Florida Celebrates Israel on a License Plate

By Donald H.. Harrison

SAN DIEGO — Only yesterday I published a column about the joy of collecting photos of automobile license plates.  Today, to my pleasant surprise, I received a notice that the State of Florida has issued a specialty plate with the legend “Florida Stands With Israel.”   A sample of the plate may be seen above.

The plate with a white stripe between two blue ones, in an artistic compliment to the Israeli flag, includes an orange that traditionally is invoked on Florida license plates, along with a Star of David, and an orange blossom.   Designed by Boca Raton artist Daniel Ackerman, the plate was selected from more than 100 entries in a contest sponsored by the Israel-American Council.  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis previously had signed on Erev Rosh Hashanah HB1135 authorizing the creation of such a state.  That bill had bipartisan sponsorship from Reps. Kionne L. McGhee, a Democrat, and Scott Plakon, a Republican.

“The concept focuses on Florida’s state flower — the orange blossom,” Ackerman explained.  “The beauty of this flower contrasted against the Star of David in the form of a tropical leaf, represents the Florida-Israel relationship and the fruit this partnership bears, ultimately benefiting both states.  The symbol interacts with the two waves on the top and bottom giving nod to the Israeli flag, Florida’s sandy tourist destinations, and Israel’s desert in bloom.”

The plate will go into production once 3,000 pre-sale vouchers are received, according to the IAC Co-Founder and CEO Shoham Nicolet, who estimated 120,000 Israeli-Americans now reside in Florida.  “The community came together to participate in this design contest, to celebrate the Florida-Israel relationship, and to demonstrate their pride in their Israeli heritage,” he said.

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Around San Diego County, we take note of these stories:

—Norman and Sivia Mann, longtime Jewish community members who respectively are 98 and 96, made the front page of The San Diego Union-Tribune today.  A story by Gary Warth told how the couple, who live at the Vi senior residence in La Jolla,  have both survived the Coronavirus.  Married for 76 years, the Manns were briefly separated when Norman’s case proved alarming enough to require hospitalization, while Sivia’s presented with only flu-like symptoms.  News of their recovery was announced by their granddaughter, Rachel Smith, who knows all about coronavirus.  She is a physician with the centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.

—Frederick Schenk has been elected president of the San Diego Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).  Affiliated with the law firm of CaseyGerry, Schenk was praised by managing partner David S. Casey Jr., son of the firm’s founder.  Noting that his father was the second president of the San Diego chapter of ABOTA, Casey commented: ““We are proud to have our partner play such an important role in ABOTA and further our longstanding affiliation with this organization as it strives to elevate the standards of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession.”  A news release notes, ”

An attorney with CaseyGerry since 1983, Schenk concentrates his practice on serious personal injury and products liability. Active in the community, he is past-president and a current member of the board of directors, 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair Board), past-president of the Civil Justice Foundation, a Washington D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to defending consumer access to justice; past-president of The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center; and was appointed to serve on the American Association for Justice’s (AAJ) Robert L. Habush Endowment board of directors. He is the only San Diego attorney on the AAJ’s board of governors, is a fellow with the National Academy of Advocacy and served on the board of directors of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Additionally, he is a recipient of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Community Service Award.”

In Florida, Amnon Markusfeld was so moved by an IDF rendition of “Hatikvah,” he forwarded it to us so that we could share it.  You’ll find it at the top of this page.

In Georgia, Jon Ossoff’s campaign  in a Jan. 5 runoff election against Republican incumbent David Perdue is being aided by some 2,000 Jewish Democrats from throughout the nation who are making telephone calls to Georgia constituents urging them to vote not only for Ossoff, but also for Rev. Raphael Warnock, who is opposing incumbent Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler in another runoff.  Among organizers are Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee.  Performers providing inspiration to the telephoners include  singers David Broza and Peter Yarrow, according to a news release from Ron Klein and Halie Sofer, respectively the chair and chief executive officer of the Jewish Democratic Council of America.

In New York, Hadassah’s National President Rhoda Smolow and CEO Janice Weinman praised inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act of a $12 million appropriation over three years “to enhance U.S.-Israel medical partnerships to develop projects in order to combat COVID-19. … Israel’s health tech, biotech, medtech and pharmaceutical sectors — as well as hospitals like Hadassah Medical Organization’s — are second to none.  It sends a strong signal that America values the expertise and ingenuity of its allies, and that the U.S. is committed to exploring new ways to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Israel.”

In Sacramento, California, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills) has been appointed Majority Whip by Speaker Anthony Rendon.  In addition, Gabriel recently was elected as chair of the California Legislative Caucus.

In Washington, D.C., The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has been awarded the 2020 Shorty Social Good Award for “Best Cultural Institution” in response to the museum’s “Stay Connected” campaign, an online presentation of Holocaust history.  The award was accepted by Holocaust survivor Al Munzer, a museum volunteer who appeared in one of the programs in the series.  He commented: “At this time, when we can’t gather in person, it has been so important to me and other survivors to share the history of the Holocaust over social media. We thank the Shorty Awards for recognizing our work to teach about the Holocaust, honor its victims and confront antisemitism and hate.”  Shorty Awards are designed “to raise global awareness around the positive impact brands, agencies and nonprofits can have on society.”

Elsewhere in the world, we are happy to report that 252 members of the Bnei Menashe Jewish community of northeastern India  make aliyah to Israel today (Dec. 15) on a special flight chartered by Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and the Jerusalem nonprofit Shavei Israel.  They were welcomed at Ben-Gurion Airport by MK Pnina Tameno-Shete, Minister of Aliyah and Integration.

Shavei Israel, a non-profit group created by Michael Freund, who himself immigrated to Israel from the United States,  reported: “The Bnei Menashe, or sons of Manasseh, from Mizoram and Manipur claim descent from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel who were sent into exile by the Assyrian Empire more than 27 centuries ago. Their ancestors wandered through Central Asia and the Far East for centuries, before settling along the borders of what are now Burma and Bangladesh. Throughout their sojourn in exile, the Bnei Menashe continued to practice Judaism just as their ancestors did, including observing the Sabbath, keeping kosher, celebrating the festivals, and following the laws of family purity. They continue to nourish the dream of one day returning to the land of their ancestors, the Land of Israel.”

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In Memoriam 

*Chaim Israel, father of Nechama Eilfort, rebbetzin of Chabad of La Costa, died Tuesday morning at his home in Jerusalem, Israel.  The funeral was conducted at 8:45 p.m. in Israel, which was 10:45 a.m. in San Diego.  Unable to travel to Israel due to COVID restrictions, Nechama Eilfort — wife of Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort — will sit shiva on the front porch of their home.  Chairs, socially distanced, will be set up in the synagogue’s front yard from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday for those who wish to comfort the mourner.   For further information and the address, one may telephone (760) 612-9787.  As editor of San Diego Jewish World and as a friend of the Eilforts, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, whose service to the Jewish community of San Diego County has been invaluable over the decades.

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