By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Israel Coalition, with a membership list of 2,500 volunteers including representatives from 20 local pro-Israel organizations, will be merged into the international StandWithUs organization, according to an announcement from StandWithUs executive director Roz Rothstein.
The co-founders of the San Diego Israel Coalition will continue to provide leadership of the organization, which will be reconstituted as the 14th chapter in the StandWithUs organization. Audrey Jacobs will become the paid regional director for the San Diego chapter, while Michael Lurie will serve as the first president of its volunteer board. The Los Angeles-based StandWithUs has Israel-advocacy chapters throughout the United States, in Europe and in Israel, and as part of the merger, Jacobs will become overall public relations director for StandWithUs.
That means that Jacobs will be leaving her position as marketing and development director for Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School, a position she has held for 10 years. She said however that she would remain active at the Orthodox Jewish school, both as a parent and as a donor. She will complete her duties at the school’s annual fundraising gala, to be held June 5 at the Hall of Champions.
Following that gala dinner, Jacobs will travel to Israel under StandWithUs auspices, with meetings scheduled for her with key political and military leaders. After the summer hiatus, the new San Diego chapter of StandWithUs will have a celebration and kick-off function Sept. 19 featuring a speech by Rabbi Daniel Gordis, now an Israel-based columnist for the Jerusalem Post and a former dean of rabbinical studies at American Jewish University in Los Angeles.
The San Diego-Israel Coalition was formed 11 months ago in response to demonstrations by Israel’s foes in support of the so-called “peace flotilla” that, with the support of the government of Turkey, tried to break Israel’s sea embargo on Gaza.
From Los Angeles, Rothstein commented: “San Diego is becoming known not only for an escalation in anti-Israel activities like divestment bills and Apartheid week on campuses and anti-Israel events in the public sphere, but also for its outstanding and rising pro-Israel community led by the San Diego Israel Coalition, a grassroots, rapid response Israel advocacy group that will now become our 14th chapter.
“With its creative, fast moving and strategic events, counter rallies and communal collaboration, SDIC has become a nationwide model of success in just one year and we are honored to invite them to become part of the StandWithUs international effort.”
Rabbi Lisa Goldstein, the UCSD clergywoman who directs Hillel’s efforts in San Diego County, said “StandWithUs has always been an outstanding resource and partner for Jewish students in San Diego and a local chapter would be a great asset especially led by Audrey Jacobs and Michael Lurie whose dedication and expertise the community and students already respect.”
The next pro-Israel event at which StandWithUs/ San Diego Israel Coalition will be represented will be the Yom Ha’Atzma’ut Festival (Israel’s Independence Day) this coming Sunday, May 15, at the Ski Beach area of Mission Bay, east of Vacation Isle off Ingraham Street. You can bet that Jacobs will be there.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He can be reached at donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com