A group of Dodger baseball fans expressed their concerns Friday with the organization for not scheduling a Jewish community day while hosting events for other cultures, which they say could be an opportunity to bring people together.
On the corner of Scott Avenue and Elysian Park Drive with the Dodger Stadium in the background, Rabbi Mark Blazer of Temple Beth Ami said they gathered to express their disappointment that a Jewish Community Day has not been scheduled, an event that has happened in the past for many years.
“To know that this team that I love isn’t standing with me is deeply, deeply hurting and it’s something that we couldn’t let stand be we love this team,” Blazer said.
The Dodgers hosted other events for Armenians, Koreans, Japanese, Salvadorans, Guatemalans, Mexicans, Black Americans and a women’s night, among others, Blazer noted. But, there hasn’t been a Jewish community night this year.
The Angels, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants hosted a community day event for Jewish fans, as well as other teams in California, according to Blazer. Teams across the country as well have had such events, including the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees and Mets.
Juan Dorado, a representative for the Dodgers, when reached on the phone by City News Service, declined to comment. He did not respond to a second phone call. The organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment via email Friday afternoon.
“Last week, the Oakland A’s had a Jewish community night on Sunday, and if you wanted to go to a Jewish community day as a Dodger fan, you had to go to the Oakland Coliseum,” Blazer said.
He noted that the organization had an opportunity to host such an event when they offered a bobblehead night Wednesday honoring Jewish Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax.
“We’re very disappointed that the Dodgers have not done what they should have done, which is to schedule a Jewish community day and we’re asking them to do it now,” Blazer said.
Since March, Blazer said they’ve been in communication with the organization but it has not committed to hosting a community day for the Jewish community.
Beverly Hills City Councilman John Mirisch was among the group, and voiced his frustration with the organization.
“The L.A. Dodgers is one of those things that unites the community in Los Angeles like nothing else,” Mirisch said. “We’re going to keep our voices raised and hope that the Dodgers are willing to include the Jewish community, as opposed to excluding us.”