​These are interesting times we find ourselves in. (I feel I have started a few of my weekly messages with the same opening, but it remains true today.) We are at the tail-end of Passover… you know… the days when we start counting down to being able to eat our "regular" food, along with counting the Omer. Add in the ongoing hostilities in Israel – from both outside and inside forces, and there is a lot to keep track of.

 

As a result, in today's message, I thought I would highlight the following:

 

During last night's Alhambra City Council meeting, I spoke in support of the City of Alhambra adopting a resolution denouncing antisemitism. Following a unanimous vote of approval, Alhambra became the 4th city in our community to adopt a similar resolution. In addition, Alhambra also adopted IHRA's working definition on antisemitism and has instructed their newly formed Human Relations Council to take additional requested actions to combat hatred in the community. (You can watch the recording of the meeting where the resolution was discussed https://www.spectrumstream.com/.../meeting_2023_04_10.cfm) (23:00 - 48:30). We thank the City of Alhambra, which has now joined the cities of Claremont, Upland, and Monrovia as the first cities in our communities to #StandUpToJewishHate # Along these lines, the City of Sierra Madre is planning to vote on a similar resolution at their Tuesday, April 25 City Council meeting and I am planning to address their City Council as well.  

 

This is part of the Jewish Federation's effort to get every city in our community to not only pass a resolution denouncing antisemitism and all forms of hatred but also to bring together different ethnic groups to help develop a plan to combat, address, and respond to hatred in their cities. We feel we should be doing this to help get more people to #StandUptoJewishHate.

 

I hope you plan to attend our Cultural Arts' next production of The Drowsy Chaperone, which opens THIS SATURDAY. Everyone involved – both on and off stage, has been working tremendously hard to bring another incredible show to our community. Performance dates are April 15, 16, 20, 22, 23, 27, and 29. So get your tickets today and join the "Man in the Chair" for an evening of song, dance, and lots of laughter.

 

And lastly, this coming Monday night (April 17) is Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day). Many of our local congregations have planned special ceremonies and events to mark this day. In addition, each year, the California Legislative Jewish Caucus holds a special gathering and commemoration at the state Capitol to recognize Holocaust survivors and/or descendants of Holocaust survivors. We thank them and our community's Holocaust survivors for continuing to remind us of what can happen when hatred goes unchecked.

 

One final note… I want to thank everyone who has donated to our 2023 Annual Campaign. We could not do what we do without your support. For those who have not yet given, this is a perfect time to do so. Please make a gift today and help us continue strengthening and enhancing Jewish life in our community.