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Jewish Community Foundation welcomes 3 new board members and chair-elect Emily Einhorn
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—The Jewish Community Foundation announced the election of three San Diego community and business leaders to its Board of Directors. Barbara Bry, Susanna Flaster and Leo Spiegel are widely respected for their proven leadership skills and achievements.
“Barbara, Susanna and Leo each bring creativity and a wealth of leadership experience to their new role as Jewish Community Foundation Board members”, noted Murray Galinson, Foundation Board Chair. “Their wisdom and talents will help assure the Foundation’s ability to enhance the community—for now and for generations to come.”
The new Board members are distinguished by their records of service to the community and professional careers. They began three-year terms on July 1, 2009.
 Barbara Bry is the Associate Publisher and co-founder of San Diego News Network, SDNN.com, a new news and information Web site for the San Diego region. Prior to this, Bry was on the founding team of two companies, Proflowers.com and Atcom/Info, and three nonprofit organizations, Voice of San Diego, Connect and Athena, a professional organization for women technology executives and entrepreneurs.
Bry is a Board member of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of San Diego and Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties. She is a member of San Diego Rotary Club 33, San Diego Social Venture Partners and the San Diego Women’s Foundation. She was a member of the Business Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and has taught entrepreneurship classes at the University of San Diego and University of California, San Diego Extension.
 Susanna Flaster serves on the Foundation’s Governance Leadership Institute and Philanthropy Connections Committee. She has held many community leadership positions including a term as President of Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties and member of the Boards of the National Conflict Resolution Center and the Old Globe Theatre. Flaster is a graduate of LEAD San Diego and a member of the San Diego Women’s Foundation. She participates in her family business in Los Angeles, Karney Management, which develops and manages commercial and industrial properties.
 Leo Spiegel is a Managing Partner at Mission Ventures, a Southern California venture capital firm that invests in early stage IT companies. He has held a number of entrepreneurial leadership positions. He served as president of the San Diego Jewish Academy. Spiegel currently serves on the Foundation’s Investment Committee and is a member of the Dean's Advisory Council at the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego.
 Emily Einhorn was recently appointed as Chair Elect of the Foundation. She will succeed Murray Galinson as Chair effective July 1, 2010. Einhorn has served on the Foundation’s Board since 1997, currently serving as Vice Chair. She is also Chair of the Human Resources Committee and formerly served as Treasurer. Einhorn is a member of the Board of the Jewish Women’s Foundation and serves on the Board and as Immediate Past Vice President of Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School. Professionally, Einhorn is an investor in real estate and in several businesses where she is also a financial and strategic advisor.
“I am so pleased that Emily has agreed to serve as Chair Elect and I look forward to working closely with her,” said Galinson.
Since 1967, the Jewish Community Foundation has partnered with individuals, families and community organizations to help them achieve their philanthropic goals and to increase current and future support for a vibrant and secure Jewish community in San Diego, Israel and around the world.
During fiscal year 2008-09, the Foundation awarded and facilitated nearly $60 million in 5,000 grants to more than 1,000 Jewish and general organizations in San Diego, the United States and Israel. Visit the Jewish Community Foundation at www.jcfsandiego.org or call 858-279-2740.
Pedicab death spurs Emerald effort for safety regulations
SAN DIEGO
--City Councilwoman Marti Emerald announced yesterday that she will seek to beef up an ordinance regulating pedicabs in an effort to assure greater safety for passengers.
She held a news conference with Council President Pro tem Kevin Faulkener and Councilmember Tony Young on the same day that the San Diego Police announced the arrest on a felony charge of gross vehicular manslaughter of pedicab driver Sukru Safa Cinar, 23, in the death of Sharon Miller, 60, a tourist from Sherman Oaks, Illinois.
According to police investigators, Cinar ignored signs prohibiting bicycles and pedicabs on the Martin Luther King
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promenade near Seaport Village and was swerving from side-to-side in a serpentine motion on July 4 when Miller was ejected from the cab, striking her head on the pavement. She died in a hospital the following day.
The police noted that Cinar's pedicab was not equipped with seatbelts. They also said that Cinar was visiting San Diego on a valid four-month visa from Turkey.
Emerald, chair of the the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee, said the fatal incident "underscores the need to for immediate action to prevent future accidents."
Rabbis, community leaders queue
to honor retiring Nadine Finkel
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 SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—Nadine Finkel’s dedication to the San Diego Jewish community was celebrated and remembered at her retirement party, attended by over 110 community leaders and professionals, rabbis, friends and colleagues.
Finkel (photo at left) worked 30+ years in service to the San Diego Jewish community, 17 years of which she served at the United Jewish Federation, most recently as Director of Community Partnerships and Program Development. Previously, Finkel served as Director of Planning and Allocations and in other important roles. Her retirement celebration took place at Congregation Beth Israel, June 30, 2009 – An event cosponsored by the United Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Congregation Beth Israel and the San Diego Rabbinical Association.
The celebration began with Rabbi Michael Berk of Congregation Beth Israel sharing his memories and thoughts about the honoree. He pointed out that Finkel began her work in the Jewish community as CBI’s first Program Director. Berk said it was Finkel’s intelligence, passion, patience and compassion that drove her to reach out to Jews and those seeking Jewish connections to bring people and programs together. Rabbi Berk commented, “Who knew there were so many Jews in San Diego.”
“Nadine had a vision and brought others along to fill that vision,” commented Rabbi Martin S. Lawson of Temple Emanu-El in his opening remarks. “Nadine has brought together the diversity of San Diego’s Jewish community, because she is passionate about Judaism.”
Rabbi Lenore Bohm elaborated on the graceful way Nadine dealt with the variety of needs of Jewish people of our community, and how she employed Jewish values whenever working to succeed in her efforts to involve people in the numerous outreach programs she developed.
Gail Malkus, Executive Assistant to Rabbi Berk, noted the numerous new programs Finkel created while serving as CBI’s Program Director – many of which are still in existence today. She created mixed doubles for inter-married couples, the Havurot program, resurrected the Sisterhood, and collaborated with the religious school to start family camps. Finkel is currently serving on Congregation Beth Israel’s Board of Directors.
Ed Samiljan, representing Camp Mountain Chai, commented, “Nadine rescued me from the wasteland of retirement.” Ed remarked that Finkel introduced him to Jewish Continuity Programs such as Taste of Judaism, Pathways to Judaism and more. “Nadine knows how to dance to the melody of every agency, camp and synagogue in San Diego,” commented Samiljan.
UJF Board Chair, Andrea Oster, spoke of Finkel'ss extensive accomplishments during her tenure with UJF. Starting with the development and implementation of the Jewish Continuity Task Force programs to serving as the Director of Planning and Allocation, to completing her tenure as Director of Community Partnerships and Program Development. In this role, Finkel served UJF as consultant, facilitator and liaison to synagogues, agencies and other Jewish organizations. Due to her success in formulating these partnerships, UJF received this year’s Partnership Synagogue Award from the Union of Reform Judaism. In conclusion, Oster thanked Finkel for giving so much of herself to build and sustain a vibrant, welcoming and cohesive Jewish community… ”May you go from strength to strength.”
Rabbi Ralph Dalin, Community Chaplin, UJF, commented that Finkel was instrumental in starting the Community Chaplaincy program. Dalin recited a Hebrew prayer stating… “those who occupy themselves with the local community and Israel, God will bless with success.” In appreciation of Finkel’s sweetness, kindness and dedication to UJF and the Jewish community, Rabbi Dalin presented her with a gift of an Israeli apple and honey dish on behalf of the Federation staff.
Amidst much applause, Finkel took the podium and thanked everyone for enriching her life, “With all my heart, I thank you so much.” In conclusion, the veteran community worker left the audience with her words to live by, “Do not reach out your hand unless you are prepared to reach out your heart.”
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