Jewish organizations, synagogues withdraw from San Diego Pride
SAN DIEGO (FOX5/KUSI)–Jewish organizations and synagogues are choosing not to participate in San Diego Pride because of one of the festival's headline performers.
Jewish synagogues and leaders said they decided not to participate after San Diego Pride failed to remove Kehlani as a headliner, despite a coalition of Jewish leaders sharing its concerns about Kehlani's participation in May.
In the past, Kehlani has made comments against Israel and zionists and opened a music video with language that the San Diego Jewish community said could lead to direct harm.
'I have no objection to her supporting the Palestinian people. I do have an objection to her saying, 'long live the antifada,' which is dangerous,' said Lilian Faderman, congregant at Temple Emanu-El and LGBTQ historian.
'If people are ignited to violence we see what happens. We see what happened in Washington, D.C., with the murder of that beautiful couple. We see what happened in Colorado,' Faderman said.
Several Jewish synagogues and organizations are now saying they will no longer participate in San Diego Pride due to safety concerns.
Temple Emanu-el's senior rabbi, Devorah Marcus, and the president and ceo of the Jewish Federation of San Diego, Heidi Gantwerk, are a part of the Finest Community Coalition, which started earlier this year to combat antisemitism.
The coalition said it reached out to San Diego Pride, but changes have not been made to the lineup.
'This is a really painful loss for people in our community who have spent years participating with great joy and pride. Many people in the Jewish community really enjoy being a part of Pride and this hurts,' said Heidi Gantwerk, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego.
Rabbi Marcus and Gantwerk said the Jewish community will still celebrate Pride in their own way with a community Shabbat and a brunch.
Meanwhile, it still hurts Faderman to know she won't be able to be at San Diego Pride.
'It's really sad to me that the San Diego Pride didn't understand the needs of the community,' Faderman said.
FOX 5/KUSI reached out to Kehlani's team and San Diego Pride for comment, but have not yet heard back.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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