PRIDE Seder with Rabbi Laurie Coskey

During PRIDE week, members of the LGBTQ community joined with allies and family to celebrate the First LGBTQ Pride Freedom Seder at the beautiful Banker’s Hill home of Bruce M. Abrams organized by Rabbi Laurie Coskey, Judi Schaim and Bruce Abrams.

The Seder followed the model of Seders held annually for the past decade in San Francisco and New York City. Some elements of the Seder were familiar to the participants like the Seder Plates though they were filled with new symbolic items including: exotic fruits, rainbow candles, bricks and stones, bundles of sticks, pink triangles, and rainbow ribbons. Attendees drank four glasses of water symbolizing that water is the source of life and in solidarity with those in recovery.

Just as at the traditional Passover the journey from oppression to freedom retold, at the Pride Freedom Seder, the story was told of the continuing Exodus from exclusion and oppression of LGBTQ individuals and communities and their journey toward freedom, equality, and inclusion. As the history of the LGBTQ community was brought to life through the Haggadah and the questions were asked and answered, the Seder participants came together as people, Jews and non-Jews, LGBTQ and allies, in transcendent moments of memory, victory, blessing, and hope.

Day 17: Update and Report from Israel

July 24, 2014

Dear Colleagues, One of the most important aspects of our coalition’s work is to help the hardest-hit municipalities in the heart of Israel coordinate a vast array of emergency responses and services. Through our Stop the Sirens campaign, we have funded 13 of these cities on the front lines. Today we share with you two stories from our #LivingIt series that spotlight life in Sderot, where JFNA’s partners have had a profound impact. Located less than a mile from Gaza, Sderot has been in the line of fire for 13 years, prompting The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Amigour housing subsidiary to build thousands of safe rooms—enough for each person in the city. Many of Sderot’s estimated 24,000 residents have roots in North Africa and the former Soviet Union, and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee runs a number of programs there to assist new immigrants and other vulnerable populations. In the past two weeks, I have visited Sderot several times, and I am heading back next week on JFNA’s third solidarity mission. I have seen the devastating emotional and physical effects of thousands of sirens and over 2,000 rocket hits since 2001. A study estimates that 28 percent of adults in the city have post-traumatic stress disorder, and up to 94 percent of children show symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Today’s #LivingIt stories reflect that toll, but also depict the strong family and community bonds that can grow from adversity—and that keep Sderot resilient. Sincerely, Jerry Silverman President and CEO, The Jewish Federations of North America #LivingIt: Teens Get Personal Shlomo Azulay has spent a lifetime on the lookout for rockets. Growing up in Sderot, his childhood memories are punctuated by the wail of sirens and bookended by the concrete walls of bomb shelters. The 17-year-old knows how to cope with the stress, anxiety and fear that come with constant bombardment. So during Operation Protective Edge, Shlomo and his friends from Turning Point, a JDC-supported program for at-risk youth, decided to support other teens now living under fire. Turning Point equips participants with leadership and entrepreneurial skills for the job market—skills that have also proven valuable during tense times like these. In Beer Sheva, Shlomo’s group shared their survival skills with other teens and established a network of solidarity that now reaches between the two cities. To Shlomo, these person-to-person connections also strengthen Israel as a whole. “We can only empower our forces in the field if civilians are strong and united,” he says. “That's our contribution to the effort." #LivingIt: A Safe Space for Family The apartment in Sderot is too small for Eden and Lior Lusky and their two young children, Liam and Shimon. But it’s home, a secure home, with a fortified safe room built by Amigour, a housing subsidiary of The Jewish Agency of Israel. Because Lior works long hours, Eden stays at home with Liam and Shimon. She’s afraid to let them out of her sight. The three of them sleep in the tiny safe room together while Lior—who can wake up quickly and move faster if a siren sounds—sleeps on the couch. Early on in the conflict, a siren sounded in the middle of the night. Lior woke up, leapt off the couch and ran into the safe room right before a rocket hit the wall behind where he slept, destroying much of their home. The Luskys relocated for nearly two weeks while Amigour renovated and restored their apartment. They are now thankfully back home. While the fear of another rocket hit hangs over their heads, they know they have a safe space.

