Other items in this column include:
*COVID-19 Emergency Fund update
*Jewish Family Service’s food donation appeal for the High Holy Days
*Political bytes
SAN DIEGO — Zoom services may be good, but those in the open air are better in the opinion of Rabbi Mendy Begun of Chabad of Chula Vista. With what he hopes will be the help of other Jewish congregations, the rabbi plans to put on a free second night of Rosh Hashanah shofar blowing and concert by Cantor Daniel Moreno in Cottonwood Park in Chula Vista.
“All the way from Israel, Cantor Daniel Moreno will share his beautiful traditional and original melodies, sung with his melodic tenor voice,” Rabbi Begun said. “Daniel has sung around the world, sweeping audiences away with his rich voice and the heartfelt soul-stirring songs of our people. The powerful sound of the shofar will echo through the park as we fulfill the ancient practice of hearing it blown on Rosh Hashanah.”
Cottonwood Park is located at 1778 E. Palomar Street in Chula Vista. The service will begin at 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 20, in a venue at which Begun promises people sit at very safe social distances from each other, while wearing masks for further protection. In the video recording above, Cantor Moreno takes the tune of “O Sole Mio” (or “It’s Now or Never” when Elvis Presley sang it) and turns it into a Hebrew prayer.
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Concert attendees will receive special gift packages, Rabbi Begun told San Diego Jewish World
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COVID-19 Emergency Fund udate
Three Jewish agencies jointly report that more than 370 donors have contributed a total exceeding $2.3 million to the COVID-19 fund created by the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, and the Leichtag Foundation in Encinitas.
According to the agencies report, $1.9 million has already been deployed in helping people in need in a program that has involved 73 grants and loans and which has leveraged $14 million in funds from the government.
The fund financed numerous interest-free bridge loans to non-profit organizations to help them keep staff employed and avoid crisis decisions, according to top executives Beth Sirull of the Jewish Community Foundation, Michael Jeser of the Jewish Federation, and Charlene Seidle of the Leichtag Foundation.
More than 40 Jewish organizations received funds including Aish San Diego, Beth Jacob Congregation, Camp Mountain Chai, 14 different Chabad Centers, Coastal Roots Farm, Congregation Adat Yeshurun, Congregation Beth Am, Congregation Beth Israel, Friends of the IDF, G’mach, Hillel of San Diego, Hope Village (Chesed House), Jewish Collaborative of San Diego, Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Lawrence Family JCC, Ner Tamid Synagogue, Ohr Shalom Synagogue, San Diego Jewish Academy, San Diego Outreach Synagogue, SCY High Seacrest Village Retirement Communities, Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School, Temple Adat Shalom, Temple Beth Shalom, Temple Emanu-El, Temple Etz Rimon, Temple Solel, Tifereth Israel Synagogue, the Elijah Minyan, and Torah High School.
The Chabad Centers funded are in Bonita, Carlsbad North, Carmel Valley, Chula Vista, Downtown (San Diego), College Area, East County, Encinitas, La Costa (Carlsbad), Oceanside, Pacific Beach, San Marcos, UC San Diego, and University City.
The funding agencies said their contribution helped the Lawrence Family JCC to offer “All Day at the J, a safe space for students to learn virtually through their respective schools while maintaining the normalcy of being in a space with friends.
“Credentialed and experienced educators and programmers will follow the curriculum provided by a student’s school to ensure progress. Socially distant activities occur when students are not participating in classes, with COVID-19 safety protocols carefully followed.”
The fund also has been used to provide food, housing, basic needs, domestic violence prvention and intervention, bridge loans, extended medical benefits, and funeral expenses to family in needs, the three agencies reported.
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Jewish Family Service’s food donation appeal for the High Holy Days
Jewish Family Service of San Diego, headed by Michael Hopkins, reports that during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been providing food every week for 1,700 people — “a 309 percent increase in the number of San Diegans we served before COVID-19.”
“Many of them are asking for help for the first time in their lives,” a JFS advisory informs.
“On top of the critical need for food, new challenges arise every day as people struggle with unemployment, reduced income, and housing expenses. Our drive-thru distribution and home-delivered meals program are counting on your support to meet the urgent needs of our community.
“This year, we are hoping to surpass the 30,000 lbs. of food we normally collect during the High Holy Days food drive,” the JFS announcement went on to say.
To help, people may make a financial gift via this website. JFS said $36 will provide a week of meals for a family of three because JFS is able “to purchase pantry staples and fresh produce at greatly reduced prices for distribution and home-delivered meals.”
Another way to help is to drop off donations at JFS’s Joan & Irwin jacobs Campus at 8804 Balboa Avenue, San Diego. Suggested donations include: Grains such as whole wheat pasta and crackers, oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, dehydrated mashed potatoes; Proteins such as canned tuna or chicken, non-hydrogenated nut butters, low-sodium beans; Canned Goods such as fruit in juice (not Syrup), corn, green beans, sweet potatoes, cranberries, low-sodium soups; and Kosher Items.
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Political bytes
53rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT — Sara Jacobs has been endorsed by the Teamsters Joint Council 42 in the race to succeed retiring Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego.) Randy Cammack, the joint council’s president commented: “We know that Sara is the right choice to represent us in Congress because she marched the picket line with us in Chula Vista, she has been a strong advocate for workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she opposes dangerous laws like ‘right to work,’ which drive income inequality and health insecurity for American workers. Sara will stand against special interests in Washington and is who we trust to represent California’s 53rd Congressional District.”
5th SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT — Marni von Wilpert has been endorsed by taxpayer advocate Scott Barnett, a former executive director of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association and a former San Diego Unified School Board member. “I trust Marni to protect taxpayers by keeping an eye on oversight and rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse,” said Barnett. “The City’s budget is heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we need leaders like Marni, whose experience as a Deputy City Attorney will lead her to ask tough questions and make sound financial decisions.”
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com