Other items in today’s column include:
*Coronavirus news
*Scenes around San Diego County
*Political bytes
*Coming our way
By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — U.S. Attorney Robert S. Brewer Jr. experienced first-hand in San Diego the concerns shared by Jewish congregations around the country about anti-Semitism — a concern that prompted U.S. Attorney General William Barr to send a directive to U.S. Attorneys throughout the United States to arrange meetings with Jewish community leaders. At a kosher lunch meeting on Wednesday sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League, rabbi after rabbi — ranging from Reform to Chassidic–expressed their worries about the safety of their congregants at a time when there has been an increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes.
Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort of Chabad of La Costa asked about the safety of people who are easily recognizable as Jews by their dress and their beards and payis. Rabbi Chalom Boudjnah of Chabad of San Diego State University told Brewer that some students are afraid to go to synagogue, especially his which is easily recognizable by the large menorah on its front lawn. Rabbi Moishe Leider of Chabad of University City said over the years Molotov cocktails have been thrown at his building and swastikas have been painted, resulting in his synagogue having to become more and more like a fortress. He wondered how congregations can assure people that they are both welcoming and secure. Rabbi Joseph Fradkin of the Chabad Hebrew Academy asked whether a law is necessary to restrict the naming of domestic terrorists, such as the one who opened fire last April 27 on Chabad of Poway, killing congregant Lori Gilbert-Kaye and wounding three other people including Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein.
To these questions, Brewer answered that the federal government is aware of the situation, is on the side of beleaguered religious communities, and in San Diego has a task force to investigate people who by their threats or actions seem to pose a danger to the community. He joined Tammy Gillies, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, in urging people who see something suspicious, to say something. In the case of the so-called “Lone Wolf” shooters, who are not on law enforcement’s radar until they carry out their attacks, Brewer said there are signs to watch out for, including expressions of hate on the Internet, changes in that person’s behavior, including self-isolation, and the stockpiling of weapons.
Rabbi Devorah Marcus of the Reform Temple Emanu-El said she was worried about the sale of “ghost guns” made from assembly kits that will be sold on the Del Mar Fairgrounds at the Crossroads of the West Gun Show on March 14-15. Brewer said that he too was concerned about ghost guns, and said there would be numerous representatives of law enforcement monitoring what occurs there. As for people obtaining guns who threaten others, or themselves, he said, the Federal Bureau of Investigation works closely with San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott to obtain restraining orders from the courts to take guns from such people’s hands. In the last 2 1/2 years, approximately 300 guns were confiscated on this basis, Brewer said.
The U.S. Attorney introduced Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher P. Tenorio who heads up his office’s anti-hate crimes task force, recommending that anyone who is experiencing acts of anti-Semitism to advise his office via this email or via his office phone (619) 546-8413. Brewer also volunteered to speak to any congregation that would like to hear his thoughts about the partnership between law enforcement and the Jewish community.
Rabbi Yonah Fradkin, regional director of the Chabads throughout San Diego County, and Rabbi Scott Meltzer of the Conservative Ohr Shalom Synagogue, both invoked the story of just-celebrated Purim to draw a comparison between the dangerous situation for Jews that was posed in ancient Persia in the time of Queen Esther, and Jews of the current day.
Meltzer said the Megillah includes passages in which Queen Esther initially was urged to “hide who she was” so she wouldn’t be known as a Jew. Fradkin said that Queen Esther later was urged by Mordecai to “tell the king” about the plight of the Jews so that he could rescue them. Similarly, Fradkin said, the U.S. Attorney represents the sovereign that is the government of the United States.
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Coronavirus news
*Gary Weitzman, the veterinarian who is president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society, says he often is asked “Can I catch the virus from my pet or vice versa?” and he responds that both the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have issued advisories saying there is no evidence that companion animals can spread the virus. In case a household member is required to be quarantined as a result of the virus, Weitzman urges pet owners to “put together your plan for you and your pets,” taking into consideration what provisions you would need, and should you be unable to take care of your pet, making arrangements for the pet’s care elsewhere.
*San Diego State University has announced the cancellation of the March 26 event at which Yale Strom, in his capacity as artist in residence of San Diego State University’s Jewish Studies Program, was to premiere Sacred Text, an original score and ballet set to the Song of Songs, and featuring six dancers along with Luay Yousif, an Iraqi violinist and vocalist whose quartet was to play sacred music from Iraq.
*In consultation with the White House, The Republican Jewish Coalition has cancelled this weekend’s conference in Las Vegas, at which President Donald Trump was to have been one of the speakers. “We will look for dates in the near future when we can reschedule and when the current health crisis allows,” an RJC spokesperson said.
*Temple Emanu-El has advised its congregants: “When you come to the temple, instead of shaking hands or hugging, offer elbow taps, smiles, enthusiastic waving, and for the very coordinated, a friendly foot tap.”
*The San Diego Unified School District has decided not to close any schools of yet, but has given Superintendent Cindy Marten emergency power to do so should the need arise.
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Scenes Around San Diego County
Purim fun was the order of the evening Tuesday, March 10. At Beth Jacob Congregation, for example, Rabbi Avram Bogopulsky embellished an 80s rocker look with a yellow wig and a Pac Man suit, while the Orthodox congregation’s executive director, Rand Levin, impersonated Doc Brown of the Back to the Future movie. “Back to the 80s” was the theme of the party, that also saw young Asher Weiser rock it out on the drums of a GamezOnWheelz video game truck.
At Young Israel of San Diego, meanwhile, Eddie Rosenberg photographed Marty Kugler, dressed in a fright wig, as he pounded out the tunes on his Yamaha. He also snapped a photo of Dr. Abraham Broudy at the lectern sharing some jokes with members of the Orthodox congregation.
In Carlsbad, the San Diego Jewish Men’s Choir enhanced Purim festivities with a concert at Chabad of La Costa.
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Political Bytes
*Since we last reported on Tuesday night’s U.S. presidential primary results, Bernie Sanders was projected the winner in the North Dakota election, while the state of Washington’s primary remained too close to call. Joe Biden, meanwhile, was the clear winner in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, and Missouri. Next on the primary agenda will be Democratic election contests March 14 in the Northern Marianas territory (6 delegates), and March 17 primary contests in Arizona (67 delegates), Florida (219 delegates), Illinois (155 delegates), and Ohio (136 delegates.) Georgia with 105 delegates follows on March 24. Sanders made a statement on Wednesday that while Joe Biden seems to be persuading voters that he is more electable, Sanders believes he himself is winning the battle of ideas.
*Tonight at 11:59 p.m. is the last time San Diego County residents may cast an electronic ballot in the contest among 15 slates to choose 152 U.S. delegates to the 500-delegate World Zionist Congress in October, a body that oversees the annual allocation of $1 billion in funds for programming. There are six San Diego County residents listed on five different slates. In order of their slate numbers, they are: Rabbi Jeremy Gimbel of Congregation Beth Israel on the Vote Reform slate [No. 2] ; student Aaron Raimi on the Vision: Empowering the Next Generation slate [5] Rabbi Ralph Dalin, San Diego Jewish community chaplain, on the Mercaz USA slate [6]; Micha “Mitch” Danzig of the Herut Zionists slate [10] and Jonathan Bell and Yael Steinberg, both officials of StandWithUs, on the Kol Yisrael slate [14]. To learn more about each slate and to vote via email, visit this website.
*After Wednesday’s counting by the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, City Councilwoman Barbara Bry now trails her council colleague Scott Sherman by 728 votes in the race to make the November 3 runoff election for San Diego Mayor against frontrunner Todd Gloria, a state assemblyman. On Tuesday she was 836 votes behind. According to the Registrar’s office there are still 77,000 provisional ballots to count, but some of them may come from areas outside the City of San Diego. In other races of local Jewish community interest, there were no changes in the standings.
*San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez, a Democratic candidate for Congress in the 53rd Congressional District from which Susan Davis is retiring, says the coronavirus pandemic shines a spotlight on the plight of workers who lose wages because their companies do not offer sick pay. “Every year, millions of American workers still go to work despite being ill — not because they want to, but because missing a paycheck could be devastating for their families.” She added: “I think it’s shameful that President Trump is considering a $2 billion bailout for fossil fuel companies who have been impacted by this emergency. The true victims are the millions of workers struggling without sick pay — not fossil fuel executives.”
*Acknowledging her defeat in the primary contest in the 3rd District of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Escondido City Councilwoman Olga Diaz said, “What I’ll remember most about this campaign is that thousands of people came together to fight for a livable planet, for strong and safe communities, and for putting people first.” So far Councilwoman Diaz has not said whether she will make an endorsement in the general election contest between the Republican incumbent Kristin Gaspar and Diaz’s fellow Democrat, Terra Lawson-Remer.
*In a letter to her supporters, Terra Lawson-Remer, who’ll face Supervisor Kristin Gaspar in November wrote, “In this moment of a growing public health crisis, with our community’s health safety and the global economy threatened by a potential coronavirus pandemic, the importance of an effective county public health system could not be more clear. Our county is the frontline emergency responder entrusted with the responsibility of keeping us all safe. When our Supervisors underinvest in essential county health workers, or defund critical services for at-risk groups like our homeless population and the prisoners in our county jails, all of us are put at risk.”
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Coming our way
Josh Lockman, regional director of J Street, will discuss President Trump’s Middle Eastern foreign policy and the 2020 presidential election, at a dinner sponsored by the Beth Israel Men’s Club at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 22, at the Reform congregation at 9001 Towne Centre Drive. Lockman teaches international law and U.S. foreign policy at the USC Law School, and served in 2016 on Hillary Clinton’s national finance committee.
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Donald H. Harrison, editor of San Diego Jewish World, and Nancy E. Harrison, his co-publisher, wish their grandson Sky Masori, a happy 13th birthday today. Sky’s bar mitzvah is approaching. Harrison may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com