Other items in today’s column include:
*Jewish American Heritage Month
*American Jewish Political Scene
*San Diego Political Scene
*Recommended reading
SAN DIEGO — Beth Jacob Congregation will hold outdoor weekday prayer services by reservation only beginning on Sunday morning, its rabbis and lay leaders announced. No decision has yet been reached on resuming Shabbat services, which normally attract far larger crowds than weekday services.
The morning (Shacharit) services at 7:15 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. and the evening (Mincha/Maariv) service at 7:35 p.m. will be staged on the Orthodox congregation’s patio, and also on the basketball court, if needed. A third venue, should demand warrant, would be the parking lot of the congregation located at 4855 College Avenue, San Diego.
“Each location will host 21 people spaced minimally 8 feet apart,” according to a notice signed by Rabbis Avraham Bogopulsky and Yoni Danzger, as well as by Philip Silverman and Rand Levin, respectively the president and executive director of Beth Jacob Congregation. The Orthodox Kashrus Commission of San Diego was listed as a cosigner.
“There will be a guard, staff person, or tefilah captain allowing entry only for those who pre-registered for a minyan,” the notice said. “We are limiting participation to men who regularly attend Beth Jacob minyanim, between the ages of 13 and 65. Anyone over 65 who wants to participate must get permission from their physician and inform Rabbi Bogopulsky ahead of time.”
The congregation asked people over 65 and those with underlying health issues “to refrain from participating at this time.”
Furthermore, “everybody must be wearing a mask whenever they are on campus. There will be no exceptions to this rule. At this initial stage, we are eliminating any shared surfaces. There will only be a folding chair to sit on and a chair facing you on which to place your personal tallis, tefillin and siddur. The shul will not be providing siddurin and talleisim.”
The notice said that the inside of the synagogue building will not be accessible and “this unfortunately means there will be no bathroom access. Please plan accordingly.”
The notice said that “further guidance” concerning Shabbat services and those for upcoming holidays “will be forthcoming next week.”
“We are excited to, please God, welcome you back to Beth Jacob Congregation, even in this limited fashion.”
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Jewish American Heritage Month
The Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET) on Wednesday profiled Henrietta Szold, the founder of Hadassah.
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American Jewish Political Scene
*U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey) has added his voice to those calling for the removal of swastikas from German POW gravesites in U.Sl military cemeteries in Texas and Utah. “Nazi Germany was responsible for millions of deaths and unspeakable atrocities prior to and during World War II,” he wrote to Veteran Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie. “It is unfathomable for VA to allow its imagery to remain in places where American service members are laid to rest. Their loved ones who visit Department cemeteries should not be subjected to the pain of seeing these signs of hatred.” The VA has said the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 precludes it from removing the symbols.
*The American Jewish Congress has congratulated former Vice President Joe Biden on his presidential campaign position paper stating that he “firmly reject(s) the BDS movement–which singles out Israel and too often veers into anti-Semitism.” The organization, headed by Jack Rosen, added in a statement: “We thank Vice President Biden for standing with Israel and rejecting the efforts to elevate the anti-Semitic BDS movement to a legitimate and acceptable form of protest. As the presumptive Democratic nominee and standard-bearer of the party, Vice President Biden’s commitment to combat the delegitimization of Israel is an important confirmation of the critical bipartisan support for the Jewish state.”
*The AJ Congress also praised Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma for signing anti-BDS legislation that prohibits that state from contracting with companies or organizations that boycott Israel. Oklahoma is the 30th state to adopt such legislation.
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San Diego Political Scene
*The Human Rights Campaign has endorsed the candidacy of Georgette Gomez in the 53rd Congressional District race for the seat from which Congresswoman Susan Davis is retiring. Alphonso David, HRC President, called Gomez “a true changemaker and a champion of the LGBTQ community.” Gomez is in a Nov. 3 runoff against Sara Jacobs in that district.
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Recommended reading
Kristina Davis reported in today’s San Diego Union-Tribune that 76 schools throughout San Diego County have successfully completed the Anti-Defamation League’s “No Place for Hate” program, which requires education and programming against bias, bullying and hate.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrrison@sdjewishworld.com
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