By Robin Dishman in San Diego
I attended the House of Israel’s 75th birthday celebration Sunday on the Balboa Park international cottages lawn. Many organizations participated in the celebration.
There were booths with representatives and information from JNF providing information and tzedakah boxes; the San Diego Police Department with many officers in attendance; the Israeli Druze community with informative representatives, The House of Israel with information and jewelry and other items for sale; Chabad; and a J Pride booth. Additionally, there was a food stand including kosher beef or chicken shawarma and falafel.
I had the opportunity to speak with the representative in the J Pride booth about the J Pride parade. I mentioned that I personally know members of the LGBTQIA+ community who boycotted the parade this year due to last year’s headliner, the singer Kehlani.
The representative reported there is a totally new administration in charge of the SD Pride parade now. He also mentioned the ADL has a direct link now to the parade administration committee. I voiced the hope that in the future the parade committee will start to educate potential participants and oversee the actual parade and counsel participants that are not adhering to the Pride Parade policies and procedures and codes of conduct.
I hope that communication and education by the SD Pride Parade administration will make the parade a safe space for love and communication for all people and no person or group of people will feel the need to boycott the parade.
There are many organizations that Jewish San Diegans may become involved with at their chosen level. There are also many Jewish community events occurring in the greater San Diego area.
Websites of San Diego Jewish World (“Our Shtetl San Diego County”); the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center; and the Jewish Federation are good sources for upcoming Jewish community events.
The “75 Years of Coming Home” event was co-sponsored on Sunday by the Jewish Federation of San Diego, House of Israel, Hillel of San Diego, San Diego ShinShinim, and StandWithUs San Diego. Admission was free and all were invited to partake in the joyous day.
The House of Israel opened in Balboa Park in August of 1948, just three months after Israel declared independence, making it the first public site in the United States to fly the Israeli flag. The Israel House was built as part of the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages.
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Robin Dishman is a freelance writer based in San Diego.