San Diego, CA
Jewish American Heritage Month: San Diego’s Jewish community reflects city’s diversity in culture and faith
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – San Diego is home to 100,000 people who identify as Jewish, making up about 2% of the city’s population — and the data and the people behind it reveal a community as diverse as the city itself.
The Jewish Federation’s most recent survey found that 18% of San Diego’s Jewish community identifies as Hispanic or as a person of color. Nearly a quarter — 23% — regularly speak a language other than English at home, and 17% of Jewish households include someone born outside the United States, including the USSR, Israel, Latin America, Europe, South Africa, and Mexico.
Heidi Gantwerk, the President and CEO of the Jewish Federation, said the community’s diversity is reflected in everything from food to faith.
“It’s wonderful. The foods are different, and the way they say the prayers is different. The way they think about the holidays is different.”
“And they all bring their own rich cultural traditions and history with them, which makes for a really exciting blend of different practices – cultural and religious both,” Gantwerk said.
Half of San Diego’s Jewish community does not identify with any specific denomination. More than half — 51% — of Jewish couples are in interfaith relationships.
“If you ask people what Judaism is, what being Jewish means to them, religion is not the first thing many people will say,” Gantwerk explains.
“We have an expression we talk about – Jewish peoplehood; to be part of the Jewish people. That has historical implications. Cultural implications. Religious implications. Genealogical implications. And there are a lot of people in SD who feel very strongly that they are part of what we call K’lal Yisroel, part of the Jewish people, but they’re not religious.”
Sixteen percent identify as LGBTQ+, and 30% have lived in San Diego for less than a decade. The Jewish population also skews slightly older than San Diego overall, with 27% above the age of 65.
Beyond the numbers, individual congregations reflect that diversity firsthand. Ohr Shalom Synagogue, located in Bankers Hill, recently celebrated 100 years in its historic building. The congregation draws members from around the world, including some who cross the border to attend services.
One member said the congregation’s diversity is what makes it feel like home.
“The fact that we’re able to hold a multitude of being, ways of expressing, and ways of really holding each other, is amazing! And I really think that goes to the heart of what the US is traditionally about,” said Alex Van Frank, whose family has roots in Mexico and Europe.
“It’s really a coming together of a lot of different things to make this really sweet, I dunno, melody of friendships that you wouldn’t otherwise find,” she said.
Gantwerk adds that a look at some other numbers breaks the stereotypes commonly associated with Judaism.
“People have the impression that all Jews are wealthy,” she says. “That’s a trope, and it’s false. We are just as economically diverse as every other community. 15% of our Jewish community is struggling every day to make ends meet.”
Van Frank says that rich diversity gives the Jewish community a lot to share with San Diego at large.
“We are open to sharing some of our values, like education and taking care of community, family, and friends. I think these are the types of things that permeate living in society. And all of our collective responsibility to each other to be in community…
“We practice by living. And living our Jewishness means we are out in the community with everyone else as well. And we are helping to improve the world – Tikkun Olam. I think that’s a very important thing. I know a lot of people outside the (Jewish) community also try to make the world a better place. For us that’s a driving force.
This reporting is part of coverage of San Diego’s Jewish community during Jewish American Heritage Month. It grew out of ABC 10News Anchor Jared Aarons’ participation in the Karsh Fellowship — the nation’s first and only fellowship dedicated to journalism about Jewish topics. The fellowship included three weekends of learning in Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C., focused on covering issues from antisemitism to religion with greater depth and nuance.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
CORONADO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Final preparations are underway for NASCAR’s historic race weekend at Naval Base Coronado, where stock cars will compete on an active military installation for the first time in the sport’s history.
Crews, race teams, military personnel, first responders and event staff spent Thursday putting the finishing touches on the temporary road course as thousands of fans prepare to descend on the base for the inaugural event.
“The countdown is on,” as organizers work to transform portions of the installation into a race venue unlike any NASCAR has hosted before.
“It’s a very proud moment for NASCAR and myself and my company for being part of it,” said Jordan Litchko, a NASCAR production partner with ignition production. “It’s the America 250, so what a year to celebrate and be here on the naval base.”
Officials say the event marks the first time a NASCAR national series race has been held on a military base, bringing one of America’s most recognizable motorsports directly onto a working military installation.
