Celebrating Abraham Lincoln on his 211th birthday

Other items in today’s column include
*Political bytes
*Coming our way
*Recommended reading
*In memoriam

By Donald H. Harrison

 

SAN DIEGO – Abraham Lincoln had a warm friendship with the Jewish communities of his time.  That’s one of the reasons why, today on the 211^th anniversary of his birth,  I am so proud that some cities of San Diego County have honored the 16^th President of the United States in various ways, among them:

–CARLSBAD – Lincoln Street runs parallel to the coast line, several blocks inland.

–CORONADO – The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is homeported at North Island .

–EL CAJON – Lincoln Avenue runs north and south between Avocado and Mollison Avenues.

–ESCONDIDO – An elementary school is named for Lincoln, and the eastern extension of California Highway 78 is Lincoln Parkway/ Lincoln Avenue.

–LEMON GROVE – Lincoln Street runs east and west, south of Broadway.

–NATIONAL CITY – Lincoln Acres County Park is at 2717 Granger Avenue. Lincoln Court is west of the Interstate 805 and north of Sweetwater Road.

–OCEANSIDE – A middle school is named for Lincoln.

–SAN DIEGO — Lincoln Avenue runs parallel to University Avenue and a high school is named for Lincoln.

–VISTA – A middle school is named for Lincoln

In addition, there are Lincoln Military Housing complexes in Chula Vista, Coronado, La Mesa, Lakeside, and San Diego.

According to historical records, Abraham Lincoln was one of the U.S. Presidents who was most sympathetic to the Jewish people.  By many accounts, he was a philo-Semite.

An article written by Aish.com  offers interesting facts about the relationship between Lincoln and our people.

–Many of his speeches and written instructions were laden with references to passages in Hebrew Scriptures.

–He had close friendships with members of the Jewish community, among them Julius Hammserslough of Springfield, Illinois, and Abraham Jonas, who established the first synagogue in Quincy, Illinois.  He called Jonas “one of my most valued friends.”

–He engaged Samuel Alshuler to take some of his most iconic photographs, including one in which Alshuler lent Lincoln his coat because he thought the one Lincoln was wearing was too shabby.

–He appointed Jews as officers and quartermasters in the Union Army, and lobbied Congress to change a law in which only Christians were eligible to serve as military chaplains. When the law was changed, he appointed Rabbi Arnold Fishel as the first Jewish chaplain.

–He pardoned a Jewish soldier who temporarily deserted to be at his dying mother’s bedside.  Once the soldier returned to the Army, he fought with valor before being killed in battle.

–He reversed he infamous Order No. 11 issued by General Ulysses S. Grant expelling all Jews from the Mississippi theatre of operations, after being told of the order by Cesar Kaskel of Paducah, Kentucky.

—Edward Rosewater telegraphed to the nation the Emancipation Proclamation as Lincoln watched.

–His wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, reported that shortly before his assassination Lincoln had expressed the hope to one day visit the Land of Israel.

—Dr. Charles H. Lieberman was among the corps of doctors who tried in vain to save Lincoln’s life after he was shot by actor John Wilkes Booth.

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Political bytes

*Bernie Sanders, Ind-Vermont, came in first in the New Hampshire primary, followed closely by Pete Butttigieg, with a surging Senator Amy Klobuchar coming in third.  Well down in the pack were Senator Elizabeth Warren, from neighboring Massachusetts, and former Vice President Joe Biden.  Full coverage was provided by The San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Fourteen current and former elected and appointed officials in San Diego County are backing Michael Bloomberg for U.S. President.  In alphabetical order, they are:
–Dede Alpert, former California State Senator
—Serge Dedina, Mayor of Imperial Beach
–Mara Elliott, San Diego City Attorney
–Ed Harris, former San Diego City Councilman
–Mark Kersey, San Diego City Councilman
—Rich Leib, University of California Regent and former Solana Beach Board of Education member
–Jim Madafer, former San Diego City Councilman
–Scott Peters, Member of Congress
–Mary Casillas Salas, Mayor of Chula Vista
–Juan Vargas, Member of Congress
–Raquel Vasquez, Mayor of Lemon Grove
–Akilah Weber, La Mesa City Councilwoman
–Mark West, Imperial Beach Councilman
–Michael Zucchet, Port Commissioner and former San Diego City Councilman

*The latest San Diego Union-Tribune/ 10 News Poll finds Assemblyman Todd Gloria leading the race for mayor with 29 percent of the vote, City Councilman Scott Sherman in second place with 18 percent, and City Counilwoman Barbara Bry with 13 percent.  Three other candidates—Tasha Williamson, Rich Riel and Gita Appelbaum Singh—have a combined total of 8 percent.  Undecided voters account for the largest number – 32 percent – with the March 3 primary election looming.  In the race for City Attorney, meanwhile, incumbent Mara Elliott has 28 percent, Cory Briggs 15 percent and Pete Mesich 9 percent. Undecided voters account for a whopping 47 percent of the vote.

*The San Diego Democratic Party has endorsed San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez and its chairman Will Rodriguez-Kennedy has taken umbrage over Sara Jacobs’ mailer which states that she is endorsed by California Democrats.  However, Jacobs makes no apology, saying that she has been endorsed by such California Democrats as Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, three California members of Congress, the Martin Luther King Jr. Democratic Club and the Eastlake-Bonita Democratic Club, among others.

*Rabbi Laurie Coskey and Maureen Steiner, former San Diego County Democratic party chair, have joined the host committee of a fundraiser for San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez, who is running for Congress in the 53rd District.  The party at 5:30 p.m., Feb. 13, also is hosted by Linda & Mel Katz, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Senate President pro tem Toni Atkins, Assemblymember Todd Gloria, Nicole Murray Ramirez, and the couple at whose home the party will be held, Kevin Tilden & Philip Diamond at 4215 Arden Way, San Diego.

*Assemblyman Todd Gloria, a candidate for mayor of San Diego, has sponsored legislation in the state Assembly to outlaw the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits.  Backed by the Humane Society, the legislation seeks to put out of business so-called “puppy mills,” which breed animals for profit, sometimes in unhealthy conditions.  Pet stores could continue to  partner with animal shelters in adoption events, under the proposed legislation.

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Coming our way
* Rebbitzen Chaya Andrusier will give a demonstration of making challah “with a babka twist” at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27.  Address and reservations via this website.

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Recommended reading
Philip Molnar of the San Diego Union-Tribune recounts the career of Moises Abadi, a Jewish Panamanian who settled in San Diego and built the high rises in Tijuana along the U.S.-Mexico border.  Abadi died in a motorcyle accident in Costa Rica.

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In Memoriam
The family of Ralph Roe Berman provided an obituary of the 93-year-old San Diegan, who had been honorary life president of Temple Emanu-El and an active member of B’nai B’rith.  Survived by his wife of 45 years, Roberta Berman and sons David and Daniel Berman, Ralph Berman had operated People’s Furniture on El Cajon Boulevard and later worked with Century 21 Carole Realty in Kensington.  Following his retirement, he volunteered at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, announced Little League games, led a Cub Scout pack, and delivered meals to seniors and shut-ins for Jewish Family Service.  Berman and his wife traveled widely in Europe and Israel.  He was a devoted fan of the San Diego Padres.  A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Feb. 13) at Temple Emanu-El, 6299 Capri Drive, San Diego.

 

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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com.  Obituaries in San Diego Jewish World are sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg.