Other items in today’s column include
*Yom Ha’atzma’ut
*Recommended reading
SAN DIEGO –Former Vice President Joe Biden, referencing the one-year anniversary of the murder of Lori Gilbert Kaye in a shooting attack on Chabad of Poway, on Tuesday announced a three-point program to protect religious communities.
Biden said he would increase by some multiple security funding offered to religious institutions through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Second, Biden said as president he would instruct the U.S. Justice Department to prioritize the prosecution of hate crimes, and would seek congressional approval of a bill that would stiffen punishments against those who attack a religious institution.
Third, said Biden, he would bring together representatives of various faith communities to consider what other reforms are necessary, including such measures as improving mental health care in the nation, upgrading information sharing among law enforcement agencies, and demanding that social media outlets police and eliminate toxic extremist content.
We note from Biden’s website that he has been endorsed to date by California’s two U.S. Senators (Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein), and by three members of Congress from San Diego County (Susan Davis, Scott Peters and Juan Vargas). One of his national campaign co-chairs is Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
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Yom Ha’atzma’ut
*Thanks to Charles Wax for forwarding this video version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”by Celine Dorphin. It beautifully illustrates the beauty of Israel for Yom Ha’atzma’ut, which begins tonight (Tuesday, April 28).
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Recommended reading
*Tammy Gillies, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, and Michael Hopkins, CEO of Jewish Family Service of San Diego, jointly authored for Times of San Diego a reflection on the one-year anniversary of the attack on Chabad of Poway and the murder of Lori Gilbert Kaye.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com