Real Stories from Sha'ar HaNegev

 Federation's sister community, Sha'ar HaNegev, is situated just one mile from the Gaza. For the people who live there, the sound of sirens and threat of rocket fire have been a part of daily life for as long as they can remember. The Jewish Federation of San Diego county provides our sister community with ongoing support and today been asked to make an extra effort in response to the escalating critical needs of the people who live and work there.  

For Atiya Karnawy, an Israeli bedouin living in southern Israel and father of two young daughters, the situation became desperate when his daughters were both wounded by shrapnel from a rocket launched from Gaza by Hamas terrorists.

Thankfully, Partnership 2Gether Director, Shimon Shamila, was able to step in and help this family in a time of crisis due to the Jewish Agency's Special Victims of Terror Fund. A check was issued to Atiya for 4,000 NIS that would provide medical care and help his family heal. Thanks to you, they are not alone.  

 

---

Mayor of Sha'ar HaNegev, Alon Schuster, expressed to us that our support is always deeply appreciated, but never more so than right at this moment. Here is his letter to our community with his feedback on the situation:

Dear Friends Overseas,

Last month terrorist attacks from Gaza increased on our communities in Sha'ar Hanegev and on our neighboring towns. Two weeks later, a state of emergency was declared across Israel. The shooting at us continued, and was soon stepped up by rocket and mortar fire.

 

We've been aware for months of the danger of the tunnels, from which several attacks have been conducted against Israel. Many of them are opposite the border communities of Sha'ar Hanegev - Nahal Oz, Kfar Azza, Mefalsim, Nir Am and Erez. Because of that cluster of threats, Israel's government decided to instruct the IDF to enter the Gaza Strip, in a limited range, and to eradicate the intolerable threat of the tunnels.

In the most endangered communities, families with children have been evacuated from the region, with most of them being hosted in kibbutzim or youth villages further north. All communities are functioning admirably, via local leadership that works in close coordination with the regional council's emergency teams and national emergency officials.

I am in direct contact with the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister, the Chief of Staff, IDF & police commanders. All of them cite the responsible and courageous behavior of our communities and residents, and the council's professional conduct.

Friends, your support is always important to us, but never more than right now. Knowing that you're thinking about us, that our struggle is your struggle - is a tremendous source of strength and gives us great hope for happier times.

Hoping to meet soon,

Alon Schuster, Mayor
Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council

There is an ongoing need for support and your gifts are making a real difference in the lives of millions of families, elderly and disabled residents and the most vulnerable Israelis in the community. 

To reach out for the people of Israel and show your support make a donation online or text 'ISRAEL AID' to 51818.

