In an annual event celebrating Israel, the Santa Clarita Valley Jewish Community and Friends committee gathered once again at The Centre on Sunday to embrace religion, culture and stand in solidarity.
The event was originally created to provide a safe place for Jewish community members and their allies following a spike in antisemitism after political tensions overseas and the conflict between Israel and Hamas, said committee member Ariella Bimbi.
“We really just wanted to come together to do something positive. We didn’t just want to focus on fighting back with people who may be antisemitic but instead we wanted to just create fun, educational events,” she added.
Throughout the afternoon, members of Temple Beth Ami, Chabad of SCV, and Congregation Beth Shalom heard from speakers associated with the Israeli-American Civil Action Network, Christians United for Israel, and city of Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste. All three rabbis from local synagogues were also present, engaging with the community, Bimbi added.
For Bimbi and Betsy Thatt, another committee member, the celebration wasn’t just meant to enjoy time with other Jewish community members but to also do so safely.
Thatt, a College of the Canyons student, loves to wear her Star of David necklace but noted that when she shares posts online, strangers immediately swarm her comments with hate.
For her, it’s disheartening seeing strangers make assumptions about her when they don’t know who she is, she said, but if given the chance, “I’m sure I can change their mind about who we are,” she added.
But that same necklace has helped her find others who may be experiencing similar situations.
“I’ve made a lot of friends. There was one girl in one of my classes for public speaking and when I wore my Star of David to campus, she walked in and said, ‘Oh thank God, you’re Jewish,” Thatt said as she recalled the encounter. “That was a friendship that we started … people don’t understand the fear that we have.”
Thatt noted it’s hard for her to embrace who she is at the fullest extent because she’s afraid violence may follow, which is why “we want to come together as a community,” she said. “That’s why it’s called Shalom and Solidarity, because there’s solidarity and we’re bonded.”
About 300 people attended the event, which included booths from local nonprofit organizations and a self-defense class, according to Bimbi. A circus-themed children’s room with games, food and caricature artists was also available for minors.
The committee members who brought together the event were Cheryl Thatt Burbank, Betsy Thatt, Shula Levitch, Debbie Cadis, Steven Baron, Doree Baklash, Lori Hoffman and Bimbi.
Over 300 people attended the celebration, according to Bimbi. “Now it’s important more than ever that we continue educating people, making them aware that being Jewish is just another wonderful religion that accepts people.”
