East, whether the situation will give new life to ISIS, and how Turkey’s actions impact the plans of Iran and Russia in the Middle East.
Said Davis: “I was pleased to be a part of this delegation trip designed to strengthen relationships with our allies and discuss national security issues, especially in light of the deepening crisis in Syria after Turkey’s military incursion, and increased violence by the Taliban [in Afghanistan]. “This delegation trip provided members with the latest information on the ground and will inform us as we continue to create U.S. policy toward the region.”
In Afghanistan, she said, the discussion also focused on addressing corruption, which undermines economic stability for the Afghan people. Additionally “ensuring women have a seat at the table on all aspects of Afghanistan’s future was also heavily emphasized,” according to a spokesman for Davis.
Davis and Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, who both will retire at the end of their current terms, are members of the House Armed Services Committee. Other members of the delegation included Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Bennie Thomposon, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Democratic Reps. Ron Kind, Stephen Lynch, and Elaine Luria.
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Doing mitzvot
* Rabbi Laurie Coskey is a member of the San Diego Union-Tribune’s community advisory board. In today’s edition, she contributes a “People You Should Know” column about Luisa McCarthy, co-owner of La Vista Memorial Park in National City, which is a gathering place for Dia de los Muertos celebrations. In a demonstration of inter-religious understanding, the rabbi explains the Mexican tradition of a special day in which families believe they are reunited with the spirits of their loved ones.
Political bytes
San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez has been endorsed by the California Young Democrats in her quest to succeed retiring Congresswoman Susan Davis in the 53rd C.D. Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, who is president of the organization, said “Georgette Gomez is a queer, Progressive Latina who spent a decade as a community organizer taking on corporate polluters for environmental justice.”
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Mazel tov! Mazel tov!
A Girl’s Guide to Poker by Amanda Botfeld already is being offered for sale on Amazon, but the book won’t become available until January 2020. Botfeld is the granddaughter of San Diego’s Bob Berton, a semi-retired attorney who has served at various times as president of Jewish Family Service, the Jewish Community Center, and Congregation Beth Israel.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com