Other items in this column include:
*Political bytes
*Coming our way
*Mazal tov! Mazal tov!
*Recommended reading
*In Memoriam
SAN DIEGO — San Diegans of various faiths will gather at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Marston House in Balboa Park, at 3525 Seventh Avenue (corner of Upas) to honor the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on what would have been five days past the slain civil rights leader’s 91st birthday.
An opening ceremony at 9:15 a.m. will be followed by volunteers cleaning up and beautifying the grounds of the Marston House. Volunteers are asked to bring pruning tools and gardening gloves, and to wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, and work shoes.
Children who want to volunteer must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
Among Jewish organizations sponsoring the tikkun olam project are Congregation Beth Israel, Temple Emanu-El, and Tifereth Israel Synagogue along with its Sisterhood and Men’s Club. Other groups include the Islamic Center of San Diego, First Unitarian Universalist Church, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, UCC Partnership Churches, and First United Methodist Church of San Diego.
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Political bytes
*Responding to television commercials now airing for Sara Jacobs in the 53rd Congressional District, her opponent, San Diego City Councilwoman Georgette Gomez, wrote that Jacobs’ total TV spending has now surpassed $1 million. “We may not like it,” she added, “but winning a major congressional race requires lots of money. That’s why Congress is so dominated by the ultra-wealthy and special interests. They have the money to buy seats.” However, she continued, “It’s going to take a lot more than dumping millions on TV to win a race in our community. But with one month until primary election day, it’s so important that we respond.”
*The Federal Election Commission found that Congressman Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano) had accepted a number of contributions over the legal limit of $2.800 per person per election, totaling about $12,068. It required Levin to either return the overage, or to have credit for the contributions reassigned to the contributors’ spouses. Campaign spokesman Adam Berkowitz told the San Diego Union-Tribune corrective measures now been done.
* A debate among candidates in the open 50th Congressional District will be conducted from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Maxine Theater in Valley Center. Among those expected to participate are Republicans Darrell Issa, a former congressman; Brian Jones, a current state senator; Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego City Councilman, and Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar, who opposed the former Congressman in that district, Duncan Hunter, in 2018, losing by the 3 1/2 percentage points. Hunter, having pleaded guilty to misappropriation of his campaign funds, has resigned from the seat.
* State Sen Brian Jones (R-Santee) and Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) have requested an audit of state programs to assist California’s homeless population. “Solving this dire crisis will definitely take aggressive funding, but simply throwing money at the problem is not a smart solution,” Jones said. “We need to ensure taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars are being spent wisely and used effectively. This audit is necessary and will show us what’s working – and what’s not working.” Their request will be reviewed by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Jones is a candidate in the open 50th Congressional District, formerly represented by Duncan Hunter.
* Terra Lawson-Remer, a candidate in the 3rd County Supervisorial District, will address supporters at a 4 p.m., wine tasting Monday, Jan. 20, at the Forgotten Barrel Winery, 1120 W. 15th Avenue, Escondido. The event is hosted by Mayor Paul McNamara of Escondio and co-hosted by Jack Raymond and Mavany Calac Verdugo.
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Coming our way
* Holocaust Survivor Fanny Krasner Lebovits will tell of her experience surviving five concentration camps and will sign her book, Memories, Miracles and Meaning, at 1p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, at the New Americans Museum, 2825 Dewey Rd. #102, in Liberty Station. Her presentation will be followed by a workshop of the Butterfly Project, which seeks to create 1.5 million ceramic butterflies for exhibit around the world in memory of the 1.5 million children slain in the Holocaust.
*San Diego Jewish World Editor Donald H. Harrison (yours truly) will discuss his books, Schlepping and Schmoozing Through San Diego County, Vols. 1 and 2, at 6 p.m., February 27, at the Chula Vista Library, 3655 F Street, Chula Vista. The lecture is presented by the South Bay Historical Society and sponsored by Cox Communications.
Mazal tov! Mazal tov!
*Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School reports that Hirsh & Tali Hollander are the parents of a new son, Doniel Kalman Hollander. The proud grandparents are Rabbi Chaim & Temi Hollander.
*Hebrew Day School also reports that Ariella & Yosef Afriat named their son Ovadyah Nisan Afriat at his brit milah.
*Tifereth Israel Synagogue celebrated the naming of a daughter of Rabbi Joshua & Stephanie Dorsch in the sanctuary on Saturday, Jan. 18. The parents touched the hand of Ziva Elisheva Dorsch to the Torah, and prayed that as she touched the Torah, so too did they hope that the Torah would touch her.
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Recommended reading
*JNS reports on an observatory in Chile being named for the Jewish American woman who discovered dark matter, Vera Rubin.
Israel Behind the News offers an analysis by Michael Kuttner of the increasing harshness of anti-Israel rhetoric from the Kingdom of Jordan.
In Memoriam
Beth Jacob Congregation on Saturday evening announced the death of Dr. Al Salganick, husband of Tersita Salganick. Funeral arrangements are pending.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com