Other items in today’s column include:
*Additional coronavirus news
*Political bytes
*Scenes around San Diego County
*In memoriam
SAN DIEGO – More and more Jewish organizations in San Diego County are announcing precautions and responses to the coronavirus pandemic, including Congregation Dor Hadash, the Jewish Community Foundation, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Jewish National Fund, Lawrence Family JCC, Ohr Shalom Synagogue, San Diego Jewish Academy, Seacrest Village Retirement Community, Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra (TICO), Tifereth Israel Synagogue, and the Western Jewish Studies Association. Following in alphabetical order, is a report about each.
Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a guideline that all planned assemblies that might attract 250 people through the end of March should be postponed, and county officials said they would enforce the 250-person limit.
*CONGREGATION DOR HADASH — Rabbi Yael Ridberg said her Reconstructionist congregation, which meets in the library of the San Diego Jewish Academy, is “utilizing online platforms for services and Torah study.”
*JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — Beth Sirull, JCF President and CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation, advised San Diego philanthropists who keep their donor-advised funds with the Foundation that “early next week, we will be launching targeted funds for specific aspects of the coronavirus response: (1) A fund to support the public health response to assist with the acute need for increased testing, tracking, treatment and communication around the pandemic; (2) A fund to support local organizations serving highly vulnerable populations who will be particularly affected by COVID-19 disruptions, and (3) A fund to support local Jewish community needs.” Sirull also reassured donors who have money invested in JCF’s long-term pools that “while we are in close contact with our investment consultants, we do not expect to take any tactical or short-term steps. In past down markets, the Foundation’s actively managed pools such as the Long Term and Endowment Pools have outperformed their peers.”
*JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE — Beginning tomorrow (Friday, March 13), operations are suspended at the Balboa Avenue Older Adult Center and the College Avenue Center, as well as for JFS’s Out and About program, and the excursions and shuttles it offers through its “On the Go” program.
Additionally, the following events have been postponed or cancelled: March 15 Your Voice, A Youth Activism Conference, and the March 22 Aging with Resilience event.
“The health and safety of our community and the JFS Team of staff and volunteers is our top priority,” JFS announced on its website,
“As a human service agency serving vulnerable populations, including older adults who are most at-risk, we are adapting our programs and reviewing alternative strategies and measures to continue serving those who depend on our services.”
**JEWISH FEDERATION OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY — Darren Schwartz, the Federation’s chief strategy and planning officer, announced the postponement of the planned re-dedication on Sunday of the Holocaust Memorial Sculpture by Shirley Lichtman, which once had stood outside the now defunct 54th Street Jewish Community Center. In storage for years, the sculpture has been moved to the Joseph and Lenka Finci Jewish Community Building, where the Federation and other Jewish agencies have their offices at 4950 Murphy Canyon Road.
*JEWISH NATIONAL FUND — News of coronavirus-related travel bans and 14-day quarantines for passengers who return to Israel has prompted the Jewish National Fund to cancel its national major donor weekend planned March 20-23 in San Diego, the hometown of JNF-USA’s president Sol Lizerbram.
“The spirit, intent and goals of our annual Major Donor Weekend would not be achieved if some of our partners – our donors –were unable to travel and attend due to legitimate concerns about Covid-19,” Lizerbram wrote to approximately 600 people from throughout the country and Israel who had made reservations to attend the conference at the Manchester Grandy Hyatt in San Diego.
The program was to have included speeches by Rabbi Leor Sinai, Co-CEO of the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, which is operated by the Jewish National Fund, and by former Miss Israel Titi Aynaw, the first Ethiopian Jew to win the title, as well as a variety of panels on such topics as the global future of water, the history of chocolate, and women in philanthropy. The planned weekend was to conclude with a morning meeting on March 23, of JNF’s national board.
Sharon Freedman, JNF’s National Campaign Director, said that JNF plans to reschedule these events in San Diego at such time as the Center for Disease Control advises that the coronavirus pandemic has run its course.
