Dear friends,
A safe, strong, and resilient Jewish San Diego takes all of us. At Jewish Federation of San Diego, we work alongside community partners to strengthen security, confront antisemitism, and advocate for issues that affect Jewish life.
Welcome to our first Community Security & Advocacy Update. Each quarter, we will share important developments, highlight the work happening across our community, and offer practical ways for you to stay informed and get involved.
I hope you find these updates meaningful, and that they provide helpful insights into the areas of our work that often play out behind the scenes.
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.
Warmly,
Adam Maslia
Senior Director, Secure and Resilient Community
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Community Security
Request a Free Security Training
Preparedness is one of the most important ways we can help keep Jewish San Diego safe. Through Federation's partnership with Secure Community Network (SCN), Community Security Director Bill Ganley offers free security trainings and resources to Jewish organizations throughout San Diego County.
Trainings include situational awareness, active threat response, and Stop the Bleed, plus facility security assessments. Federation can also provide assistance with security grants.
Standing With Strength: A Poway Survivor's Story
Rochelle Schwartz survived the 2019 attack at Chabad of Poway. Now, she is sharing her experience as part of Standing With Strength, a new oral history project from SCN that preserves survivors' stories in their own words.
After meeting Bill Ganley at a Federation security training, Rochelle was encouraged to share her story, including the role counseling has played in her healing.
Civic Engagement
Urge Governor Newsom to Opt In to the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit
Access to Jewish education matters to families across California. A new federal scholarship tax credit could help make K–12 education, including Jewish day school, more affordable.
Beginning January 1, 2027, taxpayers will be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for qualifying donations to scholarship organizations, but scholarships can only benefit students in states that opt in. More than 30 states have already chosen to participate. California has not. Participation would come at no cost to the state and could generate significant scholarship support for Jewish students across California.
Here's how you can get involved:
Make your voice heard:
Sign Teach Coalition's letter to Governor Newsom urging California to participate. It takes about a minute.
Teach CA Webinar: Federal Scholarship Tax Credit 101November 11 | 6:00 p.m. | VirtualJoin Federation and Teach CA for a webinar explaining how the tax credit works and what it could mean for California families. Register Here
A Stronger Future for Jewish Schools: A San Diego Community ConversationNovember 17 | 7:00 p.m. | La JollaJoin Congregation Adat Yeshurun and Teach CA for A Stronger Future for Jewish Schools, an in-person community conversation with Teach Coalition CEO Sydney Altfield and Teach CA Executive Director Neuriel Shore. Learn about the scholarship opportunity and broader efforts to strengthen Jewish education in California, including affordability, security, and support for students with special needs. RSVP Here
Six for Six in Sacramento
All six bills sponsored by Jewish California, our statewide advocacy partner, were signed into law this year, advancing protections and resources for Jewish communities throughout the state.
These legislative successes include first-in-the-nation recognition of Jewish identity as an ethnicity, expanded protections around houses of worship, and greater access to security grants for community events.
California also committed $165 million to nine programs, including $80 million in ongoing annual funding for nonprofit security grants. These investments help organizations better protect the people and spaces where Jewish life happens.
Addressing Antisemitism
Help Build a Network for Jewish Professionals
Whether your workplace has a Jewish employee resource group (ERG) or not, there's an opportunity to connect with Jewish professionals across San Diego. Federation is working to build a network that brings Jewish employees together across companies and organizations to share experiences, build relationships, and support one another in the workplace.
The Finest Community Coalition
As rising antisemitism continues to threaten Jewish communities, a strong, coordinated response is essential. The Finest Community Coalition unites San Diego's Jewish organizations to speak with a unified voice, advocate for accountability and engage civic leaders. Federation serves as the coalition's fiscal sponsor.
Recent efforts include:
Condemning a Display Honoring Terrorist LeadersThe coalition condemned a Día de los Muertos ofrenda at Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park that honored the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah. Coalition partners called for the display's removal, a public apology, and condemnation from elected officials.
Defending Jewish Civic ParticipationCoalition partners published a joint op-ed in Times of San Diego urging local leaders to reject rhetoric that demonizes Jewish participation in civic and political life.
Student to Student Visits Correia Middle School
Sometimes, the most effective way to challenge stereotypes is through a conversation with someone your own age.
Through Federation's Student to Student (STS) program, Jewish teen presenters recently visited Correia Middle School, where approximately 135 seventh- and eighth-graders heard firsthand about Jewish identity, traditions, and experiences. These peer-to-peer conversations help students build understanding and challenge the misconceptions that can lead to antisemitism.
Know a Jewish teen who would make a great ambassador? STS Teen Ambassadors can earn community service hours while helping their peers better understand Jewish life.
Help Keep Jewish San Diego Safe and Strong
Your support helps provide security training, strengthen community preparedness, and protect the people and places at the heart of Jewish life in San Diego.
