San Diego, CA
Our Shtetl San Diego County: Closing Weekend of the RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust Exhibit – San Diego Jewish World
By Cailin Acosta
SAN DIEGO – When I learned that the RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust exhibit at the Rancho San Diego Library would be having its closing ceremony this weekend, I felt a little sad. It is a very thorough exhibit and I spent time reading the many stories of survivors. I am going on Thursday (tomorrow) with the Jewish Women’s Circle of Chabad East County one more time.
I will think of my dear late friend Rose Schindler who told me personally her father told her to “stay alive, so that you can tell the world what they are doing to us.” With the exhibit having its closing ceremony (it will remain open until June) I thought of Schindler’s words and wondered, now what? Who is going to continue to tell the story? Our survivors are sadly aging and passing so it relies on us to tell the stories and to not forget.
I will never forget the amazing survivors I met and the connections I had with them. At the closing ceremony, they will be showing a video presentation looking back at the then and now of the exhibit. Special guest speakers feature Matt Dunford from Love on the Spectrum, San Diego County Assessor Jordan Marks, Mayor Ron Morrison of National City, Mayor Bill Wells of El Cajon, and Roosevelt Williams the III “The Man Behind the Rose.” This event is free and starts at 3 pm.
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Chabad of Downtown is hosting a Shabbat Dinner on May 17, services start at 7 pm, and then a festive dinner to follow. If you have never been to a community Shabbat dinner, then you really should experience it. Click here to send in your reservation.
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The JCC has an action-packed event on May 19 to celebrate Israel now and forever. This free event will feature musical performances, food, and community. Click here to register.
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I love finding free family activities online to celebrate Jewish holidays together. The IAC Keshet and OFEK put together this family booklet you can print and celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut creating some fun activities together. Click here for the free booklet.
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Hadassah is hosting a FUNdraiser for fun people on June 23 at Tifereth Israel Synagogue! Marsha Starr is the featured Hypno Diva along with the San Diego Miriam Group. If you love a show with a laugh-a-minute explosion of hilarity, then this is the show you need to attend, and you MIGHT be able to jump on stage and be a part of the show! Proceeds will be contributed to a state-of-the-art rehabilitation hospital in Israel that serves everyone regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political persuasion. Click here to attend and laugh knowing you are donating to an amazing cause.
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GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-51) and Rep. Maria Salazar (FL-27) introduced the bipartisan Global Internet Freedom Act to reinforce that internet freedom is fundamental to human rights. Jacobs said: “In the 21st century, internet freedom is a human right. It’s essential to get news and information about current events, connect with loved ones, ensure transparency and accountability of elected officials, and so much more. Unfortunately, dozens of countries use censorship and suppression online or issue draconian punishments for online activity, stifling people’s freedom of expression and ability to connect and engage with others. AI also poses new and heightened risks to internet freedom, empowering governments to wage online disinformation campaigns and surveil and censor online speech, websites, and social media platforms.”
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San Diego City Councilwoman Dr. Jen Campbell has endorsed Heather Ferbert for San Diego City Attorney. Advertisements in which she was listed as having endorsed Ferbert’s opponent, Assemblyman Brian Maienschein, were lies, according to Dan Rottenstreich, Ferbert’s campaign consultant. Maienschein’s campaign did not return a request for comment. Ferbert is San Diego’s chief deputy city attorney. The incumbent city attorney, Mara Elliott, is termed out.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of San Diego Jewish World.
San Diego, CA
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Mania, San Diego Comic-Con Highlights and This Week’s Best Events
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Deadpool & Wolverine, San Diego Comic-Con and Harold and the Purple Crayon.
Harold and the Purple Crayon special screening
Zachary Levi, Zooey Deschanel, Lil Rel Howery and Benjamin Bottani joined director Carlos Saldanha at a special Los Angeles screening for their Columbia Pictures film on Sunday.
Deadpool & Wolverine premiere
Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Matthew Macfadyen, Aaron Stanford, Brianna Hildebrand, Lewis Tan and Tyler Mane joined director Shawn Levy and producer Kevin Feige at the Marvel film’s New York premiere on Monday, with support from Blake Lively and Gigi Hadid.
San Diego Comic-Con
The annual comics convention kicked off in San Diego with stars from Deadpool & Wolverine, Transformers One, Planet of the Apes, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, What We Do in the Shadows and Those About to Die.
RuPaul’s DragCon LA
World of Wonder hosted the annual RuPaul’s DragCon across Friday and Saturday at the Los Angeles Convention Center, featuring performances, signings and meet and greets with fan-favorite Queens and a Friday night DJ set with RuPaul himself.
Whoopi Goldberg Key to West Hollywood
Whoopi Goldberg received the Key to West Hollywood on Saturday for her consistent support of the LGBTQIA+ community and for having had the first branded/tested woman-owned cannabis brand in California. Later that night, Goldberg celebrated the launch of WhoopFam’s new cannabis brand, Emma & Clyde, and the relaunch of her Whoopi & Maya brand in Venice, with guests including Leslie Jones, Jo Koy and Meagan Good.
