Group investigating UCI adds four new members

The independent task force investigating anti-Semitism at UC Irvine announced four new members Tuesday.

Rev. Jim Belcher of the Redeemer’s Church in Newport Beach, Rabbi Mordecai Kieffer of Temple Beth Emet in Anaheim, Rabbi Abba Perelmuter of Shul by the Shore in Long Beach and Rabbi Mark Miller of Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach will join the other concerned citizens who have been looking at UCI since the spring.

Task force members were originally appointed by the Hillel Foundation of Orange County to investigate anti-Semitic incidents at the university. Over the summer the Jewish-advocacy association quietly broke ties with the group, citing a change in their mission statement. The task force continued to press on with the investigation and is actively interviewing members of the community, UCI faculty and students. The task force will release its findings by the end of the year, officials said.

— Joseph Serna