Unlike traditional oval tracks, competitors will tackle a temporary road course built specifically for the event.
“It’s a road course race, which adds way more excitement, so it’s going to be ultra challenging,” Litchko said.
Thursday’s preparations included long lines of team members, vendors, staff and emergency personnel picking up credentials and completing security and base access requirements ahead of race weekend.
Meanwhile, drivers and crews got their first close look at the unique layout, which winds through portions of the base and presents a challenge far different from a conventional speedway.
With large crowds expected throughout the weekend, organizers are encouraging fans to plan ahead and allow extra travel time. Traffic delays are anticipated around Naval Base Coronado and nearby access points as spectators arrive for the event.
After months of planning and construction, the wait is nearly over.
On Friday, engines will roar to life aboard Naval Base Coronado, marking a milestone moment for NASCAR and creating a new chapter in the sport’s history. By the weekend’s end, fans will witness a race unlike any ever held before — stock cars competing on a military base in the heart of San Diego.
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The City of San Diego is beginning to install 286 metered parking spaces this week in downtown San Ysidro in an effort to increase parking turnover, it was announced Thursday.
To develop the plan, city leaders worked with the San Ysidro business community. Revenue collected from the meters is reserved for transportation, parking and safety improvements in San Ysidro.
“Feeding parking meters feeds neighborhood repairs, and we can’t wait to get to work for the San Ysidro community,” said Naomi Chavez, interim director of the city’s Transportation Department. “This new parking zone will bring long overdue change that will help support local business activity and generate revenue that will be reinvested directly into improving neighborhood quality of life in San Ysidro.”
Crews began preparing the bases for the meters last week and installation work is expected to last through June. According to the city, these will be multi-space meter kiosks and drivers should be aware that they will need to go to the nearest kiosk to pay for parking since there won’t be a meter at each space.
Metered parking goes into effect on July 1 and will be enforced 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays. The parking rate is $2.50 an hour, with a maximum time limit of four hours.
City-led parking studies determined vehicles were parking on the streets of the neighborhood for hours or days at a time, making street parking for the area’s businesses scarce.
Drivers who customarily use free street parking when traveling across the border to Mexico are encouraged to use “one of the many paid off-street parking lots in the area,” a city statement read.
“The findings [of the parking study] clearly demonstrate the need for action. High parking occupancy on unregulated segments, along with data showing that 37% of vehicles exceed the existing two-hour limit and an average parking duration of over five hours, indicate that current conditions reduce turnover and limit access for local businesses and visitors,” wrote Alfredo Ripa, president of the San Ysidro Community Economic Development Corporation. “The proposed introduction of approximately 286 metered spaces, along with better signage, clearer designations and continued enforcement, represents a thoughtful and data-driven approach to improving parking availability and supporting economic activity in the community.”
Areas where the meter kiosks will be installed include:
— East San Ysidro Boulevard between Border Village Road to Camino De La Plaza (both sides);
— Border Village Road between East San Ysidro Boulevard (north) to East San Ysidro Boulevard (south), (both sides);
— Front Street between Border Village Road to end of cul-de-sac (south side);
— Bolton Hall Road between East San Ysidro Boulevard to Border Village Road (south side);
— Louisiana Avenue between East San Ysidro Boulevard to end of cul-de- sac (south side);
— Virginia Avenue between East San Ysidro Boulevard to Border Village Road (both sides); and
— East San Ysidro Boulevard between Willow Road and East Park Avenue (south side).
POWAY, Calif. (KGTV) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office is asking for any information regarding the whereabouts of a missing Poway man.
59-year-old William Clayton Miller was reported missing by his sister, who last saw him on March 2, 2026.
Miller’s car was later found at the Blue Sky Ecological Preserve in the City of Poway, where it sat for several weeks, according to authorities.
On Saturday, June 13, around 80 Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteers and detectives from the Major Crimes Division conducted a search of the Lake Poway area and found nothing of significance.
This is the second coordinated search by the Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue teams.
Miller is described as a white male adult, 6 feet 0 inches tall, 210 pounds, bald, of medium build, with brown eyes and white hair.
Miller has been categorized as a voluntary missing adult and is not known to have any life-threatening medical conditions, nor does he require life- sustaining medications.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of William Clayton Miller is urged to contact the Major Crimes Division at 858‑285‑6330.
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