Temple Beth El: It’s hard, but necessary, to be a ‘big tent’

Our nation has been seeing a significant increase in violence against minority groups over the past few years. According to statistics gathered by the Southern Poverty Law Center, antisemitism is on the rise. The film shown at the Del Mar Theatre Tuesday draws attention to this phenomenon.

Temple Beth El has been involved in standing up to protect our community and other communities who have been targeted. Our synagogue will continue to take these actions because this is what it means to be a congregation that stands for social justice.

Since the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks and subsequent war between Israel and Hamas, disagreement has divided our local community. The brutal destruction of Gaza has been incredibly painful to watch and the lack of caring for the return of those who are still held hostage have led some to feel that it is important to take a side and condemn others who differ with them.

Temple Beth El is a big tent. We have sponsored programs with Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers who are doing the hard work on the ground, day in and day out. We showed the Oscar-winning film, “No Other Land,” to a packed room, before the Palestinian filmmaker was attacked by Israeli settlers and arrested. And, we have sponsored speakers from Stand with Us and CAMERA. We have been criticized by both ends of this spectrum. On one side the congregation has been accused of supporting violence against Palestinians and on the other end, Temple Beth El has been blamed for not standing strongly with Israel and the Jewish people.

The film that was shown at the Del Mar on Tuesday, April 1, had a particular perspective on the protests on college campuses the past 18 months. The film we will be showing on Saturday evening, called “The Path Forward,” highlights the work of Palestinian and Israeli peacemakers, some of whom have had family members killed by “the other side.”

It is hard to be a big tent. It’s extremely hard to feel the suffering of Israelis and Palestinians who have paid such a large price over the past 18 months. There are people over there who are working together for peace and justice, people marching in the streets of Tel Aviv and Gaza to protest the Israeli government and Hamas. The most important thing we can do is educate ourselves, pay attention and support their work.

– Rabbi Paula Marcus, Rabbi Shifra Weiss-Penzias, and David Ginsborg (Executive Director), serve at Temple Beth El in Aptos.

Food Bank: Congress must protect food programs

Millions of Californians — families, seniors, veterans and children — depend on federal nutrition programs like CalFresh (SNAP), the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and school meals to put food on the table. As Congress moves forward with the budget reconciliation process, it is critical that these programs are protected and strengthened, not cut.

At Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, we see firsthand how these programs support our community. With rising costs of groceries, housing and other essentials, most California households struggle with affordability, even with full-time work. CalFresh is a lifeline for low-income households, helping families afford groceries while also boosting local economies, including California’s agricultural sector. TEFAP supports food banks in distributing nutritious food to those in need, ensuring that no one in our communities goes hungry. And school meal programs provide millions of children with the nutrition they need to learn and thrive — relieving financial pressure on struggling families.

California’s farmers also benefit from these investments, as they supply fresh, local food through programs like CalFresh, TEFAP and school meals. Strong federal nutrition policies don’t just fight hunger; they support our agricultural economy and create healthier communities.

Congress must reject any proposals that weaken these critical programs. At a time when food insecurity remains high, now is the time to invest in solutions that nourish our communities and sustain California’s economy. Protecting and strengthening CalFresh, TEFAP and school meals in the budget reconciliation process is not just the right thing to do, it’s essential for the well-being of millions of Californians.

— Erica Padilla-Chavez, CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County