California

Four Jews Who Served as Port Commissioners Tell of Their Tenures

Members of the Jewish community who have served on the Port Commission since its creation in 1962 were Harvey Furgatch (appointed 1969), Milton “Mickey” Fredman (1970), Ben Cohen (1977) and Louis Wolfsheimer (1979), all of whom had passed away prior to my undertaking this book, and Robert Penner (1988), Lynn Schenk (1990), Stephen Cushman (1998) and Laurie Black (2007), all of whom I had the opportunity to interview. All these Jewish Port Commissioners represented the City of San Diego, except for Penner and Cohen, who were appointed by Chula Vista and Coronado respectively. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

American Friends of the Hebrew University Appoints Justin Pressman as Western Region Executive Director

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — American Friends of the Hebrew University (AFHU) has appointed Justin Pressman as Executive Director of its Western Region, which encompasses Southern California and the Southwestern states. In his new position, Pressman will develop regional strategic campaign plans, as well as implement and evaluate major giving campaigns in support of the

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California, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Greg Smith: A Quarter Century as Assessor, Recorder, Clerk

If he were so inclined, Greg Smith could have a lot to brag about. Over a period of 25 years, he won seven elections to serve as the San Diego County Assessor as well as the county’s recorder and clerk. He headed a staff of between 400 and 500 county workers in the combined operations of assessor-recorder-clerk. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Appreciating Jewish Leaders and Holocaust Survivors

It is therefore incumbent upon us to make the most of the opportunities we have now to tap into those remarkable people—and draw as much insight, wisdom, and perspective from them as we can, clear in the knowledge that it will fall to us, soon enough, to be the bearers of those stories and insights for the generations that follow.  [Doron Krakow]

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California, Doron Krakow, Jewish History, Middle East, Travel and Food, USA

Biblical Insights into San Diego’s Housing Market

The San Diego real estate scene has yet again taken residents by surprise.  In January 2020, the median sale price was $600,000.  A year later in January 2021, that rose to $650,000.  In January 2022, the price rose yet again to just under $800,000 and leveled out just under $900,000 in April 2022.  Going into Summer 2022, prices have started to plateau and even drop. [Teresa Konopka]

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Business & Finance, California, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Teresa_Konopka, USA

Brad Garrett and Friends Delight in Bellflower

Garrett did a small set and was the MC.  He mostly riffed on the audience, and after “bageling” himself as a tall Jew did a fair amount of ethnic humor.  Ethnic humor generally makes me a little nervous because I don’t know how people will take it. Until I see if they’re ok with it, I’m not sure how to react.  He handled it well though, equally picking on everyone so no one group was singled out for offense.  The audience responded well and by their laughter seemed to enjoy it.   [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Sandi Masori, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Rabbi Scott Meltzer Introduces B’nai Mitzvah to the Joy of Giving

Beginning in 2014, Rabbi and Mrs. Meltzer invested $100 per month in the Kiva organization until they had built up a credit of approximately $8,000. They pored over lists of worthy borrowers, who were vetted by Kiva’s microloan partners throughout the world.  The Meltzers then decided to which borrowers they wished to make interest-free repayable loans. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

Oh, the Mishaps that Greeted Queen Elizabeth II on Her San Diego Visit!

No sooner than Cleator took over the office as acting mayor, he broke the news to me that Queen Elizabeth II of England would be visiting San Diego, and that I, as communications director, would be in charge of the city’s press arrangements for the traveling and local media. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA

Prominent West Coast Synagogue Sinai Temple Appoints New Senior Rabbis

LOS ANGELES (Press Release) — Sinai Temple, one of the largest and most prominent synagogues on the West Coast, announced today that their board of directors has approved Rabbi Nicole Guzik and Rabbi Erez Sherman as the congregation’s new Senior Rabbis. Rabbis Guzik’s appointment is historical, as she will be the first female senior rabbi

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California, Jewish Religion

Jewish Musician and Cultural Leader Eileen Wingard Reminisces About Her Career

Violinist Eileen Wingard was never the star of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Such billings belong to conductors like Zoltan Rozsnyai, Peter Eros, David Atherton, Yoav Talmi, and Jung-Ho Pak, all of whom she played under during a career stretching from 1967 through 2004. Or perhaps the stars are donors like Irwin and Joan Jacobs, who in 2002 gave the San Diego Symphony an amazing gift of $120 million, the largest ever given to an orchestra in America. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

California Legislature’s Budget Agreement Includes $36 Million for Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program

(Press Release) On Wednesday, the California Assembly and Senate released their joint budget agreement, a critical step in the State’s annual budget approval process. It affirmed the four Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) priority items totaling $93.2 million in Governor Newsom’s May budget proposal will likely be funded, and included two new JPAC

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California, Holocaust

California Ethnic Studies Controversy Connects Woke Political Indoctrination and Antisemitism

By Jonathan S. Tobin (JNS) In the past year, controversies over whether critical race theory (CRT) and associated leftist ideologies were being imposed on public schools throughout the country have been something of a dialogue of the deaf. On the one hand, concerned parents worried about a trend in which educators have adopted radical ideas

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California, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education

Jewish-Themed Television Comes to San Diego

LOS ANGELES (Press Release) — On May 31, Cox Communications entered into a national affiliation agreement with Jewish Life TV (JLTV). As part of the agreement, JLTV launched in the San Diego market. JLTV is the nation’s largest and most robust English language, Jewish-themed television network in several markets, including California (San Diego, Orange County,

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California, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Larry Schwartz: Organizer of AFT Local 1931

A large crowd gathered on December 1, 1995, to rename the Quad at San Diego City College as Schwartz Square.  The gathering was in honor of history professor and American Federation of Teachers #1931 President Larry Schwartz.  He had died at age 62 of a brain tumor ten months prior to the ceremony. The dedication plaque there reads: “In memory of Larry Schwartz. He inspired students, challenged colleagues, and shared the passion and action of his time.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA