Other items in today’s column include:
*Facebook moves against antisemitism
*Political bytes
*Recommended reading
*In memoriam
SAN DIEGO — We reported on Monday that Hillel International had announced a new nationwide initiative to combat antisemitism. Today, we’ve learned that StandWithUs, which has an active chapter in San Diego, has launched a new division called “Rabbis United.”
Jerry Rothstein, a co-founder of StandWithUs and the organization’s COO, commented: “We developed Rabbis United to offer resources to Jewish communities around the world that will help to unify us as a diverse people. The response from rabbis from the full variety of denominations has been extremely exciting.”
Rabbi Yonah Bookstein, co-founder of the Pico Shul in Los Angeles and director at Shabbat Tent and Camp Neshama, commented: ““Rabbis United brings together Jewish community leaders to share ideas about how to approach sensitive subjects that are, unfortunately, dividing communities. Greater unity is vital for Israel, for confronting rising antisemitism, helping those impacted by the pandemic, and building bridges with allies.”
Rabbi Cantor Alison Wissot of Temple Judea in Tarzana, Californa, commented: ““I am so grateful that StandWithUs continues to find new ways to inspire and teach communities around the world about Israel and to fight rising antisemitism. The dream of greater unity is always such a worthy goal.”
Rabbis United will be directed by Evey Rosenbloom, who also heads StandWithUs’s community outreach. “As part of the launch we created a video to express the importance of unity, despite our differences,” she said. “It features rabbis from all denominations and spiritual community leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America celebrating their connection to Judaism.” The video was produced in cooperation with Kulanu, the organization that supports isolated, emerging and returning Jewish communities globally.
Rabbis United will provide rabbis and Jewish community leaders with the following:
A multimedia library of educational materials, programs, speakers, and virtual tours to strengthen their communities’ connection to Israel
· Access to free legal assistance related to incidents of antisemitism or anti-Israel bullying
· Safety and security information and resources
· Innovative Israel-related project ideas for b’nai mitzvah students
· Fundraising and sermon ideas
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Facebook moves against antisemitism
Guy Rosen, Facebook’s vice president for integrity, announced on Tuesday that steps have been taken to curb hate speech on the social media platform. He messaged: “We’ve made progress combating hate on our apps, but we know we have more to do to ensure everyone feels comfortable using our services. That’s why we’ve established new inclusive teams and task forces, including the Instagram Equity Team and the Facebook Inclusive Product Council, to help us build products that are deliberately fair and inclusive, and we’re launching a Diversity Advisory Council that will provide input based on lived experience on a variety of topics and issues. We’re also updating our policies to more specifically account for certain kinds of implicit hate speech, such as content depicting blackface, or stereotypes about Jewish people controlling the world. We also continued to prioritize the removal of content that violates our policy against hate groups. Since October 2019, we’ve conducted 14 strategic network disruptions to remove 23 different banned organizations, over half of which supported white supremacy. ”
Sacha Roytman-Dratwa, Combat Anti-Semitism Movement Director, commented: “The updated policy on hate speech announced today by Facebook is a significant step in the right direction to combat online anti-Semitism. For too long, social media platforms have been something of a ‘safe space’ for anti-Semites who wish to spread hatred against Jews, often reviving centuries-old stereotypes. When hatred and bigotry is permitted online, it is quickly replicated in real life and so we applaud the new Facebook policy prohibiting some of the most damaging anti-Semitic stereotypes. Although there is plenty more work to be done, Facebook has today set a strong example to all social media platforms.”
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Political bytes
*San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott has brought suit against challenger Cory Briggs over his ballot designation as a “taxpayer advocate.” Her campaign consultant Dan Rottenstreich commented, “Cory Briggs sues taxpayers, he doesn’t advocate for them … ”
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Recommended reading
*San Diego School Superintendent Cindy Marten says it will be “months, not weeks” before students can return to in-person classes, Times of San Diego reports.
*Jack Rosen, president of the American Jewish Congress, wrote on The Hill that moderates, not the so-called “progressives” are winning the battle for the soul of the Democratic party.
*In memoriam
Harold William Segal, 80, died Saturday, August 8, Am Israel Mortuary announced. The Duluth, Minnesota, native will be buried Monday, August 31, at the Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, the mortuary reported.
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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.