Other items in today’s column include:
*Celebrating Israel Independence Day
*More Earth Day photos
*Recommended reading
SAN DIEGO — Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) conducted an informal poll of her constituents in the 53rd congressional district to learn how the coronavirus pandemic has affected them. She received 6,799 responses to a questionnaire.
Asked if they had been hurt financially by the pandemic, 32.5 percent said “very much so”; 42.2 percent said “somewhat”; and 25.2 percent said “not at all.” Asked if they had received a stimulus payment from the government, 39.7 percent replied “yes”; 28.5 percent said “No, but I’m expecting a payment”; 17.8 percent said “I’m not eligible” and 13.9 percent complained “the IRS website is unable to find my information.”
Davis asked respondents to indicate which programs in the CARES Act, if any, had helped them or their family. “Stimulus payment” was checked by 35.9 percent; 10.9 percent said “expanded unemployment assistance”; 5 percent said “Small business assistance”; 3.4 percent said “mortgage forbearance”; 9.3 percent said “student loan relief”; 3.2 percent indicated “other”; 3.3 percent were “not sure” and 29.1 percent said “none.”
Asked which programs they thought should be extended or increased; 19.5 percent said “stimulus payment”; 20.2 percent said “expanded unemployment insurance”; 22.6 percent said small business assistance; 14.5 percent “mortgage forbearance”; 15.8 percent said “student loan relief”; 3.9 percent indicated “other”; 2 percent were “not sure”; and 1.5 percent said “none.”
Asked if they were “waiting to hear back on any CARES Act relief you have applied for?” 45.9 percent responded “no”; 18.8 percent said they were waiting for information or a check from the Internal Revenue Service; 12.7 percent said they were waiting for an answer regarding a small business loan and 12.7 percent said they were waiting for information on unemployment benefits.
Concerning how quickly communities should be “re-opened,” 78.6 percent checked “more cautiously to prioritize protecting public health, while 17 percent said “more quickly to prioritize getting people back to work. Those checking “other” or “not sure” accounted for 4.4 percent of the total.
Asked if they wanted Congress to provide more funds “to help schools, hospitals, paramedics, police departments and other services in future coronavirus legislation,” 77.4 percent said yes; 9.8 percent said no, and 12.9 percent were unsure.
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Celebrating Israel Independence Day
The Jewish Federations of North America, including the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, are jointly celebrating Israel’s Independence Day with a webcast from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, April 29. You can sign up using this link. Meanwhile the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) plans a worldwide dance party with Matisyahu at 12 p.m. the same date. Click here to sign up for that one. There will be a San Diego after party for which you can also register by clicking here. This will include such events as a cooking lesson at 1:30 p.m. with Debbie Kornberg; documenting Israel’s history through art with Guri Stark (2:30 p.m.); Lillian Elbaz and Shevet Achim Ve Achayot Israeli Dance (3:30 p.m.); Gal Sandler with a “chocolately goodness cooking session (4 p.m.), and at 4:30 p.m. an Israeli rock party with Calibear.
In the meantime, we’re beginning our salute to Israel and its independence day with some favorite photos members of our San Diego Jewish community have sent in of themselves in Israel. In Photo (1) , Bernie Rhinerson, a board member of the San Diego Community College District, is shown in the Old City of Jerusalem in 1997. In Photo (2), Lauren Lizerbram, whose husband Sol Lizerbram is the USA president of the Jewish national Fund, enjoys a whimsical sculpture on a Tel Aviv beach.
In Photo (3), Cantor Cheri Weiss of the San Diego Outreach Synagogue is pictured at the women’s section of the Kotel. In Photo (4), Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort of Chabad of La Costa visits the coastal city of Netanya.
In Photo (5), Eric Kaufmann is pictured at Masada. We’ll continue to run photos of San Diego County Jewish community members on their memorable visits to Israel in the coming days leading up to Yom Ha’atzma’ut.
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More Earth Day photos
Ziva Gottesman advises that she and Dr. Dan Galant “usually go to Balboa Park’s big celebration because it’s filled with like-minded people who want to help make our planet a better place now and for the future.” Although there was no celebration this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the couple “went for a walk in the park. We both had on our Earthday shirts. We saw a ton of baby squirrels, a bunny, dog, kids, trees and grass. Neither of us had been outside other than to buy essentials since mid-March, so it was extra nice to be out since we’ve been stuck inside. We had vegan for dinner.” … Sandy Scheller sent us a photo of her proudly displaying some of the plants in her backyard garden in Chula Vista. She recommends: “Now is a great time to plant. Besides flowers, wonderful things to plant are berries, fruit trees,and herbs. Planting is very rewarding and healing especially during a time like this because it’s great to be outdoors and do something.”
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Recommended reading
Will former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden adapt J Street’s positions on Israel, including strong opposition to expansion of settlements? Jewish Insider questioned a number of insiders on the subject.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com