Other items in today’s column include:
*Political bytes
*Recommended reading and viewing
*In memoriam
SAN DIEGO — The Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego is one of ten Jewish organizations throughout North America that runs special philanthropic programs managed by teenagers and surveyed by the Jewish Teen Funders Network (JTFN).
Recently, JTFN commissioned an impact report to determine what effect such participation had on the lives of the teens.
The report titled “Give and Grow: Jewish Teen Philanthropy’s Powerful and Lasting Impact” found that “even after a Jewish teen philanthropy program’s conclusion, when alumni leave home, teens still demonstrate strong Jewish identities, a deeper connection to Jewish community, and the inspiration, skills, and confidence to become leaders and changemakers in their own communities.
Laura Lauder‘s family venture philanthropy fund has partnered with the Maimonides Fund to support teen philanthropic programs.
“Teens in these programs explore what being Jewish means to them and learn how they can contribute positively to the world,” Lauder said. “They have skin in the game, and their personal growth and experiences through these programs impact them long-term. As the Jewish community continues to look for meaningful ways to engage teens and connect them to Jewish life, Jewish teen philanthropy programs provide a model that can be brought into nearly any community.”
Wayne Green, Executive Director of the Jewish Teen Funders Network, commented “Teens face immense challenges today, including seeing and sometimes experiencing injustice and inequity in thier community and around the world. Philanthropy programs offer a meaningful way for them to understand and address these issues as they mature into adulthood. They get to live their Jewish values through positive experiences, which clearly inspire them to remain engaged and to become leaders through the next stages of their lives.”
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Political bytes
*Josh Lockman, Southwest Regional Director for J Street, will address the Beth Israel Men’s Club via Zoom at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 19, on the subjects of President Trump’s Middle Eastern policies, the November election, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. To sign up for this free event and receive the access code, email cbimensclub@gmail.com
*Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) has successfully incorporated a $47 billion allocation for the National Institutes of Health in the Appropriations Bill just approved by the House of Representatives. According to a spokesperson for the congresswoman “In March, Davis led a bipartisan coalition of 234 House members in urging appropriators to increase the nation’s investment in medical research, which will see a $6 billion increase. This includes $5 billion in emergency appropriations supporting research and development of new treatments on the cutting edge of science as the United States races to develop a coronavirus vaccine.”
*Rabbi Ron Shulman of Congregation Beth El will conduct an online interview with Anthony Ray Hinton, who spent 30 years on Alabama’s Death Row before it was proven he did not commit the crime of which he was accused. Hinton, now an advocate for the Equal Justice Initiative, will discuss his book, The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life, Freedom, and Justice, in a program on Monday, August 10, sponsored by the Jewish Community Foundation.
*San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Bry blames her opponent for mayor, Assemblyman Todd Gloria, for wasting $58 million in rent, thus far, for the building at 101 Ash Street that formerly was the home of Sempra Energy. After the lease was signed, the city found out that the property needed to be cleansed of asbestos and made safe for earthquakes. Todd Gloria was on the City Council at the time the lease was negotiated; Bry was not.
*Joe Leventhal, a candidate in the 5th City Council District, has been endorsed by the Downtown San Diego Partnership PAC.
*In the 53rd Congressional District race between Sara Jacobs and San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez, the National Education Association (NEA) has announced its endorsement of Gomez. E. Toby Boyd, President of the California Teachers Association, said: “Educators are pleased to support Georgette Gómez for Congress. At this critical time in our nation’s history, our schools and communities need true leaders who reflect the values of those they represent. Georgette shares our commitment to provide all students with the equitable, quality public education they need and deserve. We ask everyone in CD-53 to join us in voting for Georgette Gómez this November 3rd.”
*Sara Jacobs, participating a Town Hall forum on how to combat racism with Southwestern College Prof. Peter Bolland and San Diego City College Prof. Abdimalik Buul, commented: “The only effective strategy for combating racism and racial inequality is to have honest, substantive, and open discussions about these topics. These conversations are both urgently necessary and long overdue in San Diego and across the country …”
*Dan Rottenstreich, campaign consultant for Marni von Wilpert in the 5th District San Diego City Council race leveled this attack on von Wilpert’s opponent: “Republican extremist Joe Leventhal is everything that’s wrong with politics today. Leventhal cut his teeth working for Dick Cheney, undermining a woman’s right to choose, and resisting common-sense gun safety laws. Joe Leventhal’s extreme politics are out of step with San Diego and in lockstep with Trump.” Prior to Saturday’s press release, the campaign had been fairly free of recrimination, with both candidates announcing individuals and organizations that had endorsed them.
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Recommended viewing
*Sue Cherlin, a proud grandma, wants to make certain that everyone saw the KFMB/Channel 8 feature about her grandson Noah Baird crafting mini surfboards.
*Bob Holloway suggests that if the U.S. changes its National Anthem, “God Bless the U.S.A.” would make a fine replacement for “The Star Spangled Banner.” He sent around the version above by Lee Greenwood, Home Free and the Singing Sergeants to demonstrate.
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In memoriam
Ami Cohen, 55, died Monday, July 27, Am Israel Mortuary announced. Graveside funeral services were officiated by Rabbi Yossi Tiefenbrun of Chabad of Pacific Beach on Wednesday, July 29, at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego.
*David Andrew Reich, 50, national president of Hub International’s Retirement and Private Wealth , died Sunday, July 26, after experiencing a heart attack while bike riding. Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, July 29, by Rabbi David Kornberg of Congregation Beth Am at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego.
An obituary posted by his company and shared by his family stated:
Reich most recently oversaw Hub International’s buying spree involving a number of high-profile advisory firms, including Washington Financial Group, StoneStreet Pearl River, Perennial Pension and Wealth, Wharton Hill Advisors, EPIC Retirement Services Consulting and Inter-Mountain Retirement Partners (MRP).
“That would be a lot more convenient, wouldn’t it?” Reich laughed when facetiously asked if his strategy was simply to buy his friends’ firms. “Our intent there was to put together quality groups and capabilities and bringing in the right people and working with them, as it is here. If you know them and know they are a great fit, it’s easier to do that than with someone brand new.”
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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.