*LAWRENCE FAMILY JCC — The following programs have been cancelled, according to the LFJCC website:
Arts & Ideas Koresh: La Danse scheduled for March 25
Arts & Ideas Sarajevo Haggadah scheduled for March 26
The events that are being postponed include:
J Company’s Matilda scheduled for March 13-22
San Diego International Jewish Film Festival’s “Ask Dr. Ruth,” scheduled for March 20
Good Deeds Day scheduled for March 29
“Our Guest Services team will be issuing refunds for purchased tickets,” according to a notice on the LFJCC website. “Refunds will be processed via the original form of payment. You will see this transaction within the next 5-7 business days. If events are rescheduled, tickets can be purchased at that time.
“Additionally, we continue to be vigilant in our cleaning protocols and encourage our members who are at highest risk to limit their exposure to large groups and communal spaces. We will be limiting class sizes for group exercise classes to allow for safe distance amongst participants, and we are suspending towel service indefinitely. Please prepare appropriately for these changes.”
*OHR SHALOM SYNAGOGUE — Rabbi Scott Meltzer said his Conservative congregation is continuing to conduct Shabbat services, but has decided not to serve food that must be personally handled either for Friday night oneg Shabbat services, or Saturday morning kiddushes. “We’ll probably get individually packaged foods,” he said. On Thursday, because of the rain, Ohr Shalom experimented with holding on-line Torah School classes. About 80 percent of the 34 students participated, he said, and on-line classes may be the answer if stricter precautions against coronavirus need to be taken. The rabbi said the congregation has also postponed a trip to Shreveport, Louisiana, to watch Rabbi Sydni Adler Rubinstein of Congregation Agudath Ahim on the pulpit. She previously had served as a rabbinic intern and teacher at Ohr Shalom, and had developed a following.
*SAN DIEGO JEWISH ACADEMY — Office manager Teshy Wellman reported that the school is closing its campus, with students switching from in- person to online classes and testing. Tablets were being issued to lower school students who did not already have them, she said. The campus will remain closed until April 20, coinciding with the end of Spring break, she said.
*SEACREST VILLAGE – Pam Ferris, President and CEO of Seacrest Village, which has 250 residents and the same number of employees (including full-time and part-time) announced on Thursday a ban on outside visitors to the retirement home which is operated by the Jewish community. “We have made the important decision to not allow families, friends and visitors into our community,” Ferris announced via email. “The only exception to this new protocol will be home care and health care providers, Hospice staff, physicians, lab and x-ray technicians, therapists, and clergy.”
“In addition,” Ferris wrote, “Please know that all outside persons entering Seacrest, including our staff, will be monitored, screened, and have their temperature taken. In our effort to modify yet continue our life enrichment programs for residents, some of the entertainers will stream their programs so that residents can watch them on our in-house station (SVTV), either in their own rooms/apartments or as a small group in their respective buildings. Please know we have also suspended all outside social activities that require transportation.”
While residents are being discouraged from leaving Seacrest, “we understand that it may occur,” Ferris wrote. “In such a case, should you be the one coming for your family member, we ask that you call in advance so they can meet you or be brought to the appropriate entrance.”
“We encourage Facetime, talking on the phone, and other social media so that we all remain connected during this challenging time,” Ferris said. Emphasizing that there are no cases of coronavirus at Seacrest Village, she wrote, “It goes without saying that we hope these measures will be temporary.”
*TIFERETH ISRAEL COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA — Conductor David Amos told San Diego Jewish World that the community orchestra’s two performances this month — March 29 at Patrick Henry High School and March 31 at Tifereth Israel Synagogue — are cancelled. The orchestra had planned to perform with Jenny Oaks Baker and the Hannah and Sarah Baker Trio works from Herold, H. Owen Reed, and Beethoven. Additionally, Amos said the concerts on June 7 and June 9, both planned at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, also will have to be cancelled because there won’t be an opportunity with the threat of coronavirus for the 90-member orchestra to rehearse. He said the season will resume on Sunday, July 26, when TICO puts on its annual Summer Pops Concert.
*TIFERETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE – The Conservative congregation announced that it will continue to hold traditional Friday night and Saturday morning Shabbat services, morning minyans, and preschool and Torah school classes. However, “all other programming and events will be suspended until further notice.”
Among events that have been postponed are a March 15 talk by TICO conductor David Amos to the Tifereth Israel Synagogue Men’s Club, and a March 21 bar mitzvah and reception for Sky Masori, who turned 13 on March 11. Masori is the son of Sandi Masori and Shahar Masori and the grandson of my wife Nancy Harrison and me. As you can imagine, we’re in the process of trying to notify the guests that the bar mitzvah will be rescheduled at such time as it is deemed safe.
In a message to friends and family, Sandi Masori wrote: “We’re in some crazy days right now. Due to the fears and realities of keeping people safe during the coronavirus uncertainty, Sky’s Bar Mitzvah will be postponed until a later date. Assuming that this all blows over, very tentatively, the new date will be June 6. I’m sorry for the inconvenience and look forward to laughing about this in the future. B”H we’ll all be able to celebrate together in June.”
Rabbi Joshua Dorsch, executive director Alissa Messian, and congregational president David Ogul, wrote in a letter to congregants: “We realize we are entering unchartered territory, and we want you all to know that this decision, and every decision we make, is being made only after very careful consideration and only with your best interests in mind. As noted in earlier communications, we have increased our daily cleaning to all touch points and we continue to urge everyone to please stay home if you are ill.”
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WESTERN JEWISH STUDIES ASSOCIATION — Lawrence Baron, professor emeritus of history at San Diego State University, and a columnist for San Diego Jewish World, is also president of the Western Jewish Studies Association He announced that he has “cancelled the organization’s conference scheduled for March 29-30 in Las Vegas.”
Additional coronavirus (Covid-19) news
*Retiring Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) is the lead author on a letter signed by 234 members of the House of Representatives urging a $3 billion increase to $44.7 billion for the National Institutes of Health. “We are at the tip of the iceberg of new life-saving innovations,” the letter stated. “Imagine what we can accomplish with continued robust investments in medical research, from making strides to combat antimicrobial resistance, to harnessing the power of personalized medicine to treat disease, and more. The critical investments we make in biomedical research are our nation’s best hope in finding cures and treatments of diseases that affect millions of Americans.” In addition to Davis, three other members of San Diego’s congressional delegation – Mike Levin, Scott Peters, and Juan Vargas – signed the letter as did 16 of Davis’s fellow Jewish members: David Cicilline, Steve Cohen, Ted Deutch, Eliot Engel, Josh Gottheimer, Andy Levin, Alan Lowenthal, Jerrold Nadler, Jamie Raskin, Max Rose, Jan Schakowsky, Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman, Elissa Slotkin, John Yarmuth, and Lee Zeldin.
*In light of the coronavirus, Congressman Scott Peters (D-San Diego) said the congressional calendar should be reconstructed so that members spend less time on airplanes going to their districts and more time in session or in the district. “The original intent was to re-structure the system with more days in session and fewer hours spent traveling, helping members with families, those from the West Coast, and to generally reduce Congress’ carbon footprint. Less travel is even more necessary now due to the coronavirus outbreak. One of the most obvious things we could do is reduce the amount of time members spend on planes. Given that members are not cutting back travel habits themselves even under public health guidelines, adopting The Congressional Climate Calendar is the right call–it’s good for climate change, member child care, and combatting the coronavirus.”
*The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced that with coronavirus-prompted travel restrictions in effect in Israel and the United States, Lone Soldiers who ordinarily would fly home to celebrate Pesach with their families will remain in Israel. “With your help, we will find them the best way to celebrate and enjoy home away from home,” IDF spokesman Lt Col. Jonathan Cornicus said. In Los Angeles meanwhile, the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) postponed its Young Leadership Gala, which had been scheduled for Saturday evening, March 14.
*Bernie Rhinerson, a member of the San Diego Community College Board, said his board has granted “broad emergency powers” to Chancellor Constance Carroll “to keep students and staff safe during this crisis. This includes instructions to move all classes possible to an online format and it could mean full closure at some point, which I expect will occur in the near future, based on how this continues to evolve.” He said students and the public are being updated constantly on the district’s website.
*Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort of Chabad of La Costa offers warm chicken soup for any congregant feeling under the weather, be the malady coronavirus or something else. “We are offering fresh chicken soup to anyone who wants at no cost (co-sponsors welcome),” he wrote in his congregational bulletin. “Pick-up is available tomorrow after 3pm. If you need it delivered just let us know and we will bring it to you (if we can). We all know the potency of Kosher Chicken Soup!”
*Gary E. Jacobs of Del Mar — son of Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs and father of Democratic congressional candidate Sara Jacobs — is the majority shareholder in the Lake Elsinore Storm, a minor league affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The Storm noted in a news release on Thursday, “Today, Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) announced the postponement of the 2020 baseball season. We will continue to monitor the development and will announce any updates and future decisions made by MLB, MiLB and the California League … The Lake Elsinore Storm appreciate your patience as we work with all baseball entities and our local health agencies towards a safe and effective resolution for our local community and storm family.
*Four San Diego arts organizations jointly announced that they have cancelled performances through the end of March. They are La Jolla Music Society, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Opera, and the San Diego Symphony. The San Diego Youth Symphony followed suit. The Cygnet Theatre also announced the cancellation of its performances of La Cage Aux Folles through mid-April.
*Princess Cruises, which saw passengers on two of its ships —Diamond Princess and Grand Princess — quarantined respectively in Japan and off the West Coast of the United States has announced a two-month suspension of its cruises. Viking Cruises made a similar announcement. Chad E. Wolf, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, commented: “I commend Princess Cruises and Viking Cruises for initiating a voluntary pause in their operations to protect the health and safety of their passengers, crew, and countries they visit. I encourage others in the industry to follow their lead until appropriate safety measures are put in place. President Trump is grateful for their leadership and fully supports the cruise line industry and their importance to the U.S. economy.”
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Political bytes
*In the race for mayor of San Diego, Barbara Bry keeps gaining on Scott Sherman for second place. On Tuesday, the gap between the two city council members was 836, on Wednesday 728, and on Thursday 678. The San Diego County Registrar of Voters still has approximately 70,000 ballots to count from all over the county, not just from the City of San Diego. Meanwhile, Assemblyman Todd Gloria, who finished first in the March 3 primary election for San Diego Mayor, commented, “We’ll keep watching to see who our opponent is, but it doesn’t really matter. I’ll run my campaign on the issues that are important to San Diego, like the cost of housing, homelessness, and climate action.”
*Approximately 120,000 ballots were cast in the online election for 152 U.S. delegates to the World Zionist Congress in October. How those delegates will be apportioned among the 15 slates competing for spots is expected to be announced sometime next week following the tally. San Diego County residents whose names are on the slates, in order of their slate numbers, 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].
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Scenes around San Diego County
The works of Siona Benjamin, a Bene Israel who grew up in Mumbai, India, are on display at the Gotthelf Art Gallery at the Lawrence Family JCC, Jacobs Family Campus. On Wednesday evening, film maker Hal Rifkin discussed a documentary he is making about her life. At the top of today’s report is a YouTube video about her. Melanie Rubin, the JCC’s director of senior affairs, toured the art exhibit and shared the following photos with us.
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In memoriam
John Rack, son of Rusty and Marianne Rack, died earlier this week, Chabad of La Costa announced. Funeral services will be held at 12 noon, Tuesday, March 17, in the chapel of El Camino Memorial Park, 5400 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
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