Other items in this column include:
*Seacrest Village has newly reconfigured kosher kitchen
*Jewish organizational news
*In memoriam
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Police Department considers last Saturday’s attack on Rabbi Yonatan Halevy to be a “high priority incident” and as a result will increase patrols in the University City neighborhood of San Diego, Police Officer Scott Lockwood of the P.D.’s Media Relations Department said on Tuesday.
That determination was made after Halevy met with Detective Emily Clark and three other police officers following his report of being attacked while walking with his elderly father, a stroke victim on Governor Drive.
There have been no reports so far of any arrests in the case.
Halevy is spiritual leader of Kehillat Shaar Hashamayin, a Sephardic congregation which is engaged in outreach.
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Seacrest Village has newly reconfigured kosher kitchen
Delayed by the coronavirus epidemic, a reconfigured kosher kitchen with state-of-the-art equipment has come into service at Seacrest Village Retirement Community, which is operated in Encinitas under auspices of the Jewish community. As a result, said Carl Measer, Seacrest Village’s Chief Operating Officer, “the culinary team is able to provide an even greater variety to the almost 600 meals prepared there daily. Our residents have discerning palates and expect a certain diversity in the menu.” Because it’s a kosher kitchen, “there is nearly two of everything: sinks, refrigerators, prep stations and more. Our efficiency, quality control, and variety is enhanced for the next generation of Seacrest residents.”
Other improvements at Seacrest Village include modernization and enlargement of the main campus dining area; a “welcoming area” outside the dining room where residents can socialize and enjoy piano concerts and happy hours, while observing COVID19 rules concerning social distancing, and an updated commercial laundry area and break room for the housekeeping staff. “The updates are designed to enhance the surroundings and comfort for the residents and the staff and we’re receiving a lot of positive feedback about the changes,” Measer said.
Matthew Schiff, Seacrest’s Marketing Director, commented that “apartments are rented month-to-month, with no buy-in free. We are offering a move-in special for new residents. They can get 12 months of rent for the price of 10” if the move in occurs before December 31, 2020.
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Jewish organizational news
*The American Jewish Congress has announced that Joel Rubin has been hired to serve as its executive director. According to Jack Rosen, president of the AJ Congress, “Rubin brings a wealth of both Jewish community and Washington D.C. experience to the position, having worked for more than two decades as a Jewish activist, congressional aide, political advisor, and national security official in both Republican and Democratic administrations.”
*Mazon: The Jewish Response to Hunger and the National Military Family Association are working together to create a new “Military Basic Family Needs Allowance in Fiscal Year 2021” with the assistance of U.S. Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego. Leaders of the task force include Abby J. Leibman, President and CEO of Mazon, and Ashish Vazirani, Executive director of the National Military Family Association. To date 104 nonprofits, including Jewish Family Service of San Diego, have joined. According to a task force statement: “Over 10% of households in the U.S. are struggling with food insecurity in the wake of COVID-19, and shamefully, many of these are military families. In fact, food pantries operate on or near almost every military base in the country, quietly providing emergency food assistance to tens of thousands of military families on a regular basis. This is an unacceptable crisis that has only worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
*Americans for Peace Now will memorialize Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the 25th anniversary of his assassination on October 20th. Among participants will be actor Mandy Patinkin, 2018 Eurovision song winner Netta Barzilai, U.S. Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland); Women’s March 2020 organizer Ginna Green, and musician Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary fame. Registration via this website.
In memoriam
*Louis Gross, 82, died Friday, Oct. 9, Am Israel Mortuary reported. Rabbi Baruch Greenberg of the Chabad Center of Oceanside-Vista conducted graveside funeral services on Sunday, Oct 11 at Eternal Hills memorial Park, 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.comFree obituaries in memory of members of the San Diego County Jewish community are sponsored on San Diego Jewish World by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg.