Items in today’s column include
* Jewish professionals
* ‘Einstein’ welcome to live in Escondido
* StandWithUs sponsors California Legal Education courses
* Political bytes
* Coming our way
Jewish professionals
* Rabbi Zev Pam, who was graduated from San Diego Hebrew Day School 29 years ago, will return to the school on Monday afternoon, Nov. 11, to lead the faculty in a teacher development program. Rabbi Pam currently is principal for general studies of the Boys Division of Yeshiva Beth Yehuda in Detroit, Michigan. Before that he served as a curriculum coordinator at Rohr Middle School in Miami, Florida.
* Rabbi Simcha Weiser, headmaster of the Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School, recently had a column published in Times of Israel in which he suggested that while Abraham and Sara set upon the course that God showed them, his nephew Lot was a complainer from whom they had to separate. He said the Torah warns that people can live inspired lives, building their families and future, or can become hecklers, always finding fault with other people.
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‘Einstein’ welcome to live in Escondido
The City of San Diego has changed its codes so that Einstein the alpaca, and Bubba, another alpaca, can continue to live in a back yard within the City limits, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune by Harry Jones. The two alpacas are owned by Kelly Thor and Ryan Jiminez.
Elsewhere in the county, another victory for animal lovers: San Diego Union-Tribune reporter David Hernandez writes that Imperial Beach plans to unveil a bronze statue in its Veterans Park, 1075 Eighth Street, at 10 a.m. Saturday to honor Chopper, a German Shepherd credited with protecting Navy SEAL teams in Iraq and Afghanistan by sniffing out hidden explosives.
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StandWithUs sponsors California Legal Education courses
* Attorneys who need California Legal Education credits now can take one-day courses in Los Angeles that are sponsored by StandWithUs. Some of the course topics are “Prosecuting Nazis in the Department of Justice” taught by Joel Greenberg and “Israel and International Law” taught by David Levitt. Information on these and other offerings may be obtained via this website. http://www.swumcle.com/
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Political bytes
* Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, campaigns in San Diego oon Sunday, Nov. 17, at the House of Blues San Diego, 1055 Fifth Avenue. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. Details and RSVP via this website.
*Jim DeBello, former CEO of Mitek Systems, a software company, has announced he will oppose U.S. Rep. Scott Peters, D-California, in the 52nd Congressional District. The county Republican party and former Gov. Pete Wilson have endorsed him.
* In a column for the current issue of the Mission Times Courier, Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) advocates for a bill that would enable the federal Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower drug prices for all Americans. “The HHS Secretary would be empowered to negotiate up to 250 drugs per year, drawn from a refilling list of the most costly drugs in the U.S.,” she said.
* Joaquin Vazquez, a Democratic candidate hoping to succeed retiring Congresswoman Susan Davis, recently appeared on a rent control panel sponsored by the San Diego Tenant Union. Vazquez discussed fighting displacement through tenant self-determination, and prospects for a rent control measure on the 2020 ballot.
* San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez predicts “it’s very likely we will be outspent” in the race for the 53rd Congressional District. “Heavily outspent. We won’t have financial support from extremely wealthy donors, nor will we be accepting any corporate PAC checks to this campaign.” While she didn’t name her opponent, it was clear she had in mind Sara Jacobs, granddaughter of Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs and daughter Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacob, founders of High-Tech High School. Gary also has served as president of the Lawrence Family JCC and the Jewish Federation of San Diego county.
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Coming our way
Items in this section of the column are also placed in our Jewish Events Calendar where each remains until the event has occurred.
*Tal Becker, a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, will be the guest speaker Saturday, Nov. 16, at an America-Israel Public Affairs Committee Shabbaton at Beth Jacob Congregation, on the topic of President Trump’s proposed “deal of the century” for the Middle East. Ticket required in advance: $55 via this website.
* Jana Mazurkiewicz Meisarosh, founder of the Yiddish Arts and Academics Association of North America (YAAANA) will discuss “What is the Yiddishist movement,” at 5 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 17, at the House of Israel, 2156 Pan American Plaza, in Balboa Park. Ticket $15. RVP via this website.
* Lawrence Baron, SDSU professor emeritus and columnist for San Diego Jewish World, will discuss Holocaust books at 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22 at the San Carlos branch of the San Diego library, 7265 Jackson Drive, San Diego.
* Holocaust survivor Rose Schindler will be honored with a luncheon, presentation, and signing of her book Two Who Survived, at 11 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 24, at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 6660 Cowles Mountain Blvd. Cost: $10 Sisterhood members, $12 others. RSVP and pay in advance before Nov. 20 via this website.
* “Yiddish Arts and Culture in the 21st Century” will be the subject of a lecture by Jana Mazurkiewicz Meisarosh, founder of the Yiddish Arts and Academics Association of North America (YAAANA) at 12:45 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, at the College Avenue Center in Temple Emanu-El, 6299 Capri Drive. RSVP via this website.
* Temple Emanu-El will hold in its library an informational meeting at 1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, for people interested in taking a trip led by Rabbi Devorah Marcus to Israel next June 22 to July 5. “We will discuss the trip registration procedure, payments, travel insurance, airline reservations, itinerary, hotels and anything else you can think of,” according to an announcement from the Reform congregation.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com