Laurel Schwartz will give an illustrated talk entitled, San Diego Jews, World War I and the Growth of Local Benevolence

From 1914 to 1918, nearly all of the main benevolent organizations of the community came together to meet the needs of the military personnel of the community and those stationed in San Diego. Organizations such B’nai B’rith, the two existing congregations, Beth Israel and Tifereth Israel and the early women's organizations welcomed military personnel and helped provide for their welfare during and after the war. The San Diego Chapter of the Jewish Welfare Board was founded and they constructed a building for Jewish troops at Camp Kearny. The talk will also include personal narratives of Jewish San Diegans, both civilians and a solider.

Laurel Schwartz is curator of the Jewish Historical Society of San Diego Archives. She works with the Jewish Studies Program and Special Collections at San Diego State University. She was co-author of the entry on San Diego for the 2007 Encyclopedia Judaica. In 2005 Schwartz helped create an historical exhibit at Congregation Beth Israel, called Beth Israel in Three Centuries and she contributed to the 2017 exhibit at the San Diego History Center, Celebrate San Diego! The History and Heritage of San Diego’s Jewish Community.