Other items in today’s column include
* ADL: Jersey City shoot-out was a Poway-like expression of ‘violent anti-Semitism’
*Poway Unified School District cancels Rashida Tlaib appearance
SAN DIEGO – An officer of Mazon, the Jewish Response to Hunger, says while a House-Senate conference committee-approved 3.1 percent raise for military personnel is welcome, “it doesn’t make up for nearly 10 years that pay raises for military personnel did not keep up with inflation and cost of living increases.
Josh Protas, Mazon’s vice president of public policy, added that “The problem of food insecurity will persist for thousands of junior enlisted service members and their families even with the pay raise.”
It is not unusual to see dependents on enlisted personnel lining up for free groceries distributed by charitable food banks at such installations as Camp Pendleton Marine Corp Base and Murphy Canyon Navy Housing
Before the conference committee approved the 3.1 pay increase, U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) had decried a Senate military appropriations bill that had omitted a basic needs allowance for food.
“It’s disappointing the Senate chose to ignore the military families who are struggling to put food on the table,” she told San Diego Jewish World. “We should be able to meet the basic needs of our military and my provision to create a basic needs allowance, which passed the House, would help families do that.
“What does it say about us as a nation when we can’t come together to take care of those who fight to keep us safe? I will keep working for our military families to ensure they get the benefits and support they deserve.”
The basic needs allowance would have provided “a modest and targeted supplement to base pay for all service members whose household income is at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level,” according to Mazon.
Abby J. Liebman, president and CEO of Mazon, was angered by the Senate’s omission.
“Congress and this Administration should be ashamed that they have once again ignored the needs of service members who struggle to make ends meet, shockingly making them collateral damage yet again,” she said. Our provision, the Military Family Basic Needs Allowance, would have provided much-needed support to military families who struggle financially, and must regularly rely on food pantries. This is a slap in the face to military families who are hurting. The excuse that more data is needed, is a distraction and it certainly doesn’t put food on the table for the children of military families who are struggling now.”
Democratic U.S. Rep. Scott Peters of San Diego was a member of the House-Senate Conference that approved the 3.1 percent increase for military personnel and also ended what was called the “widow’s tax” on surviving spouses.
In a news release, Peters said, “The brave men and women of our armed forces put their lives on the line for our freedom every day. This pay increase is a long overdue recognition of our gratitude for their service and the service of their families
“The widow’s tax fix will ensure surviving spouses can keep the full benefits they earned and not have to worry about financial hardship after suffering an unimaginable loss. The fix was possible thanks to the advocacy of people like Kathy Prout from Coronado—a Gold Star wife who was the first constituent to visit me in Washington, D.C. – as well as advocates across the nation, who have spent over a decade working with Congress to get this done.”
Peters said there are some 143,000 active military personnel in the San Diego region.
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ADL: Jersey City shootout was a Poway-like expression of ‘violent anti-Semitism’
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said Tuesday’s attack on a kosher grocery in Jersey City was a continuation of violent anti-Semitism. “From Pittsburgh to Poway, and now to Jersey City, the disease that is anti-Semitism has clearly spread to epidemic proportions,” Greenblatt said.
“But we will not be defeated, we will not stand down. We will not be intimidated. We will continue to speak up and out every time anti-Semitism and bigotry rear their ugly heads. We expect the same from our nation’s leaders. That is the least that can be done to honor the memories of the victims: Mindel Frencz, Moshe Deutsch, Douglas Miguel Rodriguez, and Detective Joseph Seals.”
Greenblatt said that according to New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, “the two suspects may have recent or past ties to the Black Hebrew Israelite movement, some sects of which profess anti-Semitic and racists beliefs.”
Meanwhile, Jack Rosen, president of the American Jewish Congress, has offered five steps for combatting anti-Semitism. They are:
*The presidential elections are underway, providing presidential candidates, along with prominent political figures taking part in the discussion, with a golden opportunity to stand up for the Jewish people. Each candidate should sign a pledge to use their campaigns as platforms to promote Jewish security and inclusion. News organizations must also press candidates to address anti-Semitism on the debate stage. How we deal with issues like white supremacy and anti-Semitism, both on the right and the left, should be a question posed to every candidate as debates continue — and the Jewish community expects real plans and initiatives.
