Other items in this column include:
* San Diego Jewish community coronavirus news
*San Diego Jewish community online
*San Diego County Judaica
*In memoriam
SAN DIEGO — Gary E. Jacobs, the San Diegan who serves as the national chairman of the JCC Association Board of Directors, declared Wednesday that “the Jewish community has historically overcome the greatest challenges only when we united and work together. This is one of those moments when we in the JCC Community, along with the Federations, summer camps and so many others will collaborate to address this unprecedented crisis.”
Jacobs made this declaration as “eight major Jewish organizations led by the Jewish Federations of North America formed an emergency coalition to help the Jewish community collectively respond rapidly and effectively to the coronavirus [COVID-19] pandemic and its impact on Jewish life,” according to Rebecca Dinar, a spokesperson for the Jewish Federations.
“The coalition, which will seek to assess the pandemic’s impact on the millions of people served b more than 1,000 member organizations, includes BBYO, Foundation for Jewish Camp, Hillel International, JCC Association of North America, Moishe House, the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, and Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools.”
Mark Wilf, board chair of the Jewish Federations of North America, said “Working together and collectively we can achieve more than any one of us can do alone. We are all being challenged by this crisis to sustain Jewish communal life in North America and it is heartwarming to know we are empowering and supporting each other to sustain Jewish life and the work we all do to help others at this critical time.”
Here are the goals of the emergency coalition over the coming weeks and months, according to Dinar: (1) Ensure ongoing communication and information-sharing; (2) develop and implement shared strategies to maintain services to the Jewish community to the greatest extent possible; (3) protect and support professionals in health and economic crisis; (4) Preserve communal infrastructure through combined advocacy efforts, shared planning and resources, and coordinated fundraising.”
The coalition plans to coordinate with other Jewish organizations in the process.
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San Diego Jewish community coronavirus news
*San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Bry notes in a report to constituents that one of the resources during the coronavirus pandemic is the Jewish Family Service‘s Safe Parking Program. She writes: ” JFS continues to have an average of 175 vehicles and around 230 people every night. They distribute individually packaged food, shelf stable food bags and bottled water for all guests who need it. JFS is currently operating 4 sites: (1) Jewish Family Service, Joan and Irwin Jacobs Campus on Balboa Avenue; (2) Aero Drive and I-15; (3) Friars Rd and Mission Village Drive (next to SDFD Station 45); (4) Leichtag Foundation on Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas ”
* Terra Lawson-Remer, who is opposing County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar in the Nvo. 3 general election, passes along this thought: “Ordering from local farms is a great way to avoid the risk of grocery shopping in-person, enjoy the fresh fruits and veggies you need, and support our local agricultural economy during this critical time.I encourage you to visit the San Diego Sustainable Living Institute website for a great list of local farmers who can deliver grass-fed meat, organic fruits and veggies, milk, eggs, olive oil, and other essentials: https://www.sdsustainable.org/san-diego-farms.”
*David and Lesley Cohn are taking steps to help employees of their Cohn Restaurant group during the coronavirus pandemic, Lori Weisberg reports in today’s San Diego Union-Tribune.
*U.S. Reps. Susan Davis and Scott Peters, both D-San Diego, recently reported that stocks they owned were sold, and the San Diego Union-Tribune is questioning whether they might have had prior knowledge that coronavirus news would cause stock prices to fall.
*Gary Weitzman, DVM, president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society, messages, “San Diego Humane Society’s PAWS San Diego program began distributing free pet food and supplies to anyone who came to our three campuses. On the first day alone, we distributed nearly 50,000 pounds of food to more than 700 people. We’ll continue this as long as we’re able. We’re still doing adoptions. You can make an appointment by calling 619-299-7012. For the first time in years, we had more animals go home this week than come in.”
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San Diego Jewish community online
*The Yiddish Academic and Arts Association of North America (YAAANA) has scheduled a free online lesson in Yiddish conversation and a $15 lesson about klezmer terminology. Tanja Yakovleva will teach Yiddish yoga vocabulary at 11 a.m., Sunday, March 29 via Zoom for those who RSVP via this link. Yale Strom will teach about klezmer terminology at 12 p.m., March 30, via Zoom for those who RSVP via this link.
*The Lawrence Family JCC has initiated an array of online programs to serve its audience, Times of San Diego reports.
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San Diego County Judaica
We are pleased to support that submissions to our online San Diego Judaica collection are continuing to come in. Today we have the musical score to “Dreidl, Dreidl, Dreidl” sent by Norman & Roberta Greene, who explain that their grandchildren Spencer Matorin and William Matorin are now learning to play it on the piano. Lauren Lizerbram, the first lady of Jewish National Fund USA, sent a celebration of Yom Ha’atzma’ut (Israeli independence day) by artist Avram Binder. Prof. Laurie Baron, our satire columnist sent an art print of a work by Joseph Zaritsky picturing the Jewish street in the Old City of Safed, Israel.
If you would like to add a photo of yourself with a favorite piece of Judaica in your home or office, we very much would appreciate your sending the photo to me at editor@sdjewishworld.com along with a little explanation about what the photo shows.
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In memoriam
Abraham Manuel Levy, 64, died Saturday, March 14. Funeral services conducted by Rabbi Chaim Boudjnah of Chabad at San Diego State University were held March 16 at the Home of Peace Cemetery in 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 . Obituaries in San Diego Jewish World are sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg.