Dear Friends,
You often hear from us right before Shabbat with messages of hope and inspiration. Today is not Shabbat, and we write to you on a day of work because we have work to do. These past few weeks have been difficult and have tested our resolve. Beginning with the Chanukah shooting in Sydney, which seems so long ago but was only a little over a month ago, followed by the arson attack of the Beth Israel synagogue in Mississippi, antisemitic incidents continue to intensify. Like you, we are angry. And we are taking action. San Diego’s Jewish Community takes antisemitism seriously, and we are working tirelessly together to respond and address it.
With this in mind, we want to share information regarding an incident that occurred over the weekend, this time in San Diego, that requires clarity, leadership, and collective resolve, and to reflect on our community’s powerful and unified response.
Rabbi Hanan Leberman of Tifereth Israel Synagogue was invited to offer a closing prayer at the “All Peoples Celebration,” a major Martin Luther King Jr. Day event hosted by Alliance San Diego. Shortly before the event, that invitation was rescinded. The stated reason was Rabbi Leberman’s Zionist views (which are simply that the state of Israel has the right to exist and practice self-defense) and his strong connection to Israel (where he lived for several years and served in the IDF).
At the time of his invitation, Rabbi Leberman made sure organizers were aware of his views and history, and none of that changed between his invitation and when that invitation was revoked. Alliance suggested they were concerned about “potential disruption” due to his views. This is deeply concerning to us.
If any Jews who believe Israel has a right to self-determination are excluded from the public square for fear of “disruption,” the consequence will be the silencing of Jewish voices on a vast range of topics, which is unacceptable.
Rabbi Leberman had no intention of speaking about Israel. His message was one of unity, rooted in the values Dr. King championed.
Despite the upsetting news, Rabbi Leberman offered to find another Rabbi to provide the closing prayer if organizers found his views too extreme. That offer was also refused.
From the moment Federation learned of this decision, we activated relationships across our community and beyond, and The Finest Community Coalition took action. Coalition members were immediately informed of what had happened, as we felt it was important that anyone who might have been planning to attend understood the situation. Those with longstanding relationships with Alliance San Diego engaged directly and repeatedly with the organization and event stakeholders in an effort to ensure Jewish voices were not excluded from a civic space meant to honor Dr. King’s legacy of inclusion and moral courage. We believe in dialogue across differences, and that true dialogue requires Jewish voices at the table, not excluded from it.
When it became clear that the decision would not be reversed, we moved forward together. The Finest Community Coalition activated quickly and decisively, bringing together 46 member organizations representing synagogues, social service providers, Jewish agencies and community institutions across San Diego. United by shared values and deep concern, the Coalition released a public letter calling out this exclusion and affirming a fundamental truth: our connection to Israel cannot and must not become a litmus test for Jewish participation in public life.
We invite you to read the full Coalition letter here, along with a powerful response from Rabbi Jason Nevarez on behalf of the San Diego Bureau of Rabbis and Cantors. Rabbi Leberman’s heartfelt and important message to the organizers of the event can be found here.
In response to the outrage voiced by our community, Alliance published a statement about their interest in dialogue and inclusion and claimed that they disinvited speakers on both sides. However, this is a blatant mischaracterization of what transpired. In reality, another speaker refused to participate in the program if Rabbi Leberman was included. Alliance responded by disinviting that speaker. This was the right decision. Unfortunately, the organization continued to face pressure to deplatform Rabbi Leberman, who, in the spirit of MLK Jr. Day, was more than willing to share the stage with those who did not share his views. Unlike the other speaker, he was dismissed for his views and beliefs. These actions are not equivalent.
This incident has sparked national attention and concern. While we collectively decided against proactive media outreach over the weekend in the hope of not detracting from Dr. King’s legacy, coverage has already appeared in outlets including the New York Post, Times of San Diego and the Washington Free Beacon, underscoring that what happened resonates far beyond our region. The Finest Community Coalition will continue to respond to media inquiries as they arise, ensuring that the voices and experiences of San Diego’s Jewish community are represented accurately and unapologetically. The Coalition is also continuing to reach out to sponsors and other stakeholders of influence.
This moment is painful, particularly during a weekend dedicated to Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community. It is also clarifying. Federation and The Finest Community Coalition remain committed to standing with our partners when possible, and to speaking out when values of inclusion, dignity, and fairness are compromised.
Thank you for standing with us, and with one another, as we meet this moment together.
With resolve and gratitude,
Heidi Gantwerk, President and CEO
Jewish Federation of San Diego
Adam Maslia, Director
The Finest Community Coalition
