By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego
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STATE & LOCAL
A “Rally for Light” outside the San Diego County Administration Building on Monday, Dec. 22, the last day of Chanukah, attracted a bevy of public officials including County Assessor/Clerk/Recorder Jordan Z. Marks, who organized the event; Treasurer/ Tax Collector Larry Cohen, District Attorney Summer Stephan; Sheriff Kelly Martinez, County Supervisors Joel Anderson, Monica Montgomery Steppe, and Paloma Aguirre; County Chief Administrative Officer Ebony Shelton, and Human Relations Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez.
Marks said “The Rally for Light today on the final day of Hanukkah is our community’s response—showing that even in moments of darkness, San Diego chooses unity, courage, and light over hate. By coming together, we are committing to carry this light beyond the holiday and to stand unwaveringly against anti-Semitism and all hate. When we stand together, light wins.”
Sheriff Martinez commented, ““There is no place for hate in our communities. I want to reassure the public that their safety and well-being will always be a priority for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement. If you see something, say something. Report any suspicious activity by calling 9-1-1 or your local law enforcement agency.”
The Board of Supervisors lone Jewish member, Terra Lawson-Remer, who is the board’s chair, and Supervisor Jim Desmond were absent from the ceremony, although they both sent representatives from their offices. Lawson-Remer’s press secretary Beth Willon said, “Supervisor Lawson-Remer hosted the first ever menorah lighting at the County for the past four years. So, this year she passed the honor to Jordan Marks and spent the final few nights of Chanukah out of town celebrating the holiday with family.”
Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort of Chabad at La Costa led an interreligious ceremony in which religious figures, officeholders, and members of the public illuminated a large standing chanukiah.
Other clergy participating were Shaymus Sayed of the Muslim Community Center of Greater San Diego, Pastor Jim Garlow of the Skyline Church, and Rev. Shane Harris, president of the People’s Association of Justice Advocates.
Highlighting the ceremony was a talk by Holocaust survivor Ben Midler, who was among a strong representation of the Jewish community that included other rabbis from Chabad, Hillel of San Diego, Jewish Federation of San Diego, Lawrence Family JCC, StandWithUs, Anti-Defamation League, San Diego Jewish Bar Association, and RUTH: Remember Us the Holocaust.
Midler, 97, said he lived through six Nazi concentration camps and now teaches at schools and community forums that bigotry is unacceptable, no matter what form it takes. “I’m not going to live in the past. I’m going to live for tomorrow. Yesterday is gone, today is today, and tomorrow will be a better day.”
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NATIONAL
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) in the end-of-the-year video report to constituents, embedded in this article, says she and her office “have pushed back and led oversight into President Trump’s policies that overreached in areas like the military and immigration, because we aren’t going to be able to solve other problems if the military is patrolling our streets or our neighbors are being taken without due process.”
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INTERNATIONAL
Actress Mayim Bialik and U.S. Peace Envoy Steve Witkoff will be honored at Tel Aviv University’s annual Board of Governors meeting in May. Bialik, who was awarded a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA in 2007, will receive an honorary doctorate from Tel Aviv University. “What truly inspires us is her courage and clarity,” the University said when announcing Bialik’s selection “Mayim speaks up for Israel and the Jewish people even when it’s not the easy choice.” Witkoff, who was instrumental in arranging a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, will be conferred TAU’s George S. Wise Medal.
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Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World. The “Jewish Political Briefing” column will undergo many changes as we experiment with its format and scope. Please email your suggestions to sdheritage@cox.net.