Other items in today’s column include:
*Sounds of Shabbos
*Joint projects with African-Americans
*Recommended reading
SAN DIEGO — In the summer issue of the online B’Yachad, published by the Jewish National Fund, attention is given to Israel’s desire to populate its northern “frontiers” — the Galilee to the north and the Negev Desert to the south.
In a column, JNF National President Sol Lizerbram tells of the organization’s investments in “physical infrastructure, such as medical centers, fire stations, fortified schools and recreational facilities, parks and more.”
Lizerbram, a San Diego County resident, lauds “young families leaving Israel’s crowded center and moving to towns like Sderot, in the Gaza Envelope, where Jewish National Fund, together with you, our valued partners, has built homes for them to live in, developed rocket-proof playgrounds so their children can enjoy being children, and invested in employment services for them to find meaningful jobs.”
In an effort to encourage 500,000 people to move to the Negev Desert, JNF is partnering with MAKOM, a social service agency which helps groups such as new immigrants to the Negev define and attain their objectives for the towns they are building.
Says Lizerbram, “We know that for individuals to flourish they must feel a part of a community, and MAKOM communities make newcomers to Israel’s frontier towns and villages feel like they are truly part of a community.”
There is added interest in San Diego County in the success of this project in the Negev. The group of kibbutzim and a moshav surrounding Sderot are known collectively as the municipality of Sha’ar Hanegev, which is the Israeli partnership region for with the Jewish Federation of San Diego County. For many years, San Diego and Sha’ar Hanegev have exchanged educators and students, and have cooperated on a variety of other projects.
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Sounds of Shabbos
Jewbilation has created a parody of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sounds of Silence,” which it calls “Sounds of Shabbos.” It extols the day of rest as essential to the understanding of the Jewish people and our continuation. Our thanks to Bea Goldberg for forwarding to us the video that can be seen above.
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Joint projects with African Americans
The Israeli-American Council (IAC) “has asked our team to work through our local chapters and initiate a nationwide effort of project-based programs together with our local African-American communities. We hope to offer healing through understanding and action-based support.”
In a statement, the organization also said: ” We are horrified by the killing of George Floyd, which is antithetical to our Jewish and American values. The police officers who perpetrated this outrageous killing cast a long shadow on their fellow officers who defend us bravely on a daily basis.
“We firmly stand with our fellow Americans in support of equal opportunity and justice for all, particularly with the African American community. We stand united with them against any race-based discrimination.
“The IAC whole-heartedly supports the peaceful exercise of free speech, including the right to protest against hate and discrimination.
“We are deeply concerned that during these challenging times, some radical groups are taking advantage of this just cause to promote destruction, and hate, including anti-Semitism, highlighting the importance of our shared and continued battle against racism in all forms.”
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Recommended reading
*Our thanks to David F. Harrison of Moraga, California, for alerting us to this Facebook post by a neighbor, Gary Hill, who delivered a speech at a recent rally protesting the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and calling for racial justice.
*Moshe Dann, writing in the Jerusalem Post, explains why extending Israeli civilian rule over Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria is so controversial.
The Anti-Defamation League has selected New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to receive its highest award.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrrison@sdjewishworld.com