Other items in today’s column include:
*Israeli filmmaker to teach at CSUSM
*Western States Jewish History to return as academic journal
*Political bytes
*Coming our way
*In memoriam
By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – Prior to Iran’s retaliation on two Iraqi bases where American troops are stationed, congressional candidate Sara Jacobs denounced the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by American forces. She wrote: “This ill-conceived operation was the culmination of a reckless strategy toward Iran that started with the Trump Administration pulling out of the Iran deal. Of all the hyperbole and questions being thrown around, the only one that needs to be asked is this: is the United States safer for having done this? The answer is clearly no.
“As someone who has worked at the State Department and has studied countless interventions and post-conflict stabilizations, and as a millennial who has lived through two decades of endless war, I can tell you, unequivocally, we cannot let this escalate into another war in the Middle East.
“After 20 years of fallout from a hawkish Bush Administration, and the potential for 20 more from a blundering Trump Administration, it’s time for Congress to reassert its Constitutional role in deciding between war and peace. And it’s time to elect more Members of Congress with experience in foreign policy before it is too late. The U.S. government failed my generation 20 years ago. We cannot afford to do it again.”
Meanwhile, retiring Congresswoman Susan Davis, whom Jacobs hopes to succeed in the 53rd CD, said this: “There is no doubt that Qasem Soleimani was responsible for countless deaths and violence. What is not clear is the Trump Administration’s justification and the strategy for the aftermath of this dangerous escalation. The administration needs to explain to the American people and to Congress, which was not consulted, about the ‘imminent attack’ and provide reassurance that it has the diplomatic capabilities to prevent this from spiraling into a major conflict with Iran.”
Davis also sent a questionnaire to her constituents asking their opinion about Soleimani’s assassination.
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Israeli Filmmaker to teach at CSUSM
Israeli Nitzan Gilady, who was the director and producer of such documentary films as Jerusalem is Proud to Present; In Satmar Custody; and The Last Enemy will teach courses during the spring semester at California State University San Marcos. Susan Lapidus, director of the Murray Galinson San Diego Israel initiative, reports that Gilady’s films have received over 13 international awards and have been shown at more than 120 international film festivals.
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Western States Jewish History to return as academic journal
The quarterly publication Western States Jewish History which was founded by the late Rabbi Will Kramer and the late Norton Stern, and later published through its 50th year by David Epstein, after a year hiatus will return as a peer-reviewed academic journal that will focus on Jewish pioneers in the U.S. States West of the Mississippi, as well as Canada and countries of the Pacific Rim. It will be edited by Jonathan L. Friedmann of the Academy for Jewish Religion. jfriedmann@ajrca.edu
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Political bytes
*San Diego mayoral candidates Barbara Bry, Todd Gloria, and Tasha Williamson will attend a forum at Hoover High School to be moderated by students from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16, at the school’s gymnasium at 4474 El Cajon Boulevard.
* UC San Diego political scientist Tom Wong has decided not to run in the 53rd Congressional District after all, and says he will return campaign contributions he has received. Even prior to Wong’s departure, San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez and Kroc Center for Peace and Justice scholar in residence Sara Jacobs had been considered frontrunners in that race.
*Civil rights and farm worker rights advocate Dolores Huerta has endorsed Georgette Gomez in the 53rd Congressional District from which Susan Davis is retiring.
* Congressman Duncan Hunter, awaiting sentencing in federal court for fraudulent misappropriation of campaign funds, has announced his resignation from Congress effective Jan. 13. Former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio, who is running in Hunter’s 50th Congressional District, has criticized the fact that even though Hunter has been convicted of a crime he still will receive a congressional pension.
*Attorney Joe Leventhal, a candidate in the 5th City Council District, says city planning groups should be tasked with examining areas in a half mile perimeter of schools to make certain that they are safe. The groups should decide the adequacy of stop signs, traffic lights, and other signage in these areas, according to Leventhal. “The safety of our children has to be a top priority in our city,” he said. “Although the City Council has little oversight when it comes to our region’s education, it absolutely has a role to play in keeping our children safe.”
*Congressman Juan Vargas will host a fundraiser Jan. 22 at his home for Terra Lawson-Remer, a candidate in the 3rd Supervisorial District now represented by Kristin Gaspar. Vargas and Lawson-Remer are Democrats; Gaspar is a Republicanb.
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Coming our way
* Leslie Oster, a member of the selection committee of the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival, will preview this year’s selections at a meeting of the Beth Israel Men’s Club at 10 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 12. The Festival will be held Feb. 13-23.
*Classical cellist Amit Peled, who was presented with Pablo Casals’ cello by Casals widow Marta, will talk about Jewishness and his life, which included a stint as a 6’5 basketball player, at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 15, at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. A busy soloist who has performed in prestigious venues around the world, teaches at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University and has often been complimented for the rapport he builds with audiences. Recently, columnist Tim Smith of the Baltimore Sun commented: “His amiable and inviting personality is exactly the type everyone says we’ll need more of if classical music is to survive.”
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In Memoriam
*Leon Bolotin, 99, died Dec. 31. His funeral service is scheduled at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 8 at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road. Rabbi David Singer, director of Limmud North America, will officiate, according to Am Israel Mortuary, which is handling arrangements.
*Mannie Edelstein, 83, died on Jan. 6, leaving his wife of 60 years, Gail, and children Michelle and Basil, Mark and Patty, Darryl and Lynne, and grandchildren Shira, Ben, Megan, Jason, Max, Cole, and Garrett. Services will be conducted at 9 a.m. at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road. Am Israel Mortuary reports that Rabbi Baruch Rock of the San Diego Jewish Academy will officiate.
*Patrick Greene, 88, died Jan. 6. Funeral services at Congregation Beth Israel, 9001 Towne Centre Drive, will be officiated by Acting Senior Rabbi/ Cantor Arlene Bernstein at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 10. Am Israel Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com