I have more than a few questions about the conduct of the tax fraud case in which Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein is being recommended for probation, rather than a prison sentence, notwithstanding the fact that his pattern of illegal conduct reaches back several decades. [Donald H. Harrison]
What did the White House know about Rabbi Goldstein’s criminality? Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA
Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, former spiritual leader of Chabad of Poway, who was welcomed at the White House after he was wounded in an April 27, 2019 attack on his synagogue by a gunman, had meanwhile been under investigation by the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation on charges of tax fraud, to which he pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court. U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer said he planned to recommend probation for Goldstein because he has helped his office obtain the convictions of five other co-defendants and is cooperating in numerous cases that are still pending. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein pleads guilty to tax fraud Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA– Beth Jacob Congregation responded quickly to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order on Monday, once again closing down indoor places of worship in response to the spiking coronavirus pandemic. The governor’s order also included fitness centers, offices for “non-critical sectors,” personal care services, malls and hair salons and barbershops. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Beth Jacob issues rules for outdoor davening Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USAThe Remember Us The Holocaust (RUTH) exhibit at the Chula Vista Heritage Museum, located in Chula Vista’s main library, was barely a fourth of the way into its anticipated year-long run, when the Covid-19 pandemic forced it closure. Sandra Scheller, the exhibit’s curator and daughter of the late Ruth Sax, a Holocaust survivor, remained undaunted. She slowly but thoroughly transformed the exhibit into a virtual experience. {Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
A Holocaust exhibit takes to webcasting Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
With Covid-19 causing many people to cancel their travel plans, especially visits to countries that have imposed a quarantine, some people tune in to YouTube or the Travel Channel to get their “travel fix,” albeit virtually. We decided we could do better while remaining home in California. We went to the San Diego Zoo. [Shor M. Masori and Kenede Pratt-McCloud]
S.D. Zoo enables world travel for those staying home Read More »
Middle East, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, The World We Share, Travel and FoodPresident Donald J. Trump’s policies toward foreign students are “extreme,” “unnecessary,” and “cruel,” said Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) in leading 136 members of Congress to urge the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to rescind a decision to deport foreign students who during the coronavirus pandemic take courses on-line rather than in person. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Congresswoman Davis protests ICE’s plan for foreign students Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Matthew Brown had 20 years experience as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation before becoming the Homeland Security Program Manager for the San Diego Unified Port District. Earlier this month he joined the staff of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as part of a three-year partnership program with the Jewish Federation of San Diego County to improve security for the local Jewish community. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
ADL, Jewish Federation team to boost community security Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA
We absolutely do not feel personally safe in the current national environment. And a horrifying number are frightfully sick while an explicable number are losing their lives. We have both viral illness and viral racial injustice–they have eerily converged into an uncommon veil of American disease, distrust, disavowal–but, yes, hope. We the people, the authentic American body-psyche, have become the default leadership of our complex nation. Knowing that we’ve been forgotten, many of us have decided to remember what principles this country telegraphed when we threw off the shackles of royal colonialism. [Ben Kamin]
Many broken Americans respond with dignity, patience Read More »
Lifestyles, San Diego County, USA
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Sol Gothard passed away, at home, on July 5, 2020. He was 89 years old. The Judge, as he was known to all, was born and grew up in the Bronx, New York. He was the son of immigrant parents, Samuel and Lillian, and the youngest of four brothers, Jack,
Judge Sol Gothard, advocate for children, animals Read More »
Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, The World We Share, USA
In one of its first San Diego presentations, Avodah held a webinar on Tuesday, July 7, on the issue of police accountability. Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein, director of the Justice Fellowship in Avodah’s Chicago offices, began by quoting Deuteronomy 16:18-20: [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Deuteronomy, midrashim, and current police practices Read More »
Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Summer fringe festivals have had to make a tough choice this year: shut down or go online. San Diego’s shut down, but in Rejkyavik, Iceland, the shows went online. And San Diego’s Todd Blakesley, a writer, actor, clown and raconteur was not only in the festival, he was the face of it in their promotions. [Eric George Tauber]
Crapshoot! is a Hoot Read More »
Eric George Tauber, International, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
A full schedule of local lectures and seminars is being offered this week on Zoom or Facebook, thereby providing some Jewish-themed diversion and learning for those who are sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
Local Jewish agencies, synagogues set web lectures Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
When it comes to the Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival, not even COVID19 can stand up to the chutzpah, commitment and ingenuity of Associate Producer Ali Viterbi and co-writers Leah Salovey, Sarah Price Keating and Becca Myers, Associate Producer of JFest, as they bring us the 11th annual “Women of Valor.” This virtual show is a tribute to our local women, some unsung and others, banner-waving, who have created a more humane, compassionate, and impactful Jewish San Diego. [Eva Trieger]
Six valorous Jewish women of San Diego Read More »
Eva Trieger, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USAWhen we talk about the Declaration of Independence and the freedom it envisioned for the people of the United States, our conversations are likely to turn to the two great issues facing our country today: the coronavirus pandemic and the racial justice movement. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]
American independence, coronavirus, and racial justice Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, San Diego County, USA