Day 15: Update and Report from Israel

July 22, 2014

Dear Colleagues, We heard updates last week on the situation in Israel from our partners at The Jewish Agency for Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and World ORT. Today, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, executive director of the Israel Movement for Reform & Progressive Judaism, shares his thoughts with us. Following his message are two reflections about life on the ground from Israelis. Sincerely, Jerry Silverman President and CEO, The Jewish Federations of North America From Rabbi Gilad Kariv Executive Director, Israel Movement for Reform & Progressive Judaism Today is a sad day. I am heading to Modi’in for the funeral of Lt. Col. Dolev Kedar, a 38-year-old commander of the Gefen Battalion who was killed in Gaza on Monday. Ten years ago, I had the honor of officiating at Dolev’s wedding. When I spoke with him that day, I was impressed by his upstanding character and humbled by his commitment to protecting the Jewish State. He had so much life ahead of him. May his memory be a blessing for his family, friends and for all Israelis. As I grieve for Dolev and the other innocents who have perished, I am struck by how, during my 15 years with the Reform movement in Israel, we have become skilled—however unfortunately—at responding to crises. The growing Reform network—which includes 50 synagogues and community centers and thousands of rabbis and Jewish educators—reaches tens of thousands of Israelis every year. Today, with JFNA leadership, we have seen a new level of cooperation. Our work together is helping to meet the needs of our entire nation, including those who are most vulnerable: children in shelters, the sick, the elderly and the disabled. As we continue to watch over our brothers and sisters, I thank our JFNA partners for their support. From Ravit Elia-Leib in Beer Sheva:"In my home, we make games out of the experience and try, to the greatest extent possible, to maintain routines. Last weekend, I was traveling in Beer Sheva with my 6-year-old son, Itai, in our car, when the siren went off. I pulled over, and, to make things more positive for him, told him we’re going to have a race. We ran to the nearest stairwell. “Suddenly Itai began to cry and I asked him why. He said, ‘I didn’t really win. You were running in high heels and that slowed you down.’ I suppose that was his excuse for letting out his fears and how hard it is for him." From an Israeli living on the Gaza border:The IDF has uncovered dozens of tunnels used by Hamas to infiltrate Israel from Gaza—tunnels that lead right to kibbutzim and towns along the border. Fear, anxiety and stress plague border residents. "I'm sitting outside the resilience center wondering if a tunnel is being dug right under my feet as we speak," says one crisis response team coordinator. Calls to trauma centers in the area have spiked, and those who have evacuated to the north express hardships, anger, shame and guilt over leaving. We need your help.  Donate Today.  100% of your gift goes to humanitarian relief in Israel.

Mourning Max Donald Steinberg z"l

We are sharing the below message from David Siegal, Israeli Consul General, as join in our community's mourning of Max Donald Steinberg, who died in the line of fire on Sunday.  

May his memory be a blessing.

Max Steinberg with his father Stuart Steinberg [credit jewishjournal.com]

---

 

From David Siegal:

We are heartbroken by the death of Max Donald Steinberg, a Los Angeles native who volunteered to serve in the Israel Defense Forces in the elite Golani Infantry Brigade.

On July 20th, Max valiantly fell in the line of duty on the frontline of Operation Protective Edge. The people of Israel mourn his loss and honor his legacy. We salute this soldier, this son of Israel, who fought with unmatched courage and selflessness in defense of the Jewish state. Max made the ultimate sacrifice and we are forever indebted to him. May his memory be a blessing for our people and serve as an eternal inspiration of valor for all the people of Israel.

We extend our deepest condolences to the Steinberg family - parents Stuart and Evie and siblings Jake and Paige - and to all who knew and loved Max.

With great sorrow,

David Siegel
Consul General

THANK YOU for Standing with Israel

THANK YOU to the more than 1,000 San Diegans who came out yesterday to support Israel!  Our Reach Out for Israel Rally was a huge success thanks to your support and that of more than 70 community partners.   Our work is not done yet. Our family in Israel still need your support!

SIGN OUR LETTER OF SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL DONATE NOW TO AID FAMILIES IN DANGER CHECK OUT PHOTOS AND NEWS FROM THE RALLY

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

TODAY! Jewish Community to Rally for Israel at 3PM

Join Us Today at Doyle Park!

REACH OUT FOR ISRAEL July 20 | 3pm | Doyle Community Park 8175 Regents Rd, San Diego, CA 92122 Join the San Diego Jewish Community in Standing with Israel!   Music | Speakers | Leaders | Love Family-Friendly Positive Rally to Show Solidarity with Israel Signs will be Provided Wear White and Blue to Show your Support Security Provided   Can't make it?  Donate now!   Our partners are calling for immediate need for:   Moving children, elderly and vulnerable populations to safety Counseling and aid for those displaced by the violence Help for those whose homes and lives have been destroyed

JOIN US for our Community Rally on July 20 to show your support for Israel! JOIN THE RALLY

40,000 children live within range of Hamas missiles.  You can help keep them safe. MAKE A DONATION

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS