Other items in this column include:
*‘Yellow Candle’ program to fight anti-Semitism
*Political bytes
*Coming our way
*Recommended reading
*In Memoriam
SAN DIEGO – As we go into the final month before the March 3 primary election in California, I’d like to mention the names of Jewish candidates on the ballot for our readers to consider. We’re not making any endorsements in the primary election (although I personally announced for Amy Klobuchar) , but we’d like you to know who they are. In some cases, like Democratic presidential candidates Michael Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders, they oppose each other.
Democrat Marianne Williamson also is Jewish, but she suspended her presidential campaign last month. Democrat Tom Steyer has a Jewish father and an Episcopalian mother, and does not consider himself Jewish. Democrat Michael Bennet has a Jewish mother and Christian father and says that he was raised in both religions, but personally doesn’t affiliate with either.
There is an egalitarian minyan of Jewish candidates running in San Diego County races.
In the 53rd Congressional District, from which ten-term congresswoman Susan Davis is retiring, a poll commissioned by The San Diego Union-Tribune/ 10 News indicates that Democrat Sara Jacobs is leading the 14-candidate field with 23 percent of the vote. Chris Stoddard, a Republican, was the next highest vote getter in the poll with 10 percent. Next were San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez, a Democrat, with 5 percent; nurse Famela Ramos, a Republican with 5 percent, Democrat Joaquin Vazques with 4 percent, and democrat Janessa Goldbeck with 2 percent. The top two finishers will proceed to a November runoff election.
In another high-profile race, San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Bry is seeking to succeed termed-out San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. The most recent San Diego Union-Tribune/ 10 News Poll indicated that she was trailing behind Assemblyman Todd Gloria, a Democrat, and City Councilman Scott Sherman, a Republican. Other contenders in that race are Rich Riel, Gita Appelbaum Singh and Tasha Williamson.
Terra Lawson-Remer, a Democrat, is seeking to turn incumbent 3rd District County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar out of office. However, Escondido City Councilwoman Olga Diaz also is a strong contender in that race.
In the 75th Assembly District, Kate Schwartz, a Democrat, is hoping to unseat Republican Assemblywoman Marie Waldron.
In the 78th Assembly District, which Todd Gloria is leaving in order to run for mayor, there are two Jewish Democrats running: Sarah Davis and Micah Perlin. Both face a formidable opponent in San Diego City Councilman Chris Ward, a Democrat, who may be better known.
In the race for the open Office No. 18 of the Superior Court, attorney Roberta Winston is opposing C.J. Mody, a deputy district attorney.
In the race for San Diego City Attorney, Cory Briggs is challenging incumbent Mara Elliott. Another challenger is Pete Mesich.
The open 5th District seat of the San Diego City Council seems to be a race between attorney Joe Leventhal and Deputy City Attorney Marni Von Wilpert. Other candidates are Isaac Wang and Simon Moghadam.
San Diego Community College Trustee Bernie Rhinerson is seeking reelection in District B. He is being challenged by Daniel Piedra, a nonprofit legal director.
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‘Yellow Candle’ program to fight anti-Semitism
The Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs is an arm of Conservative Judaism. Each year, FJMC distributes to participating synagogues yellow candles which may be lit during Yom HaShoah in memory of the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
Some synagogues distribute the candles for free; others ask for a donation; still others sell them for a nominal fee. The point is to get them into the homes of as many people as possible, so that the memory of the Shoah and its important lessons will be preserved.
Proceeds from the Yellow Candle sales have been used by the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs for a variety of purposes over the years. Over 35 years ago, proceeds were used “to secure ransom for Syrian Jewish refugees.”
This year, proceeds will be used to combat anti-Semitism. An FJMC bulletin from Steve Silverstone and Art Lashin, co-chairs of the 2020 Yellow Candle program, stated: “Sadly, we at FJMC know that the massacre in October 2018 at the Tree of Life Synagogue was not just the deadliest act of anti-Semitic violence in American history, but merely one example in a rising trend of murderous attacks upon Jews and other minorities and marginalized groups in our society. Even worse, evidence suggests that the perpetrator targeted Tree of Life because the congregation served as a Pittsburgh venue and co-sponsor for National Refugee Shabbat, a program that underscores values at the heart of FJMC’s Yellow Candle program.”
The FJMC communication concluded: “We must respond to these forces of darkness by shining light into our communities and embracing the enduring mission of our Yellow Candles program.”
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Political bytes
*Jewish United States Senators, all of whom are Democrats, voted in the minority in the impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump. The vote was 52-48 for acquittal on the first article of impeachment, which accused the President of improperly withholding aid to Ukraine in an effort to compel that country to launch a criminal investigation into Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden. The vote was 53-47 for acquittal on the second article of impeachment, which accused President Trump of obstructing Congress by ordering members of the executive branch to refuse to testify in the House of Representatives. Those self-identified Jewish senators who so voted were Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Ben Cardin of Maryland, Dianne Feinstein of California, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, and Ron Wyden of Oregon. Additionally, Michael Bennet, who is Jewish according to halacha because his mother is Jewish, also voted in the minority. Bennet says he was raised in two religions (Judaism and Christianity) and is affiliated with neither.
*Morgan Hill, a spokesperson for Sara Jacobs’ congressional campaign, had this comment about the San Diego Union-Tribune/10 News poll showing Jacobs leading her closest opponent, Chris Stoddard, by a margin of 23 to 10 percent: ‘[It] confirms the momentum that we’re seeing every day on the campaign trail as we talk with voters. San Diegans are excited for a new generation of leadership and know that Sara has the experience to hit the ground running on Day One and the ability to work across the aisle that will be crucial to moving our country forward come 2021.”
*Attorney Joe Leventhal was endorsed Wednesday in the race for the 5th District San Diego City Council seat by the Greater San Diego Association of Realtors.
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Coming Our Way
*Cantor Cheri Weiss, spiritual leader of San Diego Outreach Synagogue, will conduct a Tu B’Shevat-themed Shabbat service and dinner beginning at 5:45 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7, at a location in University City. Information and reservations via this website.
*Tammy Gillies, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League; Rabbi Scott Meltzer of Ohr Shalom Synagogue, and Mohamed Ahmed, associate chief diversity officer at San Diego State University, will discuss “Anti-Semitism and Religious Bigotry: The Crisis in San Diego and How to Challenge It,” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, in Room 5400 of the Kellogg Library at California State University -San Marcos, 333 S.Twin Oaks Valley Road, San Marcos.
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Recommended reading
*New York Jewish Week reports that “centrist” Jews are coalescing around the presidential candidacy of Mike Bloomberg.
*President Trump hosted a secret meeting between representatives of Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to discuss an anti-Iran alliance, Axios reported. (Thanks to Lisa Daftari)
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In Memoriam
Camp Mountain Chai has reported the death on Feb. 4 of Jim Lewis, a member of the camp’s board of directors for over 14 years. Survived by his wife, Andrea Stein, daughter Jessica Cardenas Lewis, and stepson Kyle Norris, Lewis’ funeral service will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 6299 Capri Drive, San Diego, with burial at 3 p.m. at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego. Buddy Voit, executive director of Camp Mountain Chai, said the family requested donations in his memory be made to the camp, to Temple Emanu-El, or “any charitable organization that is important to you.”
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com