Room to Grow brunch
Room to Grow, with co-hosts Uma Thurman, Catherine Carmody, Rashaan Reid and Nancy Twine gathered supporters over a private brunch in Water Mill, New York, on Saturday. The organization provides critical support to families raising babies born into low-income circumstances.
God’s Love We Deliver party
God’s Love We Deliver, which provides nutritious, medically tailored meals for people too sick to shop or cook for themselves, celebrated the 23rd annual Midsummer Night Drinks on Saturday at the East Hampton home of Lisa and James Cohen, in partnership with GALERIE magazine.
War Game HamptonsFilm SummerDocs Series screening
Alec and Hilaria Baldwin attended the HamptonsFilm SummerDocs Series screening of War Game on Saturday in East Hampton.
DÌDI (弟弟) special screening
The cast and crew of Focus Features’ DÌDI (弟弟), including writer-director Sean Wang and stars Joan Chen and Izaac Wang, celebrated the film with a special screening in L.A. on Monday.
Pee-wee’s Playhouse Reunion
Paul Reubens’ former Pee-wee’s Playhouse castmates reunited to honor the late comedy legend at The Groundlings Theater in L.A. on Monday.
Dress My Tour premiere
Kathy Hilton, Toni Braxton and Dr. Holly Carter hosted a celebration for the premiere of Dress My Tour, Hulu’s first reality competition show, on Tuesday.
Sing Sing special screening
Colman Domingo and co-star Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin attended an intimate screening of A24’s Sing Sing in NYC on Tuesday, with a conversation moderated by Bevy Smith.
The Decameron premiere event
Netflix celebrated the launch of The Decameron, with stars Tanya Reynolds, Jessica Plummer, Amar Chadha-Patel, Douggie McMeekin, Lou Gala, Karan Gill, Zosia Mamet, Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Tony Hale, in N.Y. on Wednesday.
Deadpool & Wolverine Dogpool screening
Following Monday night’s world premiere, Dogpool (played by Peggy the dog) and Leslie Uggams returned to N.Y. on Wednesday to host a second screening of the upcoming Marvel film, where guests were encouraged to bring their own pups.
Alok screening
UTA held a screening of short documentary Alok on Wednesday, followed by a Q&A with director Alex Hedison and star Alok Vaid-Menon. The conversation was moderated by executive producer Jodie Foster.
Love Island USA Universal Studios trip
Following the season finale of Peacock’s Love Island USA, Islanders were reunited at Universal Studios Hollywood on Thursday for the first time since leaving the villa.
Jonathan Van Ness x WhatsApp
Jonathan Van Ness took over The Americana at Brand in L.A. with WhatsApp on Thursday to celebrate the app hitting 100 million active users in the U.S.
San Diego, CA
San Diego could require all-gender restrooms on city property
San Diego District 2 City Councilmember Jennifer Campbell introduced an ordinance proposal Thursday that would require any new or significantly renovated facilities on city property — such as libraries, parks, beaches and recreation centers — to offer all-gender restrooms with clear signage.
Two years ago, California gave cities and counties the power to adopt such policies.
State law already requires existing public single-toilet stalls be all-gender. This ordinance would go a step farther by mandating an all-gender option for all newly constructed projects.
Philadelphia passed a similar ordinance in 2019.
Campbell’s policy advisor, Manuel Reyes, pitched the idea.
“Any public facility should have access because it’s a basic human necessity that all of us experience,” he said.
Reyes said restroom access is not just a matter of safety for trans people, but also of public health.
“Holding it all day” can cause urinary tract infections and dehydration, he said.
San Diego LGBT Community Center staff member Karina Piu called the proposed ordinance an active rebuke of national trends.
It stands in contrast to the bills passed in a dozen states in recent years, which require a person to use the bathroom of the sex assigned to them at birth.
President Biden put a ban on such blanket policies in April, but it faces legal challenges.
While the debate over all-gender restrooms is often focused on trans and gender non-conforming people, they’re also more accessible for caregivers of people needing restroom assistance, like small children, elderly people or people with disabilities.
“For example, a father, out with his daughter, and she has to go to the bathroom. What does he do?” Campbell said. “He doesn’t want to take her in the men’s room, and he can’t go in the ladies’ room. So having all-gender bathrooms is a good solution for everyone.”
And, they help fight a universal enemy: long bathroom lines.
Public comment at the Community and Neighborhood Services Committee meeting was overwhelmingly in support.
One commenter said she was concerned about safety, but said if the restrooms were single-stall it wouldn’t matter.
Campbell signaled the restrooms would be single-stall, saying: “That is the idea.”
Several more public commenters used the topic to ask the committee to address what they saw as a larger issue: the inadequate number of public restrooms in the city overall, which grand juries have repeatedly recommended to help mitigate public outbreaks of hepatitis A, shigella, and COVID-19.
The committee unanimously directed city staff to draft the ordinance.
Reyes said some of the first affected projects would be the expansion of the Ocean Beach Library, the upcoming rebuild of the San Carlos Library, and the Ocean Beach Pier rebuild.
San Diego, CA
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