Other items in this column include:
*SDSU student dies, cause a mystery as fraternities suspended
* Street in front of Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building to be closed Nov. 16
*Rabbi Daniel Bortz is cover story for L’Chaim San Diego Magazine
*Political bytes
*Coming our way
*In Memoriam
SAN DIEGO — Sha’ar Hanegev, the partnership region in Israel of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, has been experiencing a lot of tension, but so far no casualties in the current barrage of rockets being fired at Israel from Gaza.
Located on the Gaza border, Sha’ar Hanegev has cancelled classes at schools and jobs at various work places so residents can stay in the safety of shelters, according to Mary Katayi, Israel/ Overseas director for the Jewish Federation. Katayi spoke by telephone to Lilach Shangurtan, the chief operating officer of the Sha’ar Hanegev Municipality, which has offices on the boundary with the Israeli City of Sderot, where at least one building has been damaged by rocket fire.
Besides having contributed to construction of a public school complex which has been hardened against missile attacks, the Jewish Federation of San Diego County helps in these emergencies by contributing on an ongoing basis to the Victims of Terror Fund, in a partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Jewish Agency for Israel, commented Darren Schwartz, the Federation’s chief planning and strategy officer. That Fund provides financial assistance to Israelis whose lives have been disrupted by such attacks as Israel now is experiencing.
The San Diego County-based Adopt a Family Foundation, which works with terrorized families in Sha’ar Hanegev, sent out this advisory on Tuesday:
“We have been checking on our adopted families and friends in the South of Israel. They are in shelters, telling us that there are OK. We admire their resilience and strength. We are keeping them in our prayers and close to our hearts. We hope you do too. As of now, more than 190 rockets have been fired from Gaza on Israeli towns and Kibbutzim in the South of Israel as far as Tel Aviv. A few houses sustained a direct strike. All schools are closed. 30 people have been lightly injured. Adopt a Family Foundation thanks you for your support that allows us to respond to the needs of our adopted families, as well as sponsor activities for the children of the South suffering from fear, stress and PTSD. At times like this, our unity is fundamental.”
The Jewish Agency for Israel issued the following news release:
In the wake of today’s rocket fire on Israel, The Jewish Agency for Israel put its emergency operations into gear, providing assistance to 6,500 new immigrants in absorption centers and 5,000 seniors in assisted living facilities located in southern Israel, as well as 7,700 young Jews visiting on Israel Experience programs. The Jewish Agency’s Fund for Victims of Terror is also providing immediate emergency funds to families whose homes were hit by rocket fire.
Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac Herzog, who arrived last night at the annual conference of the Jewish Federations of North America in Washington, DC, said: “I have no doubt that the Jewish world will support the state of Israel, its decision-makers, the military and all the bodies that operate every day for the security of citizens in Israel. We are sending from here a warm hug to the State of Israel.”
Two families whose home suffered direct hits in towns near the Gaza border are receiving emergency assistance from The Jewish Agency’s Fund for Victims of Terror, with one family already receiving the funds and the other set to receive tomorrow morning. This emergency Fund provides financial assistance within 48 hours to families who suffered direct hits, were injured or suffered a death. Since 2007, 500 families have been granted such funds. The funds are meant to help cover immediate emergency needs such as medicine, food, clothing and transportation. The fund was established with the support of JFNA and Keren Hayesod, as well as other donors.
Within hours of the attack, The Jewish Agency’s Amigour subsidiary sent construction teams to repair the homes hit by rocket fire, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance. This immediate response not only provides financial aid, but also emotional support to the families coping with very difficult situations. “We tell them they are not alone and that we are there to support them, along with Jewish communities around the world,” said Yael Raz, Director of The Jewish Agency’s Emergency Response Division and the Fund for Victims of Terror, “Someone arriving so soon after the attack has a huge impact on their resilience.”
Mark Wilf, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Federations of North America, said: “The Jewish community of North America has supported, and continues to fully support, our brothers and sisters. You are our family in Israel. We are thankful for the work The Jewish Agency is doing for the benefit of the Jewish people, for the women, men and families in Israel. We will always support you. Our hearts and prayers are with the victims.”
