Gov. Newsom’s order negates Hebrew Day’s plans for in-person learning

Other items in today’s column include:
*Young Israel of San Diego puts up tent for Shabbat services
*Statement from Rabbi Yonah Fradkin, regional director of Chabad, on Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein’s guilty plea  for tax fraud
*Local Holocaust education
*Mazal tov! Mazal tov!

By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday ordered most private and public schools in the state, including those in San Diego County, to offer only distance learning rather than in-person classroom instruction.  His order came in response to spiking rates of coronavirus infection in California.  The exceptions were schools in counties where the incidents of the virus are very low.

Only the day before,  Rabbi Simcha Weiser, Head of School at Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School, had said that when the fall semester begins, his students would return to in-person classes that would be conducted in such a way as “to ensure the health and safety of the Hebrew Day community.”

That decision, now negated by Gov. Newsom’s order, was in contrast to the Los Angeles and San Diego public school districts, which both had announced that they planned for students to learn remotely during the coronavirus pandemic until such time as health authorities deemed it appropriate for in-class learning to resume.

In contrast to those two large districts, “our school size and the readiness of our staff to teach under special protocols, gives us confidence that we can safely return to on campus learning,” Weiser had said on Thursday.  “We are moving forward on the basis of enlisting complete cooperation, on the part of each family, to uphold policies and protocols that protect the health and safety of every one of us. In fact, we have preschool sessions taking place already, with teachers and children enjoying in-person interaction safely.

“That said, we are operating within an unpredictable environment,” Weiser continued.  “Our Reopening Task Force meets weekly to monitor county updates, evaluate recommended guidelines, and adjust our campus safety measures. If between now and the start of the school year—or over the course of the school year—a health order is issued against on campus learning, or we deem that we no longer uphold our mutual commitment to ensure the safety of our faculty and students, Hebrew Day will return to remote instruction. Until then, we remain fully committed to opening our campus this fall.”

The rabbi had said that he and his staff  “fundamentally believe in-person is best, allowing our students to be emotionally and socially engaged with their peers and their teachers.”  To that point, Newsom on Friday commented: “We all prefer in-class instruction but only if it can be done safely. Safety is foundational.”

Weiser had said that should any families of the K-8 Hebrew Day School “choose to remain at home for any reason during our anticipated return to campus in the fall, we will partner with you to establish a plan for remote instruction. Our current preparations include investing significantly in both our technology and professional learning of our faculty to ensure that each student receives a quality education. We managed to exceed expectations in completing last school year, and fully intend to do so come what may this coming year.”

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Young Israel of San Diego puts up tent for Shabbat services

Located in a double unit in a strip mall at the corner of Navajo Road and Golfcrest Drive, Young Israel of San Diego has responded to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ban on indoor worship services during this phase of the coronavirus pandemic by putting up a temporary tent in the parking spaces in front of its shul.  Rabbi Eddie Rosenberg said the following requirements will be in effect for Saturday’s morning and afternoon services: 1) Only attend if feeling well; 2) Practice social distancing; 3) Wear a mask covering mouth and nose; 4) Wash hands frequently; 5) Check in with a health screening, and 6) Sanitize all touched surfaces.  Rosenberg credited Ron Schottland, Itiel Doron, and others, with erecting the temporary worship space.

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Statement from Rabbi Yonah Fradkin, regional director of Chabad, on Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein’s guilty plea  for tax fraud

Rabbi Yonah Fradkin, regional director of the Chabad Lubavitch movement in San Diego County, issued the following statement on Friday concerning the guilty plea in federal court earlier this week on charges of tax fraud:

I want to share and reinforce the statement that Chabad put out this past Tuesday regarding the news that the former rabbi at Chabad of Poway has pleaded guilty to federal financial charges.

Honesty and integrity—to G‑d and to our fellow—are the bedrock of a healthy, moral society. Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein’s actions broke the law, breached the trust vested by the United States in its stewards of charitable organizations, and violated everything that Judaism and our movement stand for.

While it is painful to learn about anyone engaging in unlawful activity, that pain is compounded when the person’s life was supposed to be dedicated to sharing the eternal moral code of the Torah and to teaching about our personal responsibility to the Divine “Eye that Sees and Ear that Hears.” That this person is someone who came to widely symbolize faith in G‑d and fortitude in the face of evil is particularly devastating.

Upon receiving information late last year about his unlawful activity, Chabad of Poway’s board relieved Rabbi Goldstein of all of his congregational roles and Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters dismissed him from his position as a representative of the movement.

Our hearts go out to Rabbi Goldstein’s former congregants, to his family and to the broader Poway community, all of whom have already experienced more devastation than anyone should ever know. We pray that their faith and resilience strengthens them in this difficult time as well.

The Torah teaches of the necessity for a person to acknowledge and take responsibility for his or her misdeeds, and to make amends to those they have hurt. Along with receiving the necessary professional help, we sincerely hope that Rabbi Goldstein utilizes his time ahead to do precisely this.

To the many who were inspired after the Poway attack by the Torah inspiration Rabbi Goldstein shared and are rightfully dismayed by this news, please know that you are not alone. While the messenger was clearly more flawed than any of us knew, the teachings remain timeless and enduring. Now more than ever we must learn them and live by them.

We commend the law enforcement efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the sensitivity with which they handled this difficult case. We pray for the strength and healing of the Poway Jewish community and the Goldstein family. We stand with you and support you as you once again rebuild the community you hold so dear.

As you move forward under new leadership, may your light and inspiration be renewed and shine ever brighter, for the city of Poway, for our nation, and for the world at large.

On behalf of Chabad of San Diego and all affiliated with our years of good work, we are appalled.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out directly to me at ryf@chabadsd.org

We will learn from this terrible episode. We commit to reviewing the financial practices for Chabad of San Diego and taking steps to enhance oversight and fiduciary best practices.

May we only have good news to share going forward.

 

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Local Holocaust education

*Ursula Israelski, a Holocaust survivor, is interviewed on YouTube by Sandra Scheller as part of the ongoing, online Project RUTH (Remember Us The Holocaust) exhibit that is based at the Chula Vista Public Library, but to which access is restricted because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Mazal tov! Mazal tov!

*Artist Becky Guttin is the recipient of the Leslie Von Kolb Memorial Award, it was announced by organizers of the 29th Annual Athenaeum Juried Exhibition in La Jolla, which opens online July 18.  Guttin has three of her art pieces on display in the Atenaeum Biennial, which she says is “really not common … They usually accept one or maybe, two.”

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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com