Other items in today’s column include
*JIMENA offers four principles for California’s ethnic studies program
*Nashville music comes to San Diego Jewish Academy — virtually
*Political bytes
*In memoriam
SAN DIEGO — Karen Parry, a Jewish community professional who grew up and held her earliest positions in San Diego County, will return to her native city from Seattle to become the executive director of Hillel of San Diego.
Todd Kirschen, Hillel of San Diego’s president, commented that Parry’s “track record of community building and financial resource development, her natural talent and her passion for Jewish life make her an ideal leader.”
Currently development director at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, where she has served for three years, Parry is well known at such San Diego County Jewish institutions as UC San Diego Hillel, Temple Adat Shalom, the Lawrence Family JCC, and the San Diego Jewish Arts Festival.
“I remember my Hillel experience as a student at UCSD with joy,” Parry comment. “Now more than ever, Hillel is a critical force in ensuring our collective Jewish future. I look forward to leading this remarkable organization and supporting the Jewish journeys of the next generation of college students in San Diego.” Following her graduation from UC San Diego she earned a master’s degree in education from New York University (NYU).
At Temple Adat Shalom in Poway, she had served as teen director and subsequently as education director. At the JCC she served as the Maccabi Games Delegation head, and later as Assistant Camp Jaycee Director. In 2012 she was one of the Jewish women in the community who were honored with a biographical “Woman of Valor” stage production during the San Diego Jewish Arts Festival.
Other highlights in her Jewish communal life included being chosen as a national Wexner field fellow, a JCCA Merrin Teen Professionals Fellow, and service on URJ’s Community of Practice in Congregational Education.
Friends of Hillel of San Diego plans a virtual gathering at noon, Friday, Oct. 1, in a sukkah for Parry and her husband, T.J., and their daughter Emily, as well as their beagle, Percy, to meet the San Diego Jewish community. More information and reservations may be made via this website.
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JIMENA offers four principles for California’s ethnic studies program
As the second attempt to create an Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC) for California public schools wends its way through the process, the group called Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa (JIMENA) sent to Tony Thurmond, the State Superintendent for Public Instruction, a list of four core principles it believes will help insure that the curriculum will be “representative, equitable and free of bias.”
The four principles were laid out in a letter to Thurmond from Gina Bublil-Waldman and Sarah Levin, respectively JIMENA’s president and executive director.
1) “If Arab Americans re included in the curriculum. the ESMC should also include Mizrahi Jews and other Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) groups as part of the ‘broadly defined umbrella of Asian Studies.’ Non-Arab Middle Easterners — which account for more than 60 percent of California’s MENA population — have built a broad coalition called ‘Advocates for Inclusive Middle Eastern Education (AIMEE) to ensure that our stories are told.”
2) “We are deeply troubled by the CDE’s (California Department of Education) recommendation that the public will not be allowed their rightful opportunity to review and comment on any new Arab American Studies lesson plan or content to be added to the curriculum, per standard procedure as defined in AB2016.”
3) “As the only Jewish organization which provided the California Department of Education with a comprehensive lesson plan for inclusion in the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, JIMENA’s focus is sharing the lived experiences of Middle Eastern and North African Jews in North America, many of whom have been racialized and have experienced one of the worst forms of bigotry — antisemitism. Our lesson plan, ‘Antisemitism and Middle Eastern-American Jews’ centers Mizrahi Jewish experiences in a lesson plan on antisemitism in the United States.
4) “The Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum must not include the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement, and other highly politicized conversations about Middle Eastern conflicts that create unsafe classrooms for Jewish and Middle Eastern minority students throughout California.”
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Nashville music comes to San Diego Jewish Academy — virtually
San Diego Jewish Academy has announced a new music program for its lower school. Called Nash@SDJA, it will feature Nashville musicians, via Internet, teaching students about the craft of composing lyrics and music, as well as about their career paths in the music industry. Musicians also will perform their original music. In turn, students in the second grade and above will learn how to write and record their own songs.
Kelley King, head of SDJA’s Lower School, commented “This completely different approach to music education will provide a unique and engaging experience benefiting all SDJA students. Especially in these unprecedented times, it is essential that we find the most creative ways to keep our students interested–and learning. Through various lessons on crafting songs, composing lyrics and music, and sharing their personal experiences in the music industry, these musicians and writers will provide an unparalleled first-hand narrative of the music industry for our students.”
Nashville musician Dylan Brady, commented: “I am so excited to bring music into the classrooms at SDJA. This is an awesome opportunity to connect and educate the younger generation on the magic of music. I am excited to meet all the future hit songwriters.”
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Political bytes
City Attorney Mara Elliott has been endorsed for reelection by the San Diego Lifeguard Union Teamsters 911. The local’s chief steward Chris Vanos commented that she is “the clear choice to continue keeping San Diego’s beaches and bays clean and safe. Mara is a staunch advocate for the resources and support San Diego Lifeguards need, especially during the pandemic, and she’s held corporate polluters accountable to protect our clean water and coast.” Elliott is opposed by attorney Cory Briggs.
*Assemblyman Todd Gloria’s campaign is challenging the Democratic credentials of his rival in San Diego’s mayoral race, City Councilwoman Barbara Bry. In email messaging, the campaign worte: “Todd’s opponent and her right-wing supporters who want to maintain the status quo will say and do anything to beat us. She’s appeared with Carl DeMaio on his radio show, and her supporters altered a picture of Todd with our Democratic nominee for President, Joe Biden, for a hit piece. This is precisely the type of divisive politics we don’t need in San Diego, and we shouldn’t stand for it. Todd is proud to be the endorsed candidate of the San Diego Democratic Party. You’ll never have to wonder who the real Democrat is in this race.” Bry is registered as a Democratic voter. Technically, the mayor’s office is non-partisan.
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In memoriam
*Jacob Philip Kobernik, 35, died Tuesday, August 25, Am Israel Mortuary announced. Funeral services were private.
*Harold William Segal, 80, died Saturday, August 8, Am Israel Mortuary announced. His family provided the following obituary: Harold or “Hal” as his friends called him, was born in Duluth, Minnesota to Eva and Rudy Segal on April 12, 1940. He also had an older sister named, Esther, now deceased. He attended East High School and then graduated from the University of Minnesota, UMD. From an early age, Hal had a powerful singing voice, and entertained the family with his favorite song, “Ghost Riders In The Sky.” Later, he was part of a folk singing group and performed in Coffee Houses in and around college towns. He joined the Navy and became a career officer for over 20 years. He served as the Lieutenant Commander on many large ships during his military career. As a retired Naval Officer, he was a man of many interests, including folk music, cooking, politics and collecting Asian art and antiques. He was married to Elaine Lipinsky, now deceased. They have three surviving children, Diane Zeps, Kamaya Jane Cohen and Nathan Segal. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Yardyn Shraga, Grant Zeps, Kate Zeps. Although he had been ill this past year, he fought his biggest and last battle bravely, with his own brand of humor, plus the dignity of a 20 year naval officer. He passed away peacefully on August 8, 2020. Rest In Peace, Hal. There will be a military salute to Harold at the Miramar National Cemetery on August 31, Monday at 12:30. If you wish, in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Wounded Warrior Project. Condolences may be sent to the family of Harold, Diane Zeps, and Kamaya Cohen, 991C Lomas Santa Fe Drive, PMB 442, Solana Beach, CA 92075
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com. Free obituaries in memory of members of the San Diego County Jewish community are sponsored on San Diego Jewish World by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg.