Other items in this column include:
*House of Israel needs volunteers to keep it open
*Political bytes
*Coming our way
*Mazel tov! Mazel tov!
SAN DIEGO – Never able to shake off the painful memory of having his fingers shot off by an intruder at Chabad of Poway nor of seeing congregant Lori Gilbert-Kaye murdered and two other congregants wounded, Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein has decided to retire.
He will be succeeded as spiritual leader of Chabad of Poway by his son, Rabbi Mendel Goldstein, who had already assumed many responsibilities at the synagogue and community center, including that of education director.
Goldstein, while still bleeding from the bullet that had struck him, calmed panic-stricken congregants on the last day of last Passover following the gunman’s attack. Thereafter, he engaged in a whirlwind of activity that made him a familiar face on the international stage. He was feted at the White House by President Donald Trump and he spoke at the United Nations. His words resonated with bravery and Torah reverence.
Notwithstanding his attempt to move forward, like a soldier with post traumatic stress disorder, Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein kept being revisited by the horror. For many weeks before his retirement, he had taken a leave of absence in an effort to recover. Eventually, however, the time had come to step down.
Chabad of Poway issued this statement: ““We are grateful for Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein’s thirty-plus years of leadership, especially in the aftermath of the terror attack, and he will forever be a part of our community’s story. We are thrilled to have Rabbi Mendel Goldstein take the reins of our center, and have great confidence in his skills and ability to lead. He has served the community since 2015, and comes to the position with years of experience and a contagious enthusiasm.”
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House of Israel needs volunteers to keep it open
Ruth Mastron, president of the House of Israel in Balboa Park, has issued an appeal for volunteers to help keep the facility open in the wake of the forthcoming departure of Helene Held as the longtime executive director.
“The City of San Diego requires us to be open every ?Saturday and Sunday and if we are unable to meet our obligations, the City could assess fines and penalties, and in the worst case, we could lose our House,” Mastron wrote.
“The House of Israel has stood in Balboa Park since 1948, bringing Israel’s story to thousands of visitors from around the world,” Mastron said. “No other Israel advocacy organization really gets out into the community we do, and since we are one of the few groups that is not ‘preaching to the choir,’ we believe there is a huge value in what we do. It would be a terrible shame if we lost the House att a time when Israel is under attack and antisemitism is rising around the world.”
On the horizon is the annual two-day December Nights event at Balboa Park when institutions remain open into the evening for merry-making park visitors. Volunteers need to have at least four qualities, Masron said. They must 1) love Israel; 2) have been to Israel; 3) Be able to refrain from discussing politics or religion; and 4) want a fulfilling experience representing Israel. Those interested may sign up via this website.
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Political bytes
San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez has been endorsed by the California Democratic Party to succeed Congresswoman Susan Davis in the 53rd Congressional District. She was chosen over Sara Jacobs, a former State Department employee who had run an unsuccessful campaign in 2018 in the 49th Congressional District against now Congressman Mike Levin.
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Coming our way
* Jennifer Maisel’s play Eight Nights about a succession of occupants of an apartment between 1949 and 2016 will be given a staged reading at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the Lawrence Family JCC, 4126 Executive Drive. Admission $18, JCC Members $15, with net proceeds to benefit HIAS, formerly known as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. The play dealing with immigrants will have successive one-night performances in a total of eight cities. Reservations may be made via this website.
*The editor -at-large of Tablet Magazine Mark Oppenheimer, who also writes about religion for The New York Times, and Tablet’s Deputy Editor Stephanie Butnick will participate in an “Unorthodox Live” panel at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Hive at the Leichtag Commons, 441 Saxony Rd, Encinitas. RSVPs may be made via this website.
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Mazel tov! Mazel tov!
(Have a life cycle event to report? Let us know via this email.)
* Ilana Gulkarov, daughter of Mila and Abo Gulkarov, became a bat mitzvah at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. “She did a wonderful job!” enthused David Ogul, the congregation’s president.
* Gracie Levine, daughter of Jessica and Aaron Levine, became a bat mitzvah at Temple Emanu-El.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com