Other items in today’s column include:
* San Diego County’s Shabbat Project draws international notice
* Political bytes
SAN DIEGO – Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) report that its recent San Diego fundraiser attracted 650 contributors, who honored Sydney and Denise Selati of San Diego, and met five IDF soldiers who, according to security protocols, were identified by their first names or initials only.
The soldiers included Jerusalem, an Ethiopian-Israeli IDF lieutenant who volunteered for duty in Israel’s Northern command notwithstanding a visual disability; First Lt. N., a Druze who serves in a paratrooper unit, despite his parents objections; Staff Sgt E, who successfully defended his family from a terrorist attack on the Israeli settlement Halamish; Corporal Eliana, a New Yorker serving as a Lone Soldier in Israel specializing in search and rescue, and Corporal Eden, a singer in an IDF musical ensemble who won in the Israeli reality show, The X Factor.
Among guests at the Nov. 9 event at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel were San Diego Chapter Chair Alan Katz; San Diego Chair Emeritus Norman Smith, San Diego board member Nancie Vann, FIDF National Director and CEO, Maj. Gen. (Res) Meir Klifi-Amir, and Oz Laniado, San Diego Chapter executive director.
Special tribute was extended to Holocaust survivors in our community, among them Benjamin Midler and Dr. Edith Eger.
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San Diego County’s Shabbat Project draws international notice
The parallel pink Challah bakes in Chula Vista and Tijuana – marrying the International Shabbat Project with breast cancer awareness – along with the day of study “on hot-button topics” at the Lawrence Family JCC were celebrated in a summary report issued by organizers of the just concluded 7th annual international Shabbat Project.
In a news release, the organization specifically mentioned those San Diego County events among Shabbat Project celebrations in 1,685 cities in 106 countries.
The four days of San Diego County events – starting with Challah bakes in five locations around the county, continuing with Shabbat dinners on Friday night, Shabbat services and a Havdalah concert on Saturday, and the day of study on Sunday – were part of a world wide effort that saw 771 cities in the United States participating, 51 cities in France, 36 in Russia, and 21 in Argentina.
First-time events were conducted in 210 cities and seven countries, including Rwanda, Papua New Guinea, Antigua and Barbuda, United Arab Emirates, Latvia, Afghanistan, Luxembourg, and Oman, according to the global project’s leaders.
“The growing numbers of people participating—and the passionate level of engagement—demonstrates the Jewish people’s connection to the values of Shabbat – faith, family, community, and unity,” commented South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein, founder and director of the Shabbat Project. “This past Shabbat, we showed the world—and ourselves—who we truly are.”
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Political bytes
*San Diego City Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Barbara Bry has scheduled meet and greets at the Del Cerro home of Denisse Roldan-Newell on Nov. 23 and the San Carlos residence of Mark Schulze and Patty Mooney, former City Council candidate Matthew Kostrinsky reports. Bry also has announced she has been endorsed by former Congresswoman Lynn Schenk, who stated: “I have known Barbara Bry for 40 years. I know she has the integrity, grit and leadership skills that are required of San Diegan’s next Mayor. Her unwavering commitment to doing what’s right and not what is politically expedient will serve the entire San Diego community today and far into our future.”
* Former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio, now opposing incumbent Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter in the 50th CD, has released what he calls a Republican “FreedomCare” Health Plan to counter expanded government-run programs recommended by Democrats. Among other provisions, the plan would “create a national network of health care providers that could operate outside of the stringent and costly regulations and mandates that are driving costs up. In exchange for regulatory relief, providers would negotiate the lowest possible rates for their services.” Among the more novel proposals: “To force accountability for improving health care for veterans, Members of Congress would be forced to receive their own health care from the VA system.”
* With the endorsement of the California Democratic Party now secured, San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez announced today the opening of her campaign headquarters in the 53rd Congressional District race. The campaign office is located at 7701 North Avenue, Sutie 100, in Lemon Grove.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com