By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — After more than a year absence because of the coronavirus pandemic, the House of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park reopened to visitors over the July 4th weekend. So named because relations among nations should be “pacific” or “peaceful” — and not a reference to the ocean that washes San Diego’s shores — The House of Pacific Relations includes the House of Israel (HOI), which marked the reopening with a flag raising ceremony.
Ruth Maston, HOI president, was joined in the ceremony by Jonathan Bar-El, Consul for Public Diplomacy from the Israel Consulate-General in Los Angeles; Heidi Gantwerk;, interim president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County; and Ofry Haytman, a visiting Israeli who led in the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Hatikvah.”
Among other dignitaries on hand were Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel, spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom of Chula Vista, and Yael Steinberg, StandWithUs director for the San Diego region, who was accompanied by SWU board members Sharona Benami and Yehuda Bock.
StandWithUs, a pro-Israel advocacy group active on many college and high school campuses, recently agreed to help provide staffing for the House of Israel, which under the rules of the City of San Diego must keep the House open to visitors on Saturdays and Sundays.
After the flag-raising ceremony, HOI volunteers explained the exhibits inside the two-room House of Israel and also served refreshments including rugelach, mini-cupcakes, cookies and sparkling cider.
A very pleased Maston issued a “thank you to everyone who made this event such a success” and added, “we invite both volunteers and visitors to join us soon in Balboa Park.”
Besides Israel, others constituents of the House of Pacific Relations are Austria, Chamorros, China, Colombia, Czech and Slovak Republics, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Lebanon, Mexico, Norway, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, and USA. Not all of them have physical houses at this point, but various fundraising and building campaigns are underway.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com