Standing with the Asian community

 

Other items in today’s column include:
*Jewish community coronavirus news
*San Diego County Judaica

By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO — I sympathize with the more than 50 Asian and Pacific Islander organizations in San Diego that have issued a statement urging San Diegans to avoid using terms such as the “China virus,”  “Chinese virus,” or the “Wuhan virus” as these descriptions have the effect, whether intended or not, of fanning latent racism among non-API residents.

I can also empathize because I know that there are bigots out there who welcome the opportunity to express their hatred during this pandemic–whether it be directed against Asians, Pacific Islanders, or against us Jews.

There are some people who defend the use of such terms because they believe the pandemic could have been avoided, or at least curtailed, if the government of mainland China had been more forthcoming about the extent of the coronavirus outbreak during its early stages.  That criticism may well be valid, but it is no more an indictment of all Chinese, Asian, or Pacific Islander people than criticism of President Donald Trump’s handling of the virus should be construed as condemnation of the American people as a whole.

There are those who inveigh against “political correctness” as if using a xenophobic label  is in any way to the benefit of our society, rather than to its demonstrable detriment. When I hear terms like “the China virus,” I try to imagine how I would feel if the same commentators or high officials were using terms like “the Jew virus” or “the Jewish virus.”  Our sage Hillel taught us “that which is hateful to you do not do unto others” — a variation of the “Golden Rule” to which I heartily subscribe.

On a very personal note, my two  beloved, elementary school-aged, American-born grandchildren are half Ashkenazi Jewish and half Taiwanese Chinese.  They are darling innocents, and I’d hate for either of them ever to be hurt because some people find a need to lash out at others.

*

Jewish community coronavirus news
*As a mitzvah project, Temple Emanu-El is planning to sew face masks for anyone who needs them.  Those who can sew and are interested in participating may contact Sharon Snyder via this email.

*Siblings Noah and Talia Baird, whose parents are Becky Cherlin Baird and Daniel Baird, appeared recently on Nashville songwriter/ singer Randi Driscoll’s Internet television show, singing “From This Valley” and offering their opinions about the pandemic.  One of the worst things about it, they said, is that it has been messing up their internal clocks because they are sleeping at different hours.  Some good things about it are that it makes their dog very happy to have them at home, and that they have more time to practice their performances.  (Noah appeared in the Broadway production of Matilda and both are accomplished actors).  Talia said she has learned from the pandemic that she can be happy with the possessions she already has.  Their performance and interview go from approximately the 10-minute mark of the video above to the 18-minute mark.

*John McCormick, our SDJW correspondent in New Zealand, is a philo-Semite who heads a pro-Israel group based in Hawkes Bay.  He writes, “I see on the news some of your dairy farmers and in the UK are dumping milk as restaurants, etcetera, are closed.  That never happens here as the factories here are 95 percent owned by a farmer cooperative called Fontera. .. All make cheese, butter, milk powder feed for calves, and other products. Milk in bottles is just one of many products they produce.  So in our shutdown, the milk not being sold to the public goes into cheese or other products.  By the way, Fontera makes kosher cheese, most of which goes to North America.  Six different factories make it here.  Look for the Fontera blue and green label in your deli.”

*

San Diego County Judaica

Above, In her Alpine kitchen, Kira Thomas has proudly set out a challah cover that was presented to her and her husband Mark Thomas by Jerry & Sue Hermes at the time of their recent conversion to Judaism.  The Star of David tile was given to them by Debbie Mishek at the same occasion.  The Thomases purchased their hannukiah several years ago.  Next on their list: a Seder plate on which can be displayed the ceremonial Pesach foods which can be seen on Kira’s mother’s China plate, which “is very special to me.”. … At left, Fred Kropveld, who divides his time between a house boat on the Ohio River, across from Cincinnati, and an RV at Lake Jennings in Lakeside, stands by a wall hanging showing a man in a tallit in the Old City of Jerusalem. The idealized scene hangs in the San Diego home of Kropveld’s sister and brother-in-law , Bea & Abe Goldberg.

*Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com