June 2021
“Cancel Culture through a Jewish Lens” A Conversation with Bari Weiss
Journalist and author Bari Weiss believes that cancel culture is damaging cherished American ideals like free speech and thought, pluralism and the presumption of innocence. In a recent piece for the Deseret Magazine, Weiss writes that liberalism is being threatened by a “new, illiberal orthodoxy that has taken root all around, including in the very institutions meant to uphold the liberal order. And cancellation is this ideology’s most effective weapon.” Weiss, a former opinion writer and editor at The New York Times, resigned in July…
Find out more »Event Replay: “Cancel Culture through a Jewish Lens” A Conversation with Bari Weiss
***THIS IS A REPLAY OF A PREVIOUSLY RECORDED EVENT.*** Journalist and author Bari Weiss believes that cancel culture is damaging cherished American ideals like free speech and thought, pluralism and the presumption of innocence. In a recent piece for the Deseret Magazine, Weiss writes that liberalism is being threatened by a “new, illiberal orthodoxy that has taken root all around, including in the very institutions meant to uphold the liberal order. And cancellation is this ideology’s most effective weapon.” Weiss, a former…
Find out more »Another Momentous Year: Annual Supreme Court Review Dedicated in memory of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, z”l
Voting rights, First Amendment rights of students and charitable organizations, the Affordable Care Act, free exercise of religion, police searches of homes - join us on Monday June 21s, 2021 at 12:30 PM PDT/3:30 PM EDT as Dean Erwin Chemerinsky takes us through an amazing year of cases decided (and still to be decided) by the Roberts Court and tells us what to expect in the coming term. Erwin Chemerinsky became the 13 th Dean of Berkeley Law on July 1, 2017,…
Find out more »September 2021
Is There a Future for the Black-Jewish Alliance?
During the Civil Rights movement Blacks and Jews worked together to transform the country. Jews made up two-thirds of the whites who travelled south to join the Freedom Rides and helped register Blacks to vote. The murder of Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney—two young Jews and a young Black civil rights worker—symbolized the historic bonds between these two groups. But these days, as both anti-Semitism and racism are on the rise, Blacks and Jews are often on opposite…
Find out more »October 2021
Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism Within the New K-12 Ethnic Studies Curriculum: How did we get here? What can we do about it?
Join Beth Israel Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Jason Nevarez, and representatives from PEER K-12 for a presentation about this evolving controversy and how you can make a positive impact. PEER K-12 -- Partners for Equality and Educational Responsibility -- is a San Diego-based grassroots organization created to unite and mobilize the Jewish community against the spread of Jew-hatred in the K-12 sphere. To learn more about them, visit peerk12.org or contact peerk12sd@gmail.com There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning…
Find out more »Documentary Screening and Discussion: “SPARK: A Systemic Racism Story”
The tragedy of George Floyd’s death sparked a look at the historical context of deep-seated, systemic racism in America. In just 32 minutes, Spark explores the root causes of this systemic racism and proposes remedies in public safety, policing, criminal justice, and social norms. This short documentary is a call to action: Consider becoming a Black community ally. Spark, made by white allies, encourages recognition of unconscious bias and commitment to unlearning a historical narrative that redefined an entire race.…
Find out more »November 2021
Virtual Food Drive supporting Mama’s Kitchen
Beth Israel is once again proud to partner with Mama's Kitchen for our November Food Drive! Mama's Kitchen provides medically tailored nutrition and meals to San Diego County neighbors living with HIV, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease. Last year, Mama's Kitchen home-delivered more than 528,000 meals to San Diegans in need. Please help me support Mama's Kitchen by making a Virtual Food Drive donation through my page. The process is fast, easy, and secure.…
Find out more »December 2021
Antisemitism: An In-Depth Review of Current Trends
Hated from the left, hated from the right. The perfect storm of Anti-semitism in 2021, and how we can prepare for 2022. ADL San Diego has been the leader in fighting anti-Semitism, and bigotry of all kinds, for over 40 years in San Diego. ADL investigates and monitors extremism, anti-bias education, and communal security. Join us for an in-depth update on current trends in antisemitism with ADL Director, Tammy Gillies, and Beth Israel Rabbi, Rabbi Jeremy Gimbel. This event is…
Find out more »Placing Jewish Ritual Stones at Veterans’ Graves
Each year, thousands of volunteers across the country participate in the Wreaths Across America remembrance program to visit over two-thousand veteran and private cemeteries to place millions of remembrance wreaths atop the graves of our veterans. Here in San Diego, our WWA committee has initiated a practice to honor and remember veterans of the Jewish faith with the custom of placing Jewish Ritual Stones atop the veterans’ gravesites. WWA is looking for volunteers to help place ritual stones on Monday,…
Find out more »January 2022
Shabbat Tzedek: Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz
Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz is the President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash, Founder & President of Uri L’Tzedek, Founder & CEO of Shamayim: Jewish Animal Advocacy, and Founder & President of YATOM: The Jewish Foster & Adoption Network. Rabbi Yanklowitz’s writings have appeared in outlets as diverse as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Guardian, and the Atlantic among many other secular and religious publications. Rabbi Yanklowitz is a sought-after educator, social justice activist, and motivational speaker as well as the author of seventeen books on Jewish spirituality, social…
Find out more »“Antisemitism: Here and Now” with Deborah Lipstadt in conversation with Rabbi Jason Nevarez
Deborah Esther Lipstadt is an American historian, best known as the author of the books Denying the Holocaust, History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier, The Eichmann Trial, and Antisemitism: Here and Now Dr. Deborah E. Lipstadt, Dorot Professor of Holocaust Studies at Emory University in Atlanta, has published and taught about the Holocaust and antisemitism for close to 40 years. In August 2021, President Biden nominated her as his Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat…
Find out more »February 2022
Courageous Conversations: Don’t Check Your Identity At the Door – A Discussion with Brandy Shufutinsky
Join our Beth Israel community for another chapter in our Courageous Conversations series. We are honored to host Brandy Shufutinsky and hear her story and wisdom firsthand. Brandy will guide us through the intricacies of her identity in conversation with Rabbi Nevarez. A highlight will feature a discussion on their viewpoints on Ethnic Studies Model Curriculums, followed by a Q&A. Brandy Shufutinsky is a social worker, writer, researcher, and advocate. She holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of…
Find out more »“Anti-Zionism is Almost Always Antisemitism” with Micha Danzig
Have you heard people say “I am not antisemitic, I am only anti-Zionist” or that “Zionists are trying to weaponize antisemitism to stop legitimate criticism of Israel”? If you want to explore what’s wrong with those types of statements and understand better how to respond to them, as well as differentiate between legitimate “criticism” and plain and simple Jew-hatred, then this is the presentation for you. About Micha: Micha Danzig served in the Israeli Army and is a former police…
Find out more »May 2022
Courageous Conversations: How to Safely Empower American Jews to Hold Antisemites Accountable – A Discussion with Liora Rez
Join our Beth Israel community for another chapter in our Courageous Conversations series. We are honored to host Liora Rez and hear from her firsthand. Liora will be in conversation with Rabbi Nevarez. This presentation will also employ real-time strategies for advocacy in and around our community. Liora Rez, Executive Director of StopAntisemitism. Liora Rez is the Executive Director of StopAntisemitism, a grassroots watchdog organization that publicly exposes antisemitic behavior and creates real consequences for those who espouse bigotry toward…
Find out more »June 2022
From Buffalo to San Diego: Understanding Antisemitism as a Corrosive Phenomenon and Threat to All Our Communities
Antisemitism has surged to historically high levels in North America and around the world, animating mass violence from Pittsburgh to Poway, Christchurch to Buffalo. Despite this fact, antisemitism remains a poorly understood phenomenon. Join us for a special session with ADL’s Vlad Khaykin, National Director of Programs on Antisemitism, for a discussion of how this age-old phenomenon manifests in North America today and the threat it poses not only to the Jewish community, but to all communities and to democracy…
Find out more »When Our Neighbors Don’t Love Us Back: The Ultimate Test of Jewish [Dis]Loyalty
Antisemitism is an ancient phenomenon that remains a threat to our communities today. What can the Torah teach us about this age-old form of oppression? Join Rabbi Jason Nevarez and ADL’s National Director of Programs on Antisemitism, Vlad Khaykin, for our annual Tikkun Leil Shavuot text study as we uncover powerful Torah and rabbinic texts that will offer insights into the ancient roots of antisemitism and its contemporary manifestations. 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm: A traditional dairy-style oneg will be available 7:30 pm:…
Find out more »Volunteer at Rachel’s Women’s Center
Rachel’s Women's Center provides overnight, emergency, short/midterm, safe and sober shelter for homeless women. To sign-up for a volunteer slot, follow this link. Congregation Beth Israel's Women of Beth Israel and Social Action Committees invite you to help us feed 28-32 hungry, homeless women on the second Sunday of even-numbered months, at Rachel's Women's Center (plus Christmas Day!). We appreciate sign-ups for one or more slots/dates, as explained below. Our plans for the next dates & times, subject to the updates below, are: At the present time--All pickups…
Find out more »July 2022
Poster & Shirt Making Party for San Diego Pride Parade
Join us anytime between 5:00 pm-7:00 pm for a Poster and Shirt Making Party in advance of Pride Parade! The annual San Diego Pride Parade, on July 16th, 2022, is the largest single-day civic event in the region and is among the largest Prides in the United States, attracting over 300,000 people. To learn more and sign up to march with Beth Israel, visit: https://cbisd.org/programs/beth-israel-marches-san-diego-pride-parade-2/ Materials will be provided (A supply of 20 blank white t-shirts in Med, L, and XL…
Find out more »Beth Israel marches @ San Diego Pride Parade
The annual San Diego Pride Parade is the largest single-day civic event in the region and is among the largest Prides in the United States, attracting over 300,000 people. Cheer on colorful floats & parade participants as we celebrate and honor the LGBTQ community at the San Diego Pride Parade in Hillcrest. We are hosting a Poster & Shirt Making Party on July 13: https://cbisd.org/programs/poster-shirt-making-party-for-san-diego-pride-parade-2/ When & Where Theme: TBD Parade Date: Saturday, July 16, 2022 Time: 10:00 am – 3:00…
Find out more »August 2022
Volunteer at Rachel’s Women’s Center
Rachel’s Women's Center provides overnight, emergency, short/midterm, safe and sober shelter for homeless women. To sign-up for a volunteer slot, follow this link. Congregation Beth Israel's Women of Beth Israel and Social Action Committees invite you to help us feed 28-32 hungry, homeless women on the second Sunday of even-numbered months, at Rachel's Women's Center (plus Christmas Day!). We appreciate sign-ups for one or more slots/dates, as explained below. Our plans for the next dates & times, subject to the updates below, are: At the present time--All pickups…
Find out more »