By Brooke Binkowski
Times of San Diego
SAN DIEGO — The Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led shock attacks in Israel that killed more than a thousand people was followed by a wave of antisemitism globally — and San Diego was no exception.
The region has experienced a major rise in targeted assaults on Jewish people and bomb threats against Jewish institutions, as well as the distribution of antisemitic flyers and vandalism, including swastikas on private property, in public areas, and at schools.
A group of organizations and leaders have formed a coalition to combat antisemitism and other bigotry locally and build community resilience — together.
The Finest Community Coalition is an independent initiative that is intended to act as a collaborative platform to coordinate strategies, share best practices, map existing efforts and fill gaps, and respond collectively when the organization deems appropriate.
Organizers said that a unified and collective approach is crucial to maintaining safety and resilience in the region.
“San Diego is our home, and I want to do everything in my power to ensure that it remains a place where my children — and all Jewish children — will feel safe, secure, and proud of who they are,” said Finest Community Coalition director Adam Maslia in a statement.
“These concerns are not theoretical for me; they are deeply personal and reflect the reality we are living in. Antisemitism has deep historical roots, and while its forms may evolve, its impact remains undeniable.”
The coalition engages nearly two dozen partner organizations — including Jewish Federation of San Diego, Leichtag Foundation, Lawrence Family JCC, the Jewish Community Foundation, ADL San Diego and American Jewish Committee — along with community leaders from diverse backgrounds.
“The coalition isn’t only about addressing hate,” said Heidi Gantwerk, president and chief executive officer of Jewish Federation of San Diego. “It’s about building relationships, fostering hard but necessary conversations, and building a San Diego that is stronger, more connected and united against division.”
The coalition said that it is eager to recruit and engage concerned non-Jewish partners to strengthen and unite the San Diego community’s response to antisemitism.
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Preceding courtesy of Times of San Diego with which San Diego Jewish World has a news trading agreement under auspices of the San Diego Online News Association.