*President Trump should take action to move us back on track. I urge the president to address a joint session of Congress to address the issue of anti-Semitism to the American people at large.
*Congress should dedicate America’s next National Prayer Breakfast this January to addressing anti-Semitism across religious lines. The prayer breakfast is an event unparalleled in scope and impact, and would be an excellent time for prominent political and religious community leaders to engage on anti-Jewish hatred, which bears implications for all religious denominations. This is a rare opportunity to galvanize our country’s diverse faith-based communities in common cause.
*We should welcome and encourage philanthropists to put their dollars toward real, current initiatives that can make a difference in this fight. Ron Lauder recently donated a generous $25 million to fighting anti-Semitism through education. Our schools and national education system are one of our most effective tools for combating hate and misinformation early in life, and we owe them our support. This is a social contribution that our community is deeply grateful for, and we hope others will follow his example. Teachers, clergy, employers, community organizations and others should participate in these worthwhile programs to promote understanding and inclusivity at a grassroots level in this nation.
*Finally, we must track threats like this and preempt them wherever possible. Law enforcement at every level should have the capability to confidently predict such threats, and this must be given top priority. Furthermore, the private sector should take the initiative to come forward and support law enforcement efforts to track and preempt the dangers of hate.
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Poway Unified School District cancels Rashida Tlaib appearance
The Poway Unified School District has rejected an application by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to use the theater at Westview High School for a speech at 7 p.m., Dec. 21, by Congressman Rashida Tlaub, D-Michigan, a Palestinian-American who has been a vocal critic of Israel. Local 53rd CD candidate Tom K. Wong, who is a Democrat and UC San Diego political science professor, also had planned to participate.
On the CAIR website, the proposed $65-per-ticket program had been titled: “Build and Defend Our Community: A Conversation with Rashida Tlaib” and went on to say “Over the last two years Rep. Rashida Tlaib and her colleagues in ‘The Squad’ have brought their voices to D.C. and have created progressive leadership on issues ranging from immigration reform, to climate change, to the impeachment of President Trump and BDS. Join us in welcoming Rep. Rashida Tlaib to San Diego as we discuss the most important issues of our times with Professor Tom Wong from UC-San Diego.”
The four members of the Squad–all first-term Progressive Democrats–are Tlaib; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.
Christine Paik, the school district’s public information officer, said numerous activities are to be held in the days proceeding December 21, which marks the last day of school before the winter break. She said the application could not be given final approval because the time of Tlaib’s appearance conflicted with required maintenance for the facility. She added that the rejection was because of the proposed timing of the speech, not the subject matter.
She said that the school district’s policy on use of school facilities clearly states, “Where conflicting dates have resulted, or where need of the property for public school purposes has subsequently arisen, the requesting school site shall confer with the appropriate Associate Superintendent to gain approval to ‘bump’ the scheduled user. Upon approval, the school site shall contact and assist the scheduled user in finding suitable facilities at the school, if possible. There are no reservation guarantees and organizations may be bumped minutes before their event is scheduled.”
Daniel Piedra, director of the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund, which had protested news of Tlaib’s planned speech, greeted news of the cancellation enthusiastically. “Great!” he said. “It’s wonderful! It’s wonderful!”
He added that his group did not contest Congresswoman’s Tlaib’s First Amendment right to speak, saying “We’re not trying to censor them. But from a commonsense standpoint, it is offensive. This woman [Congresswoman Tlaib] is a vociferous anti-Semite.” He added that the considers the Council on American-Islamic Relations to also be anti-Semitic, as well as engaged in attempts to proselytize in public schools, and said: “One of my personal missions is to make sure that they [CAIR] never set foot on school property….”
Asked for comment, Wong responded: “I believe the event will be moved to another location. I want your readers to know that I firmly support our collective freedom of speech, and so I welcome a conversation with Rep. Rashida Tlaib. My grandmother-in-law, who is still with us, survived the Holocaust when she fled Austria during WWII, and so my own family knows the horrors of anti-Semitism intimately. This makes having this conversation especially important. Not just to address issues related to Islamophobia, but to highlight the intersectionality of our collective struggles.”
A request for comment from CAIR is pending.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com