Other items in this column include:
*Coronavirus pandemic prompts some changes in Jewish philanthropy
*Israel’s ‘annexation’ plan drawing support, critics in U.S
*Political bytes
*Recommended reading
SAN DIEGO – Anila Ali, the Pakistani-born leader of the American Muslims Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) on Wednesday moderated a panel that brought together officeholders, law enforcement officers, educators, and Rabbi Peter Levi, Orange County regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, to discuss how communities can overcome biases, bridge gaps, and forge unity.
Levi, who also currently heads the Orange County Board of Rabbis, offered fellow panelists a simple test. When he says “peanut butter and …” what words come immediately to their mind? For many the answer was “jelly” as in “peanut butter and jelly.” Just as certain words tend to be associated in our minds, so too do unconscious biases sometimes creep into our thinking about other ethnic or religious groups, or such other factors as race Americanism, and being a man. To break down these hidden, unintentional biases, Levi said, it is essential for people of different groups to have difficult conversations together, to educate themselves, and then consider moving from the personal to the societal by making public policy recommendations.
Right now, the word “police” in some people’s minds trigger some scary thoughts, commented Donna Thomas, a teacher of students with special needs in Lawndale, California. She said she and some other members of the Black community are afraid to call the police because “for a long time even people in my own family have been hassled.” Yet, she said, “I don’t want to be guilty of profiling police departments — that is not fair either.”
Among law officers involved in the discussion was Mark StainBrook, who is the chief of the San Diego Harbor Police. Referring to the Minneapolis police officer who fatally kept his knee on the neck of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, StainBrook described him as “an evil person in a police uniform.” StainBrook said that such a man should be considered a typical police officer has caused him considerable depression over the last several weeks, especially since his department and others are determined to “hire the right people, train them well, and hold them accountable.” His department has been having two-way communication with minority communities, he said, and law enforcement agencies throughout San Diego County have agreed to eliminate the carotid restraint (commonly known as a choke hold) and have been working on de-escalation techniques — “exactly the opposite of what happened in Minneapolis.”
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Coronavirus pandemic prompts some changes in Jewish philanthropy
The coronavirus pandemic has forced changes in the world of Jewish philanthropy–some perhaps temporary, but others possibly permanent, two administrators of well-known philanthropies agreed on Wednesday during an Internet panel session moderated by Charlene Seidle, the executive vice president of the Encinitas-based Leichtag Foundation.
Barry Finestone, president of the Jim Joseph Foundation, which has made more than $600 million in grants to support Jewish education throughout the United States, said foundations such as his have felt the need to cut red tape and be more flexible in responding to the emergency situations faced by Jewish educational institutions. One way, he said, was to substitute outright grants (which require a tremendous amount of paperwork) with more flexible interest-free loans for which repayments begin a full year later and take about four years to pay off. While his board of directors approved going into the free loan business during the pandemic, he said, he does not know if the board will want to continue the program after the pandemic. Additionally, he said, during the pandemic, the Jim Joseph Foundation has been more willing to contribute emergency operational funding rather than insisting on discreet programs.
Felicia Herman, executive director of the New York City-based Natan Fund, which focuses on grant making for innovative Jewish and Israeli projects (including one in partnership with the Leichtag Foundation for an urban renewal project in Jerusalem), said there has been a “tsunami of innovation” since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, including a greater tolerance for risk among philanthropists. She said grant makers are willing to “embrace ambiguity” and take more chances, even understanding that grantees “will make mistakes in a time like this.” There also has been a pooling of resources among Jewish philanthropic organizations, which resulted in the creation of the Jewish Community Response & Impact Fund (JCRIF) to make those interest-free loans. Up until the pandemic, she said, most philanthropic organizations had little experience with loan programs.
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Israel’s ‘annexation’ plan drawing support, critics in U.S
A group of 116 Republican members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirming Israel’s “right to make sovereign decisions independent of outside pressure.” Further, they said, “We are aware and deeply concerned by threats by some to retaliate against Israel as it makes decisions to ensure defensible borders. It is shortsighted to threaten relations with Israel, a long-time friend and critical ally that shares our democratic values.” The first two names on the letter were those of House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise, the House Republican Whip. Among signers were U.S. Reps. Lee Zeldin and David Kustoff, both New York Republicans.
Meanwhile, numerous Jewish Democrats are lining up against annexation, among them Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland. They, along with Senator Bob Menendez, are considered “hawks” on Israel, according to U.S. News and World Report, which noted that the three of them were among Democrats who opposed former President Barack Obama on the 2015 Iran nuclear pact. They also criticized Obama’s policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Others lining up against annexation include outgoing House Appropriations Chair Nita Lowey of New York; House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel; and Reps. Ted Deutch of Florida and Brad Schneider of Illinois.
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Political bytes
*In the 53rd Congressional District race to succeed retiring Congresswoman Susan Davis, Georgette Gomez, president of the San Diego City Council, has garnered the endorsement of the California League of Conservation Voters. Matt Young, the League’s political director, wrote: “Georgette Gómez spent decades as a leader in the environmental justice movement for San Diego. As City Council President she passed the landmark Climate Action Plan, and showed other cities around the country how they can help fight the climate crisis. Her proven record and leadership are exactly what we need in Congress, and we are proud to support her campaign.” Gomez faces fellow Democrat Sara Jacobs in the Nov. 3 runoff election.
*Although all the votes are not counted, especially absentee ballots, challenger Jamaal Bowman is leading longtime incumbent and friend of Israel, Rep. Eliot Engel, in a New York State Democratic primary race. This prompted the Republican Jewish Coalition to comment: “Jewish Republicans have had plenty of disagreements with Rep. Engel during his 32 years in Congress, but his defeat is a blow to the historically bipartisan support for Israel in the US Congress. Rep. Engel’s primary loss to a far-Left anti-Israel extremist clearly shows that the GOP is the only solidly pro-Israel party – led by the most pro-Israel President in US history, Donald J. Trump.”
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Recommended reading
*Pat Launer in Times of San Diego reviews Dear Harvey, a theatre documentary on the life of Harvey Milk, the trailblazing gay elected official of San Francisco.
*Ernie Addleson spotted a story by Jay Serafino on Mental Floss concerning the extensive eruv that encircles much, but not all, of Manhattan.
*Beth Sirull, chief executive officer of the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, is quoted in Forbes Magazine on business and commercial activity being forces for positive change.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com