Chairman Herzog stated that The Jewish Agency will continue closely monitoring the situation, providing support and assistance to those affected by any further rocket fire.
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SDSU student dies, cause a mystery as fraternities suspended
Several days after the announcement that 14 fraternities had been suspended at San Diego State University, including two traditionally Jewish fraternities (Alpha Epsilon Pi and Zeta Beta Tau), the university announced that 19-year-old freshman Dylan Hernandez had died on Nov. 8 at Alvarado Hospital. However, the cause of death was not announced, nor was an explanation given what the 14 fraternities had to do with his death, if anything.
Hernandez reportedly attended a party at Phi Gamma Delta fraternity (popularly known as the FIJIs) the night before his death. As a result of this incident, the school said Phi Gamma Delta was the 11th of the 14 fraternities in the Interfraternity Council (IFC) which either had been suspended or was under investigation for possible alcohol-related offences.
SDSU President Adela de la Torre, in a statement announcing Hernandez’ death, said “As a mother, nothing can replace the profound loss of a child, and the devastating heartbreak the family and their loved ones are experiencing. All of us in the Aztec family are sending our prayers and are here to support the family.”
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Street in front of Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building to be closed Nov. 16
Removal of scaffolding on the façade of the Judge Edward J. Schwartz Federal Office Building will require the closure of Front Street between Broadway and F Street, the U.S. General Services Administration has announced. Both pedestrian and motorized traffic will be detoured between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on that Saturday. Edward J. Schwartz was a longtime U.S. District Court Judge in San Diego.
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Rabbi Daniel Bortz is cover story for L’Chaim San Diego Magazine
Freelance writer Eva Trieger has profiled Rabbi Daniel Bortz in the current issue of L’Chaim Magazine. Born in South Africa, raised in San Diego, educated at UC Santa Barbara and the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem (where he was ordained), he is the creator of JTeen, dedicated to educating and empowering teenagers, and SoulX for the 20s to 30s crowd. A competitor in judo tournaments, a fan of music festivals, he also is the author of a book, “Beneath the Surface: how to Live a Life of Purpose in Tune with Your Soul.”
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Political bytes
*In an embarrassment to County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, the charity Saved in America is being sued for fraud by the Manley Family Trust. Gaspar at one point had recommended the charity for a no-bid $2 million contract to operate shelters for sex trafficking victims. However, the Board of Supervisors decided to put the project out to bid. Grist for the campaign mills of Gaspar’s opponents, Terra Lawson-Remer and Olga Diaz?
*Prosecutors in the campaign fraud case against Congressman Duncan Hunter formally filled a motion on Monday asking the U.S. District Court to bar former District Attorney Paul Pfingst from joining Hunter’s team of defense lawyers. The motion said that a law partner of Pfingst at Higgs, Fletcher & Mack had previously represented three witnesses that appeared before the grand jury that had indicted Hunter.
* Carlsbad City Councilmember Cori Schumacher, now holding an at-large position, has filed to run for the 1st Council District seat under Carlsbad’s new district elections plan.
*
Coming our way
*Former skinhead Frank Meeink lectures at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Chabad of Poway, 16934 Chabad Way, Poway. His topic: “From Hatred to Harmony” Ticket $10. More information via this website.
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In Memoriam
The family of automobile designer Gerald P. Hirschberg, 80, in a paid ad in the San Diego Union-Tribune has announced his death on November 10. He had been chief designer for Buick and Pontiac during he 1970s, before taking a position as founding director and later president of Nissan Design International, where he was responsible for the development of such cars as the 1985 Pathfinder, 1987 Pulsar, 1992 Infinit J30, the Altima, and the reborn Z. He was the author in 1999 of The Creative Priority: Driving Innovative Business in the Real World. His funeral service at 1:30 p.m. today was to be officiated by Rabbi Fred Reiner. Am Israel Mortuary handled other arrangements.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com. Obituaries in this column are sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg.