The Reflector 08 19 by Frederick News-Post

Jewish Community Federation

Reflector

the

in this

issue

OF RICHMOND

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Hello y’all’ from Israel

FEDERATION

Volume 67 | Issue 8

Tammuz/Av 5779

| August 2019

GRAND EVENT GUEST PAGE 2

AGENCIES

JFS ANNUAL MEETING PAGE 8

COMMUNITY

SISISKY FELLOWS

TABLE of CONTENTS

PAGE 28 FEDERATION

AGENCIES

HADASSAH

16-17

SYNAGOGUES

18-21

COMMUNITY

FOUNDATION

Three Richmond teens - Nancy Alexander, Claudia Sachs and Olivia (Liv) Whitbeck gather with teens from Israel and other U.S. cities at the Wester� Wall during the Par��ership2Gether Hadera-Eiron-Southeast Consor�ium Tikkun Olam exchange in early July. They ret�r�ed to Richmond in mid-July aﬅer their 10-day ex�erience. In mid-Aug�st, Israeli teens will come to Richmond.

See page 22

COMMUNITY CALENDAR • Aug. 2 | 12:30 p.m. Hadassah Lunch Bunch Sedona Taphouse, Glen Allen

• Aug. 21 | 6:30 p.m. Community Night at the Ballpark The Diamond

• Aug. 16 | 6 p.m. Beth-El Shabbat in the Park Deep Run Park

• Aug. 21 | 7 p.m. Opening of ‘Shrek The Musical’ Weinstein JCC

• Aug. 16 | 6:15 p.m. Or Atid Shabbarbeque Congregation Or Atid

• Through Dec. 30 ‘Holocaust by Bullets’ Exhibit Virginia Holocaust Museum

Visit www.jewishrichmond.org for a complete calendar of Jewish community events.

Dr. Deborah E. Lipstadt, will be Grand Event Guest Speaker : Oct. 3 T

he Jewish Community Federation of Richmond’s 23rd annual Grand Event will feature Dr. Deborah E. Lipstadt, the foremost thought leader on fighting antiSemitism, acclaimed author and scholar. The Grand Event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 3, 5:30 p.m., at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, at 428 North Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Richmond. Jessica and Richard Samet will chair the Federation’s premiere community-wide annual gathering that offers an opportunity for people to hear nationally known speakers. Dr. Lipstadt, is the Dorot professor of Holocaust Studies at Emory University in Atlanta, has published and taught about the Holocaust and anti-Semitism for close to 40 years. Professor Lipstadt’s book, “Antisemitism: Here and Now” was published in January 2019. She is probably most widely known because of the libel lawsuit brought against her (1996) by David Irving for having called him a Holocaust denier. Irving then was then arguably the world’s leading denier. After a ten-week trial in London (2000), in an overwhelming victory for Professor Lipstadt, the judge found Irving to be a “neo-Nazi

polemicist” who “perverts” history and engages in “racist” and “antiSemitic” discourse. “The Daily Telegraph” (London) described the trial as having “done for the new century what the Nuremberg tribunals or the Eichmann trial did for earlier generations.” “The Times” (London) described it as “history has had its day in court and scored a crushing victory.” According to the “New York Times,” the trial “put an end to the pretense that Mr. Irving is anything but a selfpromoting apologist for Hitler.” Her TED talk about the trial has received close to 1.3 million views. The movie “Denial,” starring Rachel Weisz and Tom Wilkenson with a screenplay by David Hare, tells the story of this legal battle. It is based on her book “History On Trial: My Day in Court With A Holocaust Denier” (Harper Collins 2006) and recently reissued as Denial (Harper Collins 2016). The film was nominated for a BAFTA as one of the best British films of the year. She also has written “Holocaust: An American Understanding” (Rutgers, 2016) which explores how America has understood and interpreted the Holocaust since 1945. Her book, “The Eichmann Trial,”

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(Schocken/Nextbook 2011) published in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Eichmann trial, was called by “Publisher’s Weekly,” “a penetrating and authoritative dissection of a landmark case and its after effects.” “The New York Times Book Review” described Deborah Lipstadt as having “done a great service by … recovering the event as a gripping legal drama, as well as a hinge moment in Israel’s history and in the world’s delayed awakening to the magnitude of the Holocaust.” She has also published “Beyond Belief: The American Press and The Coming Of The Holocaust” (Free Press, 1986) which surveys what the American press wrote about the persecution of the Jews in the years 1933-1945. At Emory, she directs the website known as HDOT [Holocaust Denial on Trial/www. hdot.org] which contains a complete archive of the proceedings of Irving v. Penguin UK and Deborah Lipstadt. It also provides answers to frequent claims made by deniers. At Emory, she has won the Emery Williams Teaching Award. She was selected for the award by alumni as the teacher who had most influenced them. Professor Lipstadt was an historical consultant to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and helped design the section of the Museum dedicated to the American Response to the Holocaust. She has held Presidential appointment to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council (from Presidents Clinton and Obama) and was asked by President George W. Bush to represent the White House at the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. She was part of a committee that advised Secretary of State Madeline Albright on matters of religious freedom abroad. She is frequently quoted in the “New York Times,” “Washington Post,” “Wall Street Journal,” “Forward,” and “Tablet.”

She regularly appears on BBC, CNN, and PBS. Additional details on the Grand Event will be communicated in the September Reflector and via JCFR e-newsletters, Facebook, direct mail and email. Dietary Laws will be observed. For more information, or to make reservations, contact Ellen Moncure at (804) 545-8625 or emoncure@jewishrichmond. org.

REFLECTOR

THE

How good & pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity. The Reflector is published monthly by the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond. Copy must be received two-and-a-half weeks prior to the date of publication. The Reflector reserves the right to edit or refuse any copy or advertisement submitted. Views expressed by guest writers and reader’s letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond. Call for information about advertising in The Reflector at 545-8620. Acceptance of advertising does not endorse or guarantee Kashruth.

Ellen Renee Adams, President Daniel Staffenberg, Chief Executive Officer Raymond (Skip) Kozakewicz, Editor Sara Rosenbaum, Director of Impact and Community Planning

Jewish Community Federation OF RICHMOND

5403 Monument Avenue • Richmond, VA 23226

(804) 545-8620 Email: reflector@jewishrichmond.org

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Federation happenings The Long Game … New fundraising approach sees success! T Daniel Staffenberg Chief Executive Officer Jewish Community Federation of Richmond

he Jewish Community Federation Annual Fundraising efforts recently came to a close for 2019 and for the first time in many years surpassed the previous year’s achievements. Our amazing fundraising team, led by Campaign Chair Adam Plotkin, Women’s Philanthropy Chair Jill Goldfine and Director of Development and Engagement Jesse Feld, generated over $3.05 million to meet community needs. Our efforts this year resulted in an increased Annual Campaign of $2.853 million and over $178,000 in supplemental funding, a new effort this year to match community needs with donor interests. The $178,000 included an exciting cooperative effort with JFS Richmond and Richmond Jewish Foundation resulting in a $100,000 fund to meet the needs of the most vulnerable Jews in Richmond. Additionally, the Federation strengthened our efforts to secure endowments with four new, confirmed legacy gifts ensuring the future of our community for years to come. The health of our campaign is great news for RVA as we reach and connect with people in more personal and meaningful ways. One of the goals of this year’s fundraising effort was to reach new donors and the results were strong as we welcomed 300 new or lapsed donors who were inspired to give for the first time or to renew their giving. Exceeding the campaign goal and growing the donor base positions,

Jewish Federation and its partners continue to address the many community needs identified in the Navigating the Future community study. It’s a clear indication partner agencies can continue to rely on the campaign as a consistent source of ongoing funding. Diversifying the ways in which JCFR generates funds is important in being able to address growing and evolving community needs. Our Federation is adapting to changing philanthropic trends and working proactively with donors to meet the needs of our local and overseas communities. At the same time, we continue to deliver a strong Annual Campaign that benefits thousands of people and remains the most effective, responsive and efficient ways to build and support our Jewish community. This year, the Federation began evolving fundraising efforts to effectively match community needs with donor interests. Many steadfast supporters of the Annual Campaign have the capacity and motivation to fund projects or programs that meet high-priority community needs. Jewish Federation is working with these donors to connect them to the vital priorities that align with their philanthropic interests. This year, these funds supported a variety of programs that address community priorities including innovative outreach initiatives like Honeymoon Israel, community security, inclusion, emergency financial and support assistance for Jews in RVA, enhancing

our partnership with the Jewish community of Zaporozhye, Ukraine, supporting relief and respite for Israelis dealing with terror and increasing local participation in Jewish Overnight Camps through incentives and scholarships. We know meeting changing community needs requires transforming the ways in which funds are generated, and providing multiple pathways for partner agencies to access support. As the local Jewish community’s primary fundraising initiative, the Federation supports vital programs and services delivered by partners locally and globally, reaching tens of thousands of community members who rely on them. Jewish life is about community, and this year’s effort reflected that. We could not have achieved this incredible result without the support of every volunteer, donor and individual in the community. I would like to extend a huge thank-you to everyone who donated, volunteered and got involved. I am excited about our path forward and encourage you to join us in building community and supporting and sustaining Jewish life in RVA and around the world. Chazak, Chazak v’nitchazek! To reach out to me, email daniel@ jewishrichmond.org. Editor’s Note: See article on Page 4,“Insuring impact to our Jewish Community,” to learn more about the allocations of funds to our local and overseas partners.

Rabbi’s Reflections

‘On Tisha B’Av, let us remember that it is within our power to rebuild Jerusalem ...’ A

t nightfall on Aug. 10, we will begin the fast of Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the year, commemorating the destruction of ancient Jerusalem. For more than 2,000 years, Jerusalem’s ruin has come to symbolize the broken and perpetually unredeemed state of our world. Where you find allusions to the restoration of Jerusalem in Jewish texts, it is rarely referring to simply rebuilding a city’s structures or replacing its leaders. More often than not, it is speaking metaphorically. Restoring Jerusalem is Jewish for perfecting the world. The perfection of the world, or Tikkun Ha-Olam, is a core Jewish value. Some say it is the primary Jewish value. Scholars continue to debate its full meaning, but in essence, Tikkun Ha-Olam means the establishment of a social order that is aligned with God, www.JewishRichmond.org

which is to say a social order reflecting God’s defining qualities of love, justice and equity. The ultimate goal of Tikkun Ha-olam is peace – a condition free from division and strife, in which every person sees themselves as inescapably interconnected with everyone else, a society of unity that embodies God’s fundamental oneness. It is, of course, hard to imagine a society governed by human beings which could look like this. After all, even when ancient Jerusalem stood, things were rarely ideal. According to tradition, the city’s ruin in antiquity was the result of unchecked hatred, pervasive injustice, and rampant violence. And still today, when we have been blessed to see the building of a modern Jerusalem upon the city’s former ruins, Jerusalem is both resplendent and fraught.

That’s why our ancestors envisioned the world would only attain true perfection when God herself were sovereign over it. And when God’s rule is inaugurated, they naturally presumed that the seat of God’s dominion would be Jerusalem, Jewish tradition’s most significant city (Isaiah 2:3). But because Jerusalem has always been corrupted by human imperfection, Jewish tradition has held that God will rule our world from an altogether new Jerusalem, a heavenly Jerusalem, which will, in time, supplant the earthly Jerusalem. When the ancient Rabbis envisioned that heavenly Jerusalem, they looked upon a city of rubble and ruins, a city overrun by wild beasts, dominated by foreign occupiers, and beset by tragedy. So in response, they imagined a Reflections ... More on page 24

Rabbi Michael Knopf Asher Najer Photography

August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779 | the Reflector | 3

Insuring impact to our Jewish Community By Sara Rosenbaum Director of Community Impact and Planning JCFR ollowing a successful fundraising year, the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond is pleased to have raised $2.853 million during the Annual Campaign and over $178,000 in supplemental funding from community donors. The JCFR charges the Allocations Committee with making recommendations to the Federation’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the fair and equitable distribution of funds raised by the Federation’s Annual Campaign to our local beneficiary agencies as well as select local, national, regional and overseas agencies. The Allocations to our partners is just one of the many ways Federation creates financial impact in the community from the funds raised by the community for the community. Under the leadership of chair, Howard Goldfine and with the guidance and direction of the community’s Navigating the Future study the committee deliberated about the current structure and plans for many years to come. Throughout the year the committee engaged in site visits and in-depth discussions with the agencies and programs that submitted allocations requests to better understand the ongoing needs of the community. The 2018-2019 process was the first step in a new direction for community impact. This process over the next 2-3 years will continue to adapt and change to meet the desires of you, our donors and the ever growing priorities of the community. The Allocations Committee recommended the following strategies for the allocations of funds. 1. Unrestricted Local Partner Agency Continue unrestricted funding to Beth Sholom LifeCare Community, Jewish Family Services, Rudlin Torah Academy, Weinstein JCC, JCFR and many other local and national Jewish organizations (BBYO, VA State Hillels, Va’ad HaKashrut, etc.) to conduct their regular operations and current programs. 2. Jews in Need Overseas and in Israel – Continue to support our international partners; American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Jewish Agency, so they can continue their powerful work to help Jews in need around the world. We would also continue to support programming in our sister communities of Zaporozhye, Ukraine, and Hadera-Eiron, Israel.

3. Restricted Programming – Grants to local community partners (not just current beneficiary agencies) that offer programming focused on Jewish priorities. Building upon the work of Impact Grants, these programs would not be limited to new, innovative programs. These funds will help meet gaps in services and unmet needs of the Richmond Jewish Community. Some examples of this type of program recipient might include: Scholarships, Education, Security, Interfaith, and Special Needs Inclusion. With approval from the JCFR’s Board of Directors, the Allocations Committee is pleased to present the following allocations for the next year. Overseas Funding: $461,062 JFNA: $96,054 Local & National Allocations: $93,540 • Aleph Bet Preschool $13,750 • BBYO $20,000 • GMU Hillel $5,000 • Jewish Life VCU $10,500 • JELF $1,500 • JMU Hillel $1,000 • Radford Hillel $1,000 • RCJE $17,790 • Birthright Israel $11,500 • UVA Hillel $5,000 • Va’ad HaKashrut $500 • VT Hillel $5,000 • William & Mary Hillel $1,000 Program Funding: $162,900 • JFS Jewish Care Line • KBI Jewish Student Union • Beth Sholom LifeCare Community Dementia Program • Honeymoon Israel • BBYO Zaporozhye Exchange Program • Jewish Life at VCU Engagement Fellow Program • Weinstein JCC Family Engagement Program • Temple Beth-El Shalom Israel RVA Program • Friendship Circle Inclusion Task Force • RTA Better Together Program • Kehillah Public Space Program

Responding with Care to those in Need Confidential. Compassionate. Understanding.

(804) 525 - 8299

Local Beneﬁciary Agencies: $1,094,273 • Beth Sholom Senior Living $177,783 • Jewish Community Federation $362,016 • Jewish Family Services $135,594 • Rudlin Torah Academy $149,650 • Weinstein JCC $269,230 The committee was pleased to allocate to these new and continuing programs, which they viewed as community priorities to strengthen and enhance the work being done by our local agencies, synagogues and many other partners. The committee also welcomed two new national and regional Jewish organizations to our umbrella of recipients, the Hillel at William and Mary and the Jewish Educational Free Loan Fund (JELF). Thank you to the members of this past year’s allocations committee: Howard Goldfine; Chair; Ellen Renee Adams, Josh Goldberg, Seth Kaplan, John Myers, Adam Plotkin, Richard Samet, Nannette Shor, Nathan Shor, Robert Weisberger, and Franklin Wolf. For more information on the Federation’s Allocation process, contact Sara Rosenbaum at (804) 545-8629 or srosenbaum@jewishrichmond.org.

$25,000 $10,000 $35,000 $5,000 $10,000 $24,800 $18,000 $6,500 $6,850 $17,750 $4,000

Richmond Jewish

Care Line

• Short-term emergency assistance for necessities like food, rent, medications, utilities, and car repairs • Financial counseling • Case management services including planning for future stability • Career counseling and job search coaching • Navigation of the public benefits process

4 | the Reflector | August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779

www.JewishRichmond.org

SAVE THE DATE

HONEYMOON ISRAEL RICHMOND

Three Perspectives on Anti-Semitism Thursday, November 7, 4-5:30 p.m. The Jepson Alumni Center, Robins Pavilion University of Richmond

Featured speakers Humberto I. Cardounel Jr., Henrico County Chief of Police William Daroff, Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Director of the Washington Office, Jewish Federations of North America Johnny ‘Chip’ Lavender, Special Agent, FBI, Richmond Office This event is co-sponsored by the University of Richmond’s Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning, the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, and the Carole and Marcus Weinstein Jewish Community Center. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. See more details in the September Reﬂector on registration and other information

Apply 8/15 - 9/26, 2019 for a March 2020 trip! HMI provides subsidized 10-day trips to Israel for committed couples with at least one Jewish partner. Questions? Email richmond@honeymoonisrael.org or sign up to learn more: honeymoonisrael.org/sign-up. @honeymoonisrael

Dream Home, Summer Home, Vacation Home, Retirement Home ... whether you’re looking for a hi-rise on the bay, a flat in downtown or a palace on the oceanfront, I stand ready to find your new address. I am a Hampton Roads native, raised in the Jewish Community, and am keenly aware of neighborhoods and their values.

Nancy Evans

NancyEvans@HowardHanna.com

(757) 287-5765

Over 30 years assisting buyers and sellers in Hampton Roads Experienced and Local ... A winning combination www.JewishRichmond.org

August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779 | the Reflector | 5

Are you new or newish to Richmond? Are you a new Bubbe or grandparent? Are you newly married or a new new parent?

n Thursday, Sept. 12, 5:30-7 p.m., join us for our Shalom Richmond Newcomers event in the Israel November Auditorium at the Weinstein JCC, 5403 Monument Ave.

Robin Jackson, JCFR board member and chair of the Outreach and Engagement Committee, is the chair of the event. The Shalom Richmond Newcomers program, sponsored by the Federation, is designed to help introduce people to the various programs and services available in Jewish Richmond. We would especially like to invite any community members who might be entering a new phase in their lives such as parenthood, becoming an emptynester, or retiring and looking for new opportunities or resources in the local Jewish community. Come, relax and schmooze, and meet representatives from local Jewish agencies, Synagogues, organizations and the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond. If you know someone who is new to the community, contact the Federation office so we can ensure they receive an invitation to the event. For more information or to RSVP, contact Jesse Feld at (804) 545-8623 or jfeld@jewishrichmond.org.

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www.JewishRichmond.org

Sweet Ukrainian Sunday

Community-wide cooking class cheery with cherries By Amanda Braun Development & Engagement Associate unday July 14th was a day for Ukrainian treats as over 50 people came together for our sister-city cooking class. Uliana Khomenko, who traveled to Richmond this summer from Zaporozhye, Ukraine, led the special class in making cherry-filled vareniki. Uliana, a member of Active Jewish Teens in Zaporozhye, was in Richmond as part of the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond’s unique sister-city program in partnership with The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). She is spending the summer as a volunteer with the Weinstein JCC’s Camp Hilbert and Camp Ganim, as well as connecting with the greater Jewish Richmond community. During the “A Taste of Ukraine Cooking Class,” Uliana showed the participants how to make vareniki, dumplings that are traditionally filled with

sweet or savory filling. Melissa Krumbein’s Kitchen Thyme was a perfect venue as participants rolled out their dough at several prep tables and added cherries and sugar as filling. As community members finished preparing their vareniki, batch-after-batch was placed in the boiling water. Everyone had a chance to try the cooking creations, which Uliana recommended sprinkling with extra granulated sugar. The crowd featured people of all ages, with some being familiar with the cherryfilled dumpling and others learning about it for the first time. “It was reminiscent of what I loved about the environment and culture that Ukraine created because everybody was represented in that room with the thread being Ukrainian traditional food,” said Rachel Peters, a Sisisky Fellow of the Susan and Mark Sisisky JDC Global

Participants make the special cherry-filled vareniki.

(From left) Cheri Yochelson and Holly Moskowitz pose with their treats.

Linda and Andrea Griff are proud to hold their newly made desserts.

(From left) Anna Feld and Kate Belza O’Bannon prepare to taste their treats.

www.JewishRichmond.org

Siri Garrett loves the taste of a vareniki to the delight of Meredith Burns.JCFR Photos

Enrichment Fund of Richmond Jewish Foundation, who recently traveled to Zaporozhye with JDC this May. “I loved looking around and finding a child I haven’t seen before, friends I haven’t seen in awhile, seniors, grown-ups, and everyone in between. I feel like it really encompassed what our community is capable of.” “I loved cooking vareniki with Uliana,” said Kate Belza O’Bannon, who currently serves

on the JDC Board of Directors. “It both reconnected me to my trip visiting JDC’s work in Ukraine in 2012 and made me feel grateful to be a part of a community that prioritizes building connections while sharing cultures, traditions, and delicious recipes!” To learn more about our Israel and Overseas work, including the partnership with our Ukrainian sister city, contact Sara Rosenbaum, srosenbaum@jewishrichmond.org or (804) 545-8629.

Uliana Khomenko, who led the the Ukraine Cooking Class, carefully adds a small amount of surgar to her vareniki.

August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779 | the Reflector | 7

JFS happenings

(Center) Sandy Sisisky’s daughter Samantha, and friend Mark and Susan Sisisky commemorating Sandy Sisisky’s installation as Faith Kallman, executive director, Temple Beth-El., pose with JFS Board president. Photos by Tom Topinka Sandy Sisisky.

Sandy Sisisky presents Ron Felmus with an engraved clock honoring his service as JFS president.

Sandy Sisisky becomes president of JFS J

ewish Family Services held its Annual Meeting on Monday, June 17, at Maymont Nature Center to celebrate the 170th year of transforming lives and strengthening our community. This year in particular, we understand our work is achieved through a persistent focus on the JFS mission, dedication to working with partners, and the commitment of outstanding volunteers, donors and staff. This was the pilot year of the Richmond Jewish Care Line, a partnership of the entire Jewish Community with JFS, providing individuals in crisis with confidential access to services and limited financial assistance. Almost 20 families and 40 individuals received critical resources to become stable while they work through life’s challenges. On May 19, JFS and Connecting Hearts sponsored a match event to find forever homes for children in foster care. Seven potential families were formed, including a wonderful family choosing a sibling group of three. In April, Jewish Family Services began serving the East End with the first on-site Personal Care Aide School. This had been a dream for JFS for over two years and was made possible by a gift from a local donor and partnerships with many East End organizations. In May, fourteen graduates began careers as PCAs at JFS. For the past few years, JFS identified the increased need to support seniors experiencing social isolation and loneliness. JFS recently expanded our counseling services to fourteen assisted and senior living centers in the Richmond Metro area, meeting seniors where they are with services they need to feel connected with others. Thank you to the JFS leadership who supported our clients and community this past year. Thank you, Ron Felmus for two years of dedication and commitment to JFS as Board president. We deeply appreciate Bernie Henderson, who served as JFS Board president and immediate past-president for the last four years. Thank you to Rabbi Michael

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Knopf and Kathy Kennedy for your years of leadership as JFS board members. We are excited to welcome four new members to the JFS Board; Kenneth Golden, Shanaye La Beaud, Rabbi Martin P. Beifield Jr., and Dr. Michael Mandel. Golden has been a key leader for decades, serving as JFS Board president from 1984-1986, and supporting JFS as we grow to meet our clients’ needs. Shanaye La Beaud joined JFS as part of a business research project with the Executive MBA program at VCU, and we are grateful for her insight as JFS expands our reach. Rabbi Beifield is Rabbi-Emeritus of Congregation Beth Ahabah and past board member of JFS for almost a decade. His relationships and knowledge will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen the commitment to JFS’ mission during our 170th year. Dr. Michael Mandel comes with over 20 years of medical expertise, which will be crucial as we serve clients through every phase of life. We are grateful for the new and established voices joining the JFS Board. Finally, congratulations to Sandy Sisisky in her new role as JFS Board President. Welcome to our new officers, Martin Miller, first vice president; Sara Griebel, second vice president; Seon Rockwell, treasurer; and Rosemary Seltzer, secretary. We are proud to continue our 170-year tradition of pursuing Tikkun Olam, transforming our community one person at a time. We invite you to celebrate JFS’ past, present and future at our birthday party on Sunday, Oct. 6 at the Virginia War Memorial from 4-6 p.m. To learn more, RSVP, or volunteer, contact Morgan Goad at mgoad@jfsrichmond.org; (804) 2825644 ext. 231, or visit www.jfsrichmond.org. Jewish Family Services is supported, in part, by a generous contribution and a programming grant to support the Jewish Care Line from the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond.

(From left) Ellen Renee Adams, JCFR president; Sandy Sisisky and Sara Villalona, Weinstein JCC president.

(From left) Shanaye La Beaud, newly installed JFS board member, with

Ellen Glass, LCSW, who just celebrated her 30th anniversary as a counselor at JFS, and Sydney Fleischer, PhD., COO of JFS, who also celebrated her 30th anniversary with JFS a few months ago.

www.JewishRichmond.org

Wendy Kreuter, JFS CEO, with Rabbi Martin Beifield Jr., newly installed JFS Board member. Photos by Tom Topinka

The Best Care at the Best Value Just tell uss wh w at you need and we wi w ll be th therre to help l lp JFS Home Care Services Companionship Respite care Personal care Meal preparation Nutrition and wellness support Medication reminders Transportation and mobility Shopping/errands Unsurpassed caring

(From left) Chris Greenberg, former Weinstein JCC president and current JCC Board member, with Rosemary Seltzer, JFS secretary.

The best care, the best providers, the best option

JFS Home Care www.jfsrichmond.org

(804) 282 - 5402

Y O U ' RE I N V I T E D JEWISH FAMIL Y SERVI CES' 17 0th BIRTHD AY PART Y Re me mbe r in g o u r p a st ; Ins pir ing o u r p r e se nt ; L o ok in g fo r wa rd t o o u r fut u re. Oc t obe r 6, 20 1 9 4 to 6 PM Vir g in ia Wa r M em or ial This event is free. RSVP at 804-282-5644 or www.jfsrichmond.org

Rabbi Michael Knopf of Temple Beth-El delivers the D’var Torah.

www.JewishRichmond.org

Presented by:

(From left) JFS Board Member Cindy Boswell with Seon Rockwell, JFS treasurer.

August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779 | the Reflector | 9

Hillel Smith, Israeli-born graphic artist and muralist. Contributed Photo Parhas posters designed by Hillel Smith will be visible during his time at the Weinstein JCC.

An exciting season of arts, culture and ideas at the upcoming season at the Weinstein JCC O

ur stories, or personal narratives, define us as individuals. Conversely, these same stories, when shared, allow us to see how similar we are to one another. During the Weinstein JCC’s upcoming season of arts, culture and ideas, we will explore the many stories that make up our peoplehood – from all around the world to within our own community and everywhere in between. With musical and theater performances, art experiences, speaking events and film screenings, audiences will not only be entertained, but also engaged. At the Weinstein JCC, the door is open. The community is invited to come in, take a seat, and connect! This year’s season kicks off with one of the most beloved “stories” of all time. The second annual Jewish Film Series will show a total of five films over the course of the 2019-20 season. Its first, the award-winning documentary film, “Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles,” is the story of Broadway sensation “Fiddler on the Roof ” and the phenomenal impact it has made around the world. This premiere film will be shown on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m., in the Israel November Auditorium. Featuring interviews with Joel Grey, original lyricist Sheldon Harnick, and stars of the current Broadway revival, Jessica Hecht and Danny Burnstein, “Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles” chronicles the birth, life, and continued resonance of this singular icon of the stage. Special guest, Director

Max Lewkowicz, will lead an informative and entertaining story-filled talk back following the film. Of course, what story is more vital to Jewish peoplehood than the Torah. The season’s opening art gallery exhibit, Parsha Posters, offers a unique artistic interpretation of the Parsha by Hillel Smith, Israeli-born graphic artist and muralist. The exhibit will be on display in the Sara D. November Gallery from Sept. 5 - Oct. 24. Begun at Simchat Torah 2015, the Parsha Poster project is a series of posters “advertising” the Parshat Hshavua (weekly Torah portion). The posters utilize innovative Hebrew typography – each one integrates the Hebrew name of the Parsha somehow into the illustration – and a bold, graphic aesthetic to tell Biblical stories in a new way. Hillel Smith will be in residency at the Weinstein JCC on Wednesday, Sept. 18 and Thursday, Sept. 19. There will be multiple opportunities for the community to engage with Smith over the course of his stay, including an informal artist’s talk and docent tour of Parsha Posters in the Sara D. November Gallery on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at noon and a “Sip & Learn” interactive artist talk and workshop on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. More details on these events will be posted on weinsteinjcc.org. And lastly for the month of September, the Patrons of the Arts

10| the Reflector | August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779

Deb Clinton and Natan Berenshteyn’s cabaret will be an evening of songs and stories. Contributed Photo

subscription series, now a part of the newly expanded arts, culture and ideas program, will kick-off the season with a very special musical performance entitled “Telling Their Stories: A Cabaret.” Join Natan Berenshteyn and Debra Clinton, two iconic figures for arts and culture in the Richmond Jewish community, for an intimate evening of stories and songs, cabaret-style. In their premiere performance together, the duo will explore popular music of the 20th century through the lens of Broadway and beyond.

The vocal stylings of Clinton, along with the mastery of Berenshteyn at the piano, will make for a memorable evening as they share the music and stories that are meaningful to them. For more information about any of these upcoming events or to subscribe to Patrons of the Arts, visit weinsteinjcc.org or contact Leslie McGuigan at lmcguigan@ weinsteinjcc.org. The Weinstein JCC is supported, in part, by a generous contribution and programming grant from the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond. www.JewishRichmond.org

Weinstein JCC Happenings

JFT’s Second Stage performs Tony awardwinning family musical W hat better way to celebrate the end of summer than with a JFT Jr’s Second Stage performance of Tony award-winning fairy tale adventure, “Shrek The Musical? With artistic direction by Deb Clinton and musical direction by Stephen Rudlin, along with an unbelievably talented cast of community youth actors, ages 12-18, “Shrek The Musical” promises to entertain audiences of all ages! Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, “Shrek The Musical” brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage. Join Shrek and his sidekick,

Donkey, as they set off to rescue beautiful Princess Fiona from her tower guarded by the lovesick fire-breathing dragon. The family friendly musical mixes adventure, laughter and romance to prove there’s more to the story than meets the ears! Performances will take place on the Sara Belle November Theater stage and run from Wednesday, Aug. 21 through Sunday, Sept. 1. For show times and tickets visit weinsteinjcc.org/events.

Seeking vendors for new Weinstein JCC Holiday Art & Craft Fair N

ew this year, the Weinstein JCC will be hosting a Holiday Art & Craft Fair as part of The Fife-Davis Family Annual Jewish Book Fair & Gift Shop that will feature a variety of local artisans. The event will take place on Sunday, Nov. 10 to Tuesday, Nov. 12 in the Richard A. Arenstein Lobby, and will be open to the public and free to attend. Registration fees range from $100 $275, depending on the number of tables requested and location. The Weinstein JCC is seeking the following vendor types: handcrafted items, arts and crafts, food items, jewelry, home décor and housewares, clothing and apparel, and children’s items. Applications will be juried and must be submitted by Friday, August 23 along with 5 photos of your product line. For more information or to obtain an application, contact Jennifer Adams at jadams@weinsteinjcc.org.

Please Recycle the Reflector www.JewishRichmond.org

WEINSTEIN JCC EARLY CHILDHOOD

Special Round Challahs

Rosh Hashanah Sept. 30-Oct. 1

Yom Kippur October 9

Rosh Hashanah Orders: Due by Monday, September 16 at Noon Pickup: Thursday, September 26 after 10:00 a.m. Yom Kippur Orders: Due by Tuesday, October 1 at Noon Pickup: Monday, October 7 (after noon) & Tuesday, October 8 (all day) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Submit this form to your child’s teacher or the Preschool Office by the order dates above. Name: _____________________________________________________ Teacher/Room: __________________________________ Street: _____________________________________________________ City/Zip: ________________________________________ PAYMENT METHOD: o Check (Payable to Weinstein JCC PGA) o Cash

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Rosh Hashanah Yom Kippur

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5400 Club August programs Aug. 5 - Shawn Kirk, “Who Am I? A Journey Through Autism By Shawn Kirk Self-Advocate.” Aug. 12 - Sam Asher, executive director, Virginia Holocaust Museum, “Anti-Semitism and the Importance of Holocaust Education.” Aug. 19 - Dr. Dan Palazzolo, professor of Political Science, University of Richmond, “Upcoming Elections: Presidential and Virginia Politics.” Aug. 26 - Claire and Charles Rosenbaum, “The Jews of Richmond during the Civil War.” Note: EnRich for Life will return after the summer. For club details, contact Norman Sporn at n.sporn@gmail.com.

August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779 | the Reflector | 11

Weinstein JCC celebrates Israel F

or the past 73 years, the Weinstein JCC has been singing, dancing, eating, breathing and loving Israel! With a record attendance at this year’s Israel Day festivities on June 23, individuals and families of all ages and faiths celebrated Israel’s independence through fun games, activities, food and song. The event was made possible by the generous contributions of Allianz Partners, the Eddie Lapkin Israeli Scout Fund of Richmond Jewish Foundation, the Richmond Council of Jewish Education with funding from the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond and the Weinstein JCC. Connecting the Jewish and Richmond community to the people, history, culture, and land of Israel remains a core value of the Weinstein JCC. From the moment members and guests walk into the Richard A. Arenstein Lobby, Israel is felt and embraced, through the Jerusalem stone, the Hebrew writing on the walls as well as the display of the Holocaust Torah scroll. Even the way the Center’s phone

is answered: “Shalom, thank you for calling…” From lectures and dance to film, music, and art, the Center offers exciting, innovative ways to learn about Israel – past, present, and future. Other year-round community programming includes the hosting of the Jewish Food Festival, the Yom Hazikaron ceremony in which fallen soldiers and victims of terror are remembered and honored, and in the summer, the hosting of Israeli Shlichim who share their story and Israeli culture with campers and staff. (Read more on this year’s Shlichim in an article on page 13) The Weinstein JCC was founded in 1946, two years before the establishment of the state of Israel and since then, the story of Jewish peoplehood and homeland have been celebrated with pride and joy right here in RVA at the Carole and Marcus Weinstein Jewish Community Center. For more information on the Weinstein JCC, contact the main number at (804) 285-6500 or visit weinsteinjcc.org.

The Tzofim Caravan perform a festive song and dance for a captive audience during their one-hour performance at the Israeli Festival. Photos by Tom Topinka

Orly Lewis, COO at the Weinstein JCC and a native of Israel, celebrates this year’s wellattended Israeli Day festival.

An Israeli Scout sings a solo song during the Tzofim Caravan performance.

Children color and write thank you cards to be sent to soldiers in the Israeli Defense Force.

A child feeds some goats at the petting zoo.

12 | the Reflector | August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779

More Israel Festival Photos Next page www.JewishRichmond.org

A child holds and waves an Israeli flag she received from the Israeli Scouts who worked to enhance the Israel presence with Israeli flags throughout the Arenstein Lobby. Photos by Tom Topinka

(LEFT) Children and families enjoy camel rides, a petting zoo and other kid-friendly activities at the event.

Summer Shlichim bring new and lasting connections to Israel W

einstein JCC Camps are committed to creating vibrant and engaged Jewish communities, and fostering a connection to Israel is an important piece of that work. In Weinstein JCC camps, this is done by creating environments that explore the richness of Israeli society and by creating personal and meaningful people-to-people connections through Shlichim, as Israeli camp staff. Each summer, hundreds of Israelis spend their summers at JCC camps, bringing Israel to life for campers, many of whom have never been to Israel before. At camp, Shlichim serve as counselors and specialists in areas such as Israeli culture, music, arts and crafts, sports, Hebrew, nature and more! In JCC day camps, local families host Shlichim for their time in the community, providing deeper connections and ties to Israel for the entire family. Day camp Shlichim become part of the camp family by living with local host families and being a part of the whole JCC. This summer, the Weinstein JCC has welcomed Linoy Mualem and Amit Ohn to RVA and our Weinstein JCC Camps. They said, “In coming to Richmond we discovered a new culture we didn’t know before. With us arriving to the USA, we created a platform for two cultures to combine and get to know each other - the American culture met the Israeli culture and the Israeli culture met the American. Working for the JCC allowed us to expose the Jewish culture and values to both Jews and non-Jews at camp.” They continued, “We feel like us working at Camp taught both sides new things that we would have never learned somewhere else. It’s a special opportunity for us to convey the Israeli culture in a fun and experiential way.” For more information on Weinstein JCC Camps or hosting Israeli camp staff, go to weinsteinjcc.org or email camps@weinsteinjcc.org.

(From left) Amit Ohn and Linoy Mualem pose for a photograph. Contibuted Photo www.JewishRichmond.org

August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779 | the Reflector | 13

Intern experience benefits residents, students B eth Sholom Senior Living has relationships with various educational settings that arrange internships throughout the year. These relationships afford students an opportunity to work in a “real world” environment and connect their academic experience with the professional work arena. In addition, it provides the opportunity for skill development, and perhaps a competitive edge when seeking employment. This summer we were fortunate to have two students from Radford University intern in our Life Enrichment Department, Rachel Millard and Laurel DeChristopher. Samantha (Sam) Goodman, director of Life Enrichment at Beth Sholom Senior Living, feels this partnership benefits both residents and students. “Rachel and Laurel have brought so many positive experiences to this community— it’s been a pleasure working with them. I will be sad to see them leave!,” said Goodman. Rachel and Laurel share their internship experience at Beth Sholom Senior Living.

Rachel Millard, Student Intern “This summer I have had the privilege to work as a therapeutic recreation intern for Beth Sholom Senior Living. “My internship has been a truly wonderful experience! While interning in the Life Enrichment Department, I have been able to provide activities that put smiles on the resident’s faces! Getting to know the residents and being a part of the team that serves them has meant a lot to me. Seeing their reactions shows me that I am making a difference in their lives. Some of my favorite activities to help facilitate have been crafts and community outings. “During my internship I have also been planning my first large event. On August 8th we will be having a carnival-themed family night at Beth Sholom! The residents will have family visit them that will make their day, which is why I wanted to plan this event. It will be a night full of games, food, and fun. “Through my internship I have gained the knowledge, skills, and hands on experience I need to reach my goal of becoming a certified therapeutic rec-

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Beth Sholom happenings

(From left) Laurel DeChristopher and Rachel Millard with a Beth Sholom Senior Living resident at the 4th of July photo booth. Contributed Photo

reation specialist. I am so thankful that I was able to do my internship at Beth Sholom, because I have had the opportunity to work with great staff, gain important knowledge and make a difference.” Laurel DeChristopher “I am currently one of the activities interns for Beth Sholom Senior Living. This internship will be the last step toward getting my degree from Radford University as a recreation therapist. “This amazing opportunity has allowed me to grow so much as not only a student, but as a person. Throughout this internship I have gained the skills, knowledge, and tools to become a better professional in the future. Being surrounded by the residents each day has really humbled me as a person. The activities that are offered to the residents on a daily basis are an essential asset to the experience of being a resident at Beth Sholom and I am honored to be a part of this community. “As a requirement for the internship I am to plan a program for the residents. For this, I am facilitating a

“Tour of Italy” for the residents at Beth Sholom Home. This program will be a full day of activities such as food, music, arts and more all based around Italian classics and traditions. I am excited to see where this opportunity will lead me in the future and I couldn’t thank the residents and employees at Beth Sholom enough for all they have provided me with.” In August, Beth Sholom will welcome our next group of interns. These students are in the master’s level program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Deirdre Arnowitz, director of Resident Services at Beth Sholom is looking forward to her 35th year supervising the master level social work interns from VCU’s School of Social Work. For information on Beth Sholom activities, call (804) 750-2183 or visit bethsholomliving.com. Beth Sholom is supported, in part, by a generous contribution and a programming grant from the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond.

www.JewishRichmond.org

RTA Happenings

RTA wraps up an incredible year

Rudlin Torah Academy graduating Class of 2019 (from left/ bottom row): Daniel Gunzburg, Aharon Bart, Esti Mayer, Lily Lusk, Julie Weissman and Yael Kranz; (top row): Shmuel Follick, Gavriel Rakofsky, Basya Gunzburg, Izabella Bender and Naava Plotnick. Photo by Bob Weisberger and Susan Press.

TA has completed its 53rd year, and the school continues to thrive in its current facility at 3809 Patterson Avenue. RTA students excel both in and out of the classroom, and routinely go on to succeed in Richmond’s top high school programs and the finest colleges in America. Our students come from a wide variety of Judaic backgrounds, representing every denomination as well as unaffiliated families. RTA’s dual program includes an accelerated and

In June, RTA’s 1st grade students celebrated receiving their first Siddurim (prayerbooks), beautifully decorated by their parents, at the Year-End Siddur Party. The children treated the attendees to a program including songs and a play entitled “Golda-locks and the Three Bearsteins.” After receiving their new Siddurim, the children gave the parents a sample of the prayers they learned this year. Congratulations, 1st grade!

enriched curriculum in both general and Jewish studies. In general studies, students in RUDLIN TORAH ACADEMY upper middle school perform on RICHMOND HEBREW DAY SCHOOL Education a high school level, taking classes for Stellar Every Jewish Child which include algebra, civics and economics. The Jewish Studies curriculum includes modern conversational Hebrew, the study of Torah in the original text with commentaries, Talmud, Jewish

philosophy, liturgy and history. We offer generous financial aid, and our scholarship program makes a priceless private school education available at a public school price for qualifying families. For more information on RTA or to schedule a school visit, call (804) 353-1110 or visit www.rudlin.com Rudlin Torah Academy is supported, in part, by a generous contribution and programming grant from the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond.

Beth Sholom Senior Living has been caring for Richmond seniors for over 73 years. We pride ourselves in providing comprehensive, compassionate health care for individuals of all faiths and strive to accommodate their personal and lifestyle needs as well. Beth Sholom residents enjoy a home-like setting in a campus atmosphere. Located at 1600 John Rolfe Parkway Henrico County. For information, call (804) 750-2183 or visit bethsholomliving.com. www.JewishRichmond.org

August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779 | the Reflector | 15

A Holocaust Museum experience like no other

adassah Richmond and the Virginia Holocaust Museum welcome the members of Hadassah Charlottesville and all friends to A Day at the Museum Together, Sunday, Oct. 6, starting at 10 a.m. The morning will start with a coffee session with world-renowned Holocaust and World War II historian Dr. Charles Sydnor. Dr. Sydnor will facilitate a discussion of the book “The Unwanted: America, Auschwitz, and a Village Caught In Between” by Michael Dobbs. Attendees do not need to have read the book to enjoy the discussion,

however, you may want to read this interesting story about life and death during World War II (see book info). A limited number of guests will continue with a behind the scenes tour of the VHM Archive Collection led by Tim Hensley, director of collections, while others will have a private docent tour of the museum and special exhibit led by Megan Ferenczy, director of education. These tours will give new insights of the Museum whether it is your first time, or you have been there many times. Box lunches catered by Garnish Catering (Louis Campbell) will be served with a choice of either vegetarian sandwich or salad with grilled tuna. The keynote speaker for the day will be Halina Zimm, beloved Richmonder and Holocaust survivor. Halina will share her story, hiding in plain sight, which we will be fortunate to hear as she does not share it often.

Hadassah Happenings

Claudia Biegler and Elaine Ragone, event chairs say “We are thrilled to welcome Hadassah Charlottesville as we spend a day together. We also invite all Richmonders- women and men to attend. We know it will be a day all will truly remember!” The cost for the entire program, including lunch is $20. The Virginia Holocaust Museum is in downtown Richmond at 2000 Cary Street. There is free off-street parking in front of the museum. For more information, contact Elaine Ragone at talk2el@aol.com or Claudia Biegler at claudiabiegler@ gmail.com.

‘The Unwanted: America, Auschwitz, and a Village Caught In Between’ The Unwanted: America, Auschwitz, and a Village Caught In Between by Michael Dobbs ublished in association with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the book is a riveting story of Jewish families seeking to escape Nazi Germany. In 1938, on the eve of World War II, the American journalist Dorothy Thompson wrote that “a piece of paper with a stamp on it” was “the difference between life and death.” “The Unwanted” is the intimate account of a small village on the edge of the Black Forest whose Jewish families desperately pursued American visas to flee the Nazis. Battling formidable bureaucratic obstacles, some make it to the United States while others are unable to obtain the necessary documents. Some are murdered in Auschwitz, their applications for American visas still “pending.” Drawing on previously unpublished letters, diaries, interviews, and visa records, author Michael Dobbs provides an illuminating account of America’s response to the refugee crisis of the 1930s and 1940s. He describes the deportation of German Jews to France in October 1940, along with their continuing quest for American visas. And he re-creates the heated debates among U.S. officials over whether or not to admit refugees amid growing concerns about “fifth columnists,” at a time when the American public was deeply isolationist, xenophobic, and anti-Semitic. A Holocaust story that is both German and American,

16| the Reflector| August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779

“The Unwanted” vividly captures the experiences of a small community struggling to survive amid tumultuous world events. Anna Altman, The New York Times Book Review “What’s most chilling about Dobbs’ book is how his account of the early years of World War II echoes our politics today. Xenophobia, isolationism, a fear of destructive infiltrators and an aversion to more war all conspired to keep refugee quotas low, when they were filled at all... Dobbs’ book provides a glimpse of how we may be judged by future generations.” Dr. Deborah Lipstadt, author, “Anti-Semitism Here and Now” “Michael Dobbs has written a compelling history of the Jewish community of one town. We come to know these individuals in a deeply personal way. He brings us into their lives and we experience their desperate struggle to survive at a time when they were abandoned by the world.” The Washington Post “A heartbreaking and timely read ... With a reporter’s eye for narrative and a historian’s attention to detail and context, Dobbs...re-creates Jewish life in Kippenheim, a German village near the French border, on the eve of the Nazi onslaught. Then, thanks to a trove of carefully assembled archival material, photographs, and oral histories, he follows these Jewish families through harrowing cycles of deportation and desperation as they attempt to flee to safety.”

Reflector Correction In the July issue, WellcomeMD was spelled incorrectly in an article. As always, we like to avoid spelling mistakes and regret this error. www.JewishRichmond.org

Hadassah upcoming programs Hadassah and Friends Lunch Bunch: Aug. 2 he next Hadassah and Friends Lunch Bunch will be Friday, Aug. 2 at 12:30 p.m. at Sedona Taphouse (5312 Wyndham Forest Drive Glen Allen 23059). Come eat and schmooze with your Hadassah friends and make new ones. Everyone is invited. Please let Marian Winer know by Thursday, Aug. 1, so reservations can be made. For information contact Marian Winer at (804) 270-7898 or mfw118@verizon.net. Book Club: Sept. 8 he next Book Club selection is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leaving Lucy Pearâ&#x20AC;? by Anna Solomon. The program is set for Sept. 8 at 1 p.m., at the Weinstein JCC. Set in 1920s New England, this story delves into questions of class, freedom, and the meaning of family. The unwed daughter of a wealthy Jewish family leaves her newborn baby at the foot of a pear tree and watches as a headstrong Irish Catholic woman claims the infant as her own to raise. For more details, email deborah. cohen2468@gmail.com.

High Holiday Flower Sales ichmond Hadassah is thrilled to once again be selling beautifully arranged High Holiday flowers ... this year in a new way. All you will need to do is email or call Hedy Lapkin or Nannette Shor with delivery information, and payment can be made by credit card or check. What an easy way to start off a sweet new year! Order for all of your family and friends! Specific pricing information will follow shortly. Rosh Hashanah flowers will be delivered by Sept. 28 and Yom Kippur flowers by Oct. 8. For more information, contact Hedy at hedylapkin@gmail.com or Nannette at shornannette4@gmail.com.

www.JewishRichmond.org

August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779 | the Reflector | 17

Synagogue Happenings

Beth Ahabah implements Homeland Security grant projects on its campus I

What’s all the excitement about? Come find out! the community is invited to a

CONGREGATION AND RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH • 6PM-8:30PM — enjoy a FREE evening of — pizza • salad • cookies • slushies • cotton candy • popcorn activities for kids • tours of our new secure and welcoming facility including our beautiful sanctuary and religious school — while you learn about our programming including — religious school • adult education teen programs • tot shabbat • b’nei mitzvah

Please Support Reflector Advertisers. FREE parking garage directly across from the mainThank entrance toYou! the synagogue. 1121 W. Franklin Street, RVA 23220 • 358.6757 • bethahabah.org

18| the Reflector| August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779

n May of 2018, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced its first Non Profit Security Grants (NSGP) available to Non Profits outside of large federally designated high-risk urban areas such as Hampton Rhodes. These grants are intended to for hardening physical structures of at risk facilities and security training. Few were awarded. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, Congregation Beth Ahabah was fortunate to receive one, as was Congregation Beth Israel in Charlottesville. Beth Ahabah received notice of the award in August 2018. Receiving the award was just the beginning of the process. Two executive staff members had to attend grant management training at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), which administers the grant. Because the campus on Franklin Street is in a federally designated historic area, all exterior physical barrier elements had to be approved by the City of Richmond’s Council on Architectural Review (CAR) and then be reviewed and approved through the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Administration’s (FEMA) Environment and Historic Preservation (EHP) Review Process. After navigating through the acronyms and initialisms, submitting more than 100 pages of budget proposals and supporting documentation, and waiting out one government shutdown, the go-ahead for the project was received in January 2019. Many of the grant supported projects were in process or complete by this summer. The projects helps bring about the welcoming but secure campus envisioned when the congregation planned its recent new construction. It includes several gates that complete a 360 degree hardened perimeter around all the buildings on Franklin, panic hardware on many exits ensure safe egress for those inside and other less visible protections. These security measure are designed to be effective while being discreet; the gates are attractively integrated into the historic and new architecture. Along with many other security upgrades during the recent renovations and the decades long employment of off-duty City of Richmond police officers during all services and Sunday school, Beth Ahabah strives to keep congregants safe while they learn and celebrate Judaism in an open, warm, and welcoming environment.

www.JewishRichmond.org

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(804) 354-6746 Or Atid students create their original Let’s Pray website. Contributed Photo

Or Atid school news W

ith school out for the season, summer is the prime time for educators to gather together and prepare for the upcoming school year through professional development courses. Alison Litvin, education coordinator of Or Atid’s Helen and Sam Kornblau Religious School, recently attended the Center for Israel Education’s Educator Workshop on Modern Israel in Atlanta, and deepened her understanding of Israel’s history and culture while learning new methods and skills for classroom application. (See the article on Page 21) Litvin said, “With the new school year quickly approaching, I am looking forward to implementing these newfound techniques to enhance our meaningful and authentic Israeli unit for our students.: She continued, “My goal is for students to connect with Israel and experience the culture in the classroom, exploring art, history, and Zionism through hands-on learning and the multidisciplinary STEAM approach. We will also offer family and adult education programs so parents can learn alongside their children.” www.JewishRichmond.org

New school year The preschool program, Shalom Yeladim, of the Helen and Sam Kornblau Religious School will meet every other Sunday for a two-hour class that introduces Jewish culture and Hebrew letters to our youngest students through art and play. Classes for students in Kindergarten through 7th grade will meet on Sundays from 9 a.m. noon for interactive lessons on Jewish traditions, values, holidays, life cycle events, history, Hebrew and Tefillah. On Tuesday afternoons from 4:15 - 6:15 p.m., students in 3rd grade through 7th grade will meet for workshop-style classes, delving into Israeli culture, exploring Mitzvot through hands-on projects, and finding new ways to interact with Jewish holidays. Teens in 8th grade and up will form the new post-B’nei Mitzvah class, meeting every other week to explore and discuss new topics with Rabbi Hal Schevitz. At the Helen and Sam Kornblau Religious School, classes are childcentered, and teachers facilitate an immersive learning experience

Or Atid More on page 20

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High Holy Days at Or Atid – All are welcome C ongregation Or Atid, an egalitarian, progressive Conservative synagogue in the West End of Henrico County, invites you to join us for our uplifting, participatory High Holiday services and weekly Shabbat services. We are a small, diverse congregation that welcomes all Jews to our community, including interfaith and LGBTQ families. All are welcome to attend our High Holiday Services. If you are new to the area, or have never attended our High Holiday services, we welcome you to join us. If you are a returning non-member guest, we are happy to have you join us again, and we suggest a contribution to our Congregation to help offset administrative and security expenses. Engaging children’s services will be conducted and babysitting will be available. Given the need for tightened security at

Jewish institutions, we ask that all nonmembers, whether new or joining us again, make reservations in advance by contacting our office at (804) 740-4747 or visiting www.oratid.org so we will know to expect you. Please bring a valid ID to present on your arrival at the Synagogue. Congregation Or Atid uses a Sustaining Share pledge model of membership rather than structured dues. Any guests attending the High Holidays who decide to join our Congregation can apply their High Holiday gift to their sustaining share pledge. Congregants choose their own level of giving to help sustain our synagogue. For more information, please call (804) 740-4747.

Congregation Or Atid Family Friendly Shabbarbeques Friday, August 16 • Friday, September 6 6:15 p.m. Call the office to RSVP

August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779 | the Reflector | 19

Or Ami happenings in August E ducation is an important part of Congregation Or Ami. During the month of August, Rabbi Ahuva Zaches will continue teaching her Intermediate Hebrew class which began in early July. August will also find our teachers returning to their classrooms to prepare for the upcoming academic year. If you find yourself considering Religious School in September, for your children, grandchildren, nieces and/ or nephews, ages 2-16 for the 20192020 academic year, please note that Or Ami offers an innovative approach to Religious School. At Or Ami, each grade chooses electives such as art, theater, music, building projects, social action, photography, nature and more. Every lesson is designed to simultaneously encourage Jewish literacy and equip children with practical life skills. Or Ami also offers a Torah Tots program that meets every other Sunday. For more information and to register your student, visit https://or-ami.com/ registration.

Reel Theology Reel Theology will be held Sunday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. This event is free, and provides a nice way to meet members of Or Ami and their guests. Please bring a snack to share. There will be a brief discussion following the film. For details on the film, check with the office. Book Club The Or Ami Book Club returns in the fall. All meetings are held at Or Ami at 7 p.m. On Sept. 9, we will discuss “The Moving Kings” by Joshua Cohen. On Nov. 4, we will discuss “Dinner at the Center of the Earth” by Nathan Englander. The December book selection is “Devotion” by Dani Shapiro (Dec. 2). All book lovers are invited to join us. High Holidays It is not too early to make plans for the High Holy Day Services. Or Ami

has a long-standing tradition of offering our High Holy Day Services as nonticketed events. All are welcome to come worship with us during the High Holy Days. The following services will be held at the Weinstein JCC, 5403 Monument Ave., Richmond, 23226. The evening Rosh Hashanah service will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, followed by an oneg. The Rosh Hashanah morning service will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 30, also followed by an oneg reception. Kol Nidrei will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The morning Yom Kippur service will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Yizkor and the Concluding Service will be held at 5 p.m., followed by a Community Breakthe-Fast. Families are invited to join us for family oriented services as well. A Taschlich and Family Service will be held at Congregation Or Ami at 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30. A Yom Kippur family service will be held at 4 p.m. at the Weinstein JCC on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Join us also for meditation at the Weinstein JCC from 4-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The most up to date information will be found on our website: http://www.or-

ami.com/worship/high-holy-days. Please join us for Shabbat services on Fridays, beginning at 7:30 p.m. After services we host a potluck oneg, a great way to meet our members. Join us as well for Torah Study Brunch which is held most Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Attendees, members and non-members, range from college age to our most senior learners. Please bring food items to share while enjoying a lively yet respectful discussion of the Torah portion being studied. All points of view are encouraged. Plus “anything said in Torah Study, stays in Torah Study”. For more information, or to verify the date of the next Torah Study Brunch, please call Or Ami’s office. Congregation Or Ami is located at 9400 West Huguenot Road, Richmond, 23235. At Or Ami, you can explore how Jewish wisdom, custom and celebration can play a role in your life. Want to know more about Or Ami? Contact us at Belong@Or-Ami.com, check us out at www.Or-Ami.com follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/OrAmiRichmond, or catch us on Twitter @oramirichmond. We welcome your interest and your inquiries.

Or Atid Continued from page 19

engaging children in Project-Based-Learning inspired by the well-known Reggio Emilia approach. The school promotes self-paced, independent learning to help students better understand and absorb the Hebrew language, and encourages students to partake in hands-on learning and collaborative activities. Rooted in Jewish values, the Kornblau Religious School prepares students to be innovative, life-long learners with a strong sense of identity and pride in their Jewish heritage. We are seeking a few new teachers to join our faculty. If interested, or if you know someone who is dedicated to bringing the joy of Jewish education to our students, please contact Alison Litvin, education coordinator, at relschool@oratid.org.

The first day of school is Sunday, Sept. 8. To register for the 2019-2020 school year and to view the entire school calendar, please visit oratid.org/ education and fill out the form. Completed forms may be dropped off at the office or sent digitally to relschool@oratid.org. For any questions about registration, please contact Alison Litvin directly at relschool@oratid.org, or call the office at (804) 740-4747. I welcome the opportunity to talk with you and share our joy of Jewish education with your children. For further information, contact Alison Litvin at relschool@oratid.org, or call the office at (804) 7404747.

Or Atid students map out plan for Let’s Pray project. Contributed Photo

20| the Reflector| August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779

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Beth-El school happenings By Ramona L. Brand Director of Youth Learning Beth-El Religious School Intentional Jewish Education he classrooms are empty, the halls are silent and students are on summer vacation. While the kids are at camp, relaxing and taking a break from school, teachers and school directors are busy learning! The summer break provides valuable time for Jewish educators to attend conferences, webinars, and workshops and re-connect with our inner life-long learner! This summer I have been fortunate to attend two excellent professional development conferences that provided excellent curriculum resources, classroom techniques and latest best-practice ideas to share with our teachers and students. In June, I attended the CIE/ISMI Educator Enrichment Workshop on Modern Israel. This five-day conference in Atlanta was packed with sessions that incorporated primary resources, integrated learning, and critical thinking skills to teach modern Israel in thoughtful and complex ways. In July, I traveled to Portland, Oregon, to attend the NewCAJE10. The Conference for Advancement of Jewish Education attracts Jewish educators from all aspects of Jewish practice. A unique conference, attendees spend the week on a different college campus each year and attend workshops presented by colleagues and mentors in the field. It is a truly collaborative experience and wonderful net-working with Jewish educators from across the country. I was honored to be chosen to present the workshop “The Living Classroom, Creating a Teachable Green Space.” It was a pleasure to give

back to the community from which I have gained valuable learning. Attending conferences reaffirms that there is always so much more to learn and to share in Jewish education. Religious School Registration is open! For Pre-K through grade 10: Our dynamic program is grounded in tradition and incorporates electives, hands-on learning and interactive education. Skill-level Hebrew enables students to learn at an independent pace and move comfortably toward mastery. Grades: Pre-K – 2 / Sundays 9 a.m.- noon; Grades: 3-7/Sundays 9 a.m. – noon and Wednesdays 4:15- 6:15 p.m. New this year: Optional Wednesday Hebrew class enrollment for 2nd graders (member families only). Easy on-line registration: https://www. bethelrichmond.org/school_enrollment.php Temple Membership is not required for families with students in Pre-K through 2nd grade For information, email r.brand@bethelrichmond.org Pre-K classes for 3 and 4 year olds twice monthly: Sundays 9 a.m. - noon Grades K-2: Sundays, 9 a.m. - noon (Wednesday option for 2nd graders) Grades 3-7: Sundays, 9 a.m. - noon, Wednesdays, 4:15-6:15 p.m. Grades 8-9: twice monthly, Sundays 10 a.m. - noon Confirmation: twice monthly, Sundays,

10:30 a.m. - noon (with Rabbi MichaelKnopf) Considering Beth-El Religious School and interested in a Tour? Contact Ramona Brand at r.brand@ bethelrichmond.org or call (804) 355-3564 ext. 111 for more information Beth-El Brown Religious School is Hiring Teachers The Religious School is seeking teachers with strong Hebrew skill to teach upper level Hebrew and Judaics. This is for Sundays only and Sunday/Wednesday positions available. Contact Ramona Brand for detail.

Shabbat in the Park Kick back and welcome Shabbat in a casual family style service. Pack a dairy or veggie picnic dinner and enjoy your picnic with friends. Date: Friday, Aug. 16 Time: 6 p.m. Location: Deep Run Park, Shelters 4 & 5, 9900 Ridgefield Parkway, Henrico, 23233 This event is open to the entire community! For more information about the Religious School, email r.brand@ bethelrichmond.org.

Beth-El and Or Atid educators attend national conference T wo Religious School educators from Richmond Ramona Brand for Beth-El and Alison Litvin – were among nearly 70 attendees from Jewish schools and other organizations who gathered in Atlanta on June 23-27 for an intensive week of studying how and what to teach a variety of learners about Israel. The Center for Israel Education and Emory’s Institute for the Study of Modern Israel held the 18th annual CIE/ISMI Educator Enrichment Workshop on Modern Israel with attendees from across North America. “The CIE educators workshop was exactly the right kind of professional development I needed to better understand my role in helping our students develop an authentic and meaningful connection to Israel,” said Alison Litvin, the education coordinator at Or Atid’s Helen and Sam Kornblau Religious School. “The in-depth presentations taught me new skills and methods for classroom application, and I am so excited to create programs and opportunities for our families to discover and www.JewishRichmond.org

explore Israeli history, culture and society in the classroom.” Ramona Brand. Beth-El’s director of Youth Learning, said, “Rarely have I attended a conference of overall excellence with the quality of education and presenters. I learned so much and am very excited to share my new knowledge and resources with the teachers and students in our school.” JCIE Vice President Rich Walter, who coordinated the workshop said, “Our goal is for attendees to sharpen their knowledge about a variety of aspects of Israel, experiment and create new ways to transmit Israel’s story to their constituents, and serve as an ongoing resource for them in their work.” (From left) Alison Litvin, education coordinator, Congregation Or Atid; and Ramona Brand, director of Youth Learning, Temple Beth-El, solve clues about David Ben-Gurion during an escape room activity at the CIE conference. Contributed Photo

August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779 | the Reflector | 21

Community Happenings

Richmond teen has “time of my life” in Israel Editor’s Note: Claudia Sachs joined two other Richmond teens, Nancy Alexander and Olivia (Liv) Whitbeck, in July in Israel. They took part in the ﬁrst phase of the Parnership2Gether Hadera-Eiron-Southeast Consortium Tikkun Olam exchange. In August, 5 Israeli teens and a chaperone will come to Richmond for the second phase of the Tikkun Olam exchange. The September Reflector will include more about the Richmond and Israeli teens. By Claudia Sachs had the time of my life on Tikkun Olam 2019. I created lifelong friends, and now I have roots and connections in Israel. Every time I return, I can stay with the teens who I met on the trip and deepen my connection to Israel. The group of Americans and Israeli’s bonded immediately.

On the third day of the trip, we all stayed in Bedouin tents together and shared stories and songs by the campfire the whole night long. The highlights of the trip were hiking Masada at sunrise, swimming in the Dead Sea, singing Jewish songs with the elderly at the senior home, visiting Tel Aviv, and rafting on the Jordan River. All of the teens had such diverse connections to Judaism. I met Atheist Jews, Orthodox Jews and everything in between. I felt proud to be Jewish and accepted for who I am. Our tour guide, Naomi, was so knowledgeable about Israel and helped us all feel safe and comfortable. I got to see parts of Israel that I would never get to see on a normal tourist trip, and I saw Israel through the eyes of local

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(From left) Claudia Sachs, Nancy Alexander and Olivia (Liv) Whitbeck pose while in Israel in July. Contributed Photo

teens. In the markets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, all of my senses were stimulated at once and I could barely take everything in. I ate the best food of my life and bought gifts and spices for friends. My host, Usha Goldschmidt, was so welcoming and made me feel at home from day one. I enjoyed spending Shabbat dinner with her family and learning about their Shabbat traditions. With Usha, I got to see normal life in Israel. We did everything from going to Shabbat services together to going bowling and seeing a movie and

taking selfies. I love Israel and I can’t wait to go back in the future and visit all of my lifelong friends and learn even more about the country. Thank you so much to all -- the Federation, organizations, guides, and families who helped give me this opportunity. I will never forget this trip to Israel, and I will never eat American Hummus ever again! Claudia Sachs is active in BBYO and at Temple Beth-El. She also teaches English to a refugee family through the International Rescue Committee. www.JewishRichmond.org

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(Second from right) Uliana Khomenko joins campers at the Weinstein JCC Camp Ganim on July 12 along with (right) Rachel Peters who is a teacher at Camp Ganim. Peters, a 2019 Sisisky Fellow, got to know Ulilana on her recent trip to the Ukraine as part of the Susan and Mark Sisisky JDC Global Enrichment Fund of Richmond Jewish Foundation Fellowship program. Contributed Photo

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Uliana Khomenko, a young Jewish leader from Richmond’s sister city, Zaporozhye, Ukraine, visited Richmond in July participating in Camp Hilbert and Camp Ganim. The visit was part of the continuing and growing partnership between Zaporozhye and Richmond and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). She recently graduated from public school and will attend Zaporozhye National University in the fall. She has fully participated in Active Jewish Teens, a sister program with BBYO in Eastern Europe. While here, she took part in many events, sharing information about her city and learning about Richmond, including leading a Ukraine cooking class. (See Page 7)

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Young leader from Ukraine

Sam Revenson introduces Uliana Khomenko at the Ukraine cooking class on July 14. Revenson has been active in the Federation’s two-city partnership with and served as one of Uliana’s hosts while in Richmond. The September Reflector will include more on her visit to Richmond

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Uliana Khomenko describes the Zaporozhye Jewish community to Richmond community leaders during a special welcoming program at the home of Susan and Mark Sisisky on July 10. Contributed Photos

August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779 | the Reflector | 23

SHALOM Israel RVA to hold forum on new Israeli elections I n early April, Israelis went to the polls to select a new government. Prime Minister Netanyahu won the election, but failed to form a governing coalition. Now, new elections will be held in mid-September. How and why did this happen? What will happen in these second elections? And what does it all mean? On Thursday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m., SHALOM Israel RVA – a project of Temple Beth-El, sponsored in part by a programming grant from the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond–

and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Program in Judaic Studies in the School of World Studies, will co-sponsor an evening with Professor Arie Dubnov, Max Ticktin Chair of Israel Studies at George Washington University. Dr. Dubnov will discuss and share details about the upcoming Israeli elections. The program will take place at VCU (exact location TBD). Dr. Dubnov, a leader in the field of Israeli politics, will unravel the complexities of Israeli politics and

elections. He received his Ph.D. from Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel and has extensive experience as a historian of twentieth century Jewish and Israeli history, with emphasis on the history of political thought, the study of nationalism, decolonization and partition politics, and with a subsidiary interest in the history of Israeli popular culture. Prior to his arrival at George Washington, Dr. Dubnov taught at Stanford University and the University of Haifa. He was a G. L. Mosse Fellow

at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a participant in the National History Center’s International Decolonization Seminar, and recipient of the Dorset Fellowship at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies and a was Visiting Scholar at Wolfson College, Oxford. The community event is free. All are welcome, regardless of affiliation or religious background. For further information, contact David Weinfeld at daweinfeld@vcu.edu. We look forward to learning with you!

Rabbi’s Reflection Continued from page 3

glorious city in both appearance and virtue. The Rabbis imagined Heavenly Jerusalem as almost unfathomably opulent, with an overabundance of Divine instruction and harmony. Put differently, the Rabbis envisioned that the Earthly Jerusalem and the Heavenly Jerusalem were negative images of each other. And, in that sense, the rabbis envisioned that our world is but the negative image of a perfected world, a world redeemed. There are three major components of this rabbinic vision of a new world order: 1. Inclusion. Among the prophecies the Rabbis understood to be associated with the Heavenly Jerusalem is that it will be big enough to include everyone in the world. While the Earthly Jerusalem is notorious for not being large enough to accommodate all the people who might otherwise want to live there, the Heavenly Jerusalem will be large enough to include everyone. Earthly Jerusalem was famously a hotbed of division and strife: a place whose sanctity was contested by the various Israelite tribes, the point of rupture that resulted in ten lost tribes, and later ground-zero for inter religious sectarian violence among Jews. Earthly Jerusalem was in ancient times not always a city that felt welcoming or inclusive. The sense that Jerusalem could not accommodate everyone has persisted throughout history, and remains true today, when many Jerusalemites are displaced through gentrification, poverty, and a lack of affordable housing; when Jews frequently come to blows with each other over their religious differences;

and when Jews, Muslims, and Christians struggle to coexist there. But the Heavenly Jerusalem will be the opposite. Heavenly Jerusalem will be, in the psalmist’s words, a city “joined fast together,” meaning a city in which diverse peoples feel a deep connection to and responsibility for each other, a place where people of every tribe are embraced and included (Ps. 122). Heavenly Jerusalem will have both physical and spiritual room for everyone. 2. Justice. According to tradition, the Heavenly Jerusalem will not just radically inclusive, but also perfectly just. In this new Jerusalem, justice would be done justly, and Torah — which demands not only administrative justice and distributive justice but also unrestrained compassion — will be readily accessible, freely taught, and passionately studied by all, Jew and non-Jew, instilling in all peoples a commitment to love and righteousness. In this perfectly just Jerusalem on high, no person will suffer want, for the distribution of resources will be fair; no person will suffer discrimination or oppression, because all will be honored as equals; and no person will suffer from an unfair verdict or unjust incarceration, because in this Jerusalem, judgment will be perfect. 3. Peace. Full inclusion coupled with the complete and pervasive justice will lead inexorably to the third characteristic of the Heavenly Jerusalem: peace. The prophets Isaiah and Micah both prophesy that in the new Jerusalem, all the peoples of the world “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not take

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up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore.” According to Rabbinic tradition, the peacefulness of Jerusalem is a direct result of its inclusivity and its justice. The heavenly Jerusalem will be comprised of all peoples, from the most diverse backgrounds imaginable. The 19th century Ukrainian scholar Malbim notes that peace is not possible without such radical inclusivity because divisions between people invariably lead to conflict. Peace only comes when people sense that they share more than they differ. At the same time, members of a diverse society, even a society that is united under a common law, will inevitably clash. But because the people in the new Jerusalem will be ruled with perfect and equal justice, the typical reasons for conflict and war will become obsolete. And since there will cease to be a need to wage war, people will “beat their swords into plowshares” and “never again learn war.” I know. That was a pretty deep dive. Why am I sharing this with you? Because in their description of an inclusive, just, and peaceful Heavenly Jerusalem, the rabbis embedded practical instruction: Peace is possible for human beings to attain. But it requires the creation of a thoroughly inclusive and perfectly just society. As the Talmud teaches, “The Holy Blessed One said, ‘I shall not enter Jerusalem above until I enter Jerusalem below.’” In other words, the advent of the Heavenly Jerusalem depends on our making the Earthly Jerusalem an inviting place for the indwelling of the Divine Presence, a place imbued with the godly qualities of loving inclusivity, justice,

and equity. When every human being is welcome, and when justice reigns in the Earthly Jerusalem, then the Heavenly Jerusalem will finally be complete; its establishment on Earth not only possible, but inevitable. In making the Earthly Jerusalem godly, we transform it into the Heavenly Jerusalem. This insight is not only true of Jerusalem. The persistent brokenness of the earthly Jerusalem is also pervasive and present in every city, and indeed all over the world world. Remember that restoring Jerusalem is Jewish for perfecting the world. Thus, Heavenly Jerusalem is a model for a perfected world, and Jewish tradition insists that if we remake any and all of our cities in the image of God’s love and justice, they will become the Heavenly cities they were destined to be, and redemption will be at hand. Imagine, for a moment, what Richmond would look like if it were thoroughly inclusive and perfectly just: if we really ended racial segregation, welcomed and integrated immigrants, and made a truly inclusive city; if we distributed resources equitably and ensured full legal equality for peoples of all backgrounds — we may not attain perfect harmony, but we would get, I think, pretty darn close. Our tradition urges us to not wait for God to bring the Heavenly Jerusalem to earth. On the contrary, God is waiting for us. This Tisha B’Av, let us remember that it is within our power to rebuild Jerusalem, to make Heaven on Earth. And, because we can – we must. To reach Rabbi Knopf, email rabbi.knopf@ bethelrichmond.org. www.JewishRichmond.org

Sam Schulman in front a photo of himself at an exhibition of the ‘Exodus’ at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in 2003 in Richmond

(Courtesy Schulman family)

Sam Schulman, last surviving U.S. crew member on legendary ‘Exodus,’ dies at 91 Editor’s Note: Sam Schulman who moved to Richmond with his wife, Eileen, several years ago from New York to be closer to his family here, passed away in July. The April 2017 edition of the Reflector featured a front page story on Mr. Schulman based on several interviews with the editor of the Reflector. The following are excerpts from a obituary by his son who lives in Israel, Mark, that appeared in the July 5 edition of the Times of Israel. To read the full article visit https://www.timesoﬁsrael.com/sam-schulmanlast-surviving-us-crew-member-on-legendaryexodus-dies-at-91/ By Mark Schulman After living through the Holocaust, Schulman volunteered to help bring Jewish refugees to prestate Israel. When asked by his mother why, he responded: ‘I want to go, I have to go’ amuel Schulman, the last surviving American crew member of the celebrated ship “Exodus 1947,” which attempted to bring thousands of Holocaust survivors from Europe to prestate Israel, passed away Friday (July 5) in Richmond, Virginia. He was 91. From the end of World War II until the establishment of the State of Israel, “illegal” immigration — known by its code name the Aliya Bet — was the main way of getting around the United Kingdom’s strictly enforced policy at the time of allowing only several hundred Jewish refugees a month into Britishcontrolled Palestine. From 1946-1948 more than 60 Aliya Bet ships were organized, but only a few managed to penetrate the British blockade and bring their passengers ashore. Most were stopped and sent to detention camps in Cyprus. The more than 4,500 Holocaust survivors on the Exodus were forced onto prison ships in Haifa and sent back to Europe. American journalist Ruth Gruber,

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author of Exodus 1947: The Ship That Launched a Nation, sent dispatches as the drama unfolded, helping to bring worldwide attention to the immigrants’ plight and influencing events leading up to the establishment of Israel in 1948. Although the Exodus was the most famous of the Aliya Bet ships, Schulman also sailed on other lesser known but equally important ones ... which together brought over 15,000 immigrants from Burgas, Bulgaria, in December 1947. Both were stopped by British warships and forced to anchor at the Cypriot port of Famagusta (today in Turkishcontrolled northern Cyprus). Schulman was detained by the British in Cyprus for several months before being smuggled on a boat to Haifa. Once there he made his way south where he helped establish an agriculture collective, Kibbutz Mishmar Ha’Negev. “I’m proud of the role I played,” Schulman once said about his contribution to help Jewish immigrants get to Israel. “Those were important days of my life.” The Exodus was celebrated in the 1958 bestseller of the same name by Leon Uris, later made into a Hollywood film based on the book starring Paul Newman. Schulman was born to Polish Jews in Terra Haute, Indiana, on July 8, 1928. Following the untimely death of his father, he moved with his mother to Warsaw, Poland in the early 1930s — prior to the start of World War II — to be with her family. After his mother remarried, he spent a short time there before moving to Paris, France. When war broke out in September 1939 with the German invasion of Poland, Schulman was an 11-year-old French schoolboy.

The following year Germany occupied France, taking Paris in June 1940. Narrowly escaping capture, it became clear (for Schulman and his mother) ... that Paris was no longer safe. With the help of a local Jewish agency, they were smuggled by train to the rural village of Pionnat in the heart of the Vichy-controlled “free zone.” ... Schulman and his mother survived the war in hiding for three years ... When recalling that period of his life, he would often think about how lucky he was. “Despite the danger, I think the hardest part of my time in hiding was probably the isolation and the loneliness,” he said. Unfortunately, most of his relatives who remained in Poland – his grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins – as well as family members in France were not as fortunate and perished in either the Warsaw Ghetto or the Auschwitz extermination camp. “I was at the wrong place at the wrong time [Europe during World War II] but somehow I survived,” he once remarked about his lost childhood. After the war, Schulman returned

briefly to Paris before immigrating to New York with his mother. He remained there for a short time before being recruited to join the Aliya Bet on the Exodus, which left from Baltimore, Maryland, on February 25, 1947. He once recalled his mother’s response when he told her that he wanted to go back to Europe to help other Jewish refugees. “You’re an only son, why do you want to go to Palestine? Let somebody else go,” she pleaded. His response: “I want to go, I have to go.” Upon his return from Israel, Schulman — who was born in America and had U.S. citizenship but left when he was 4 years old — was drafted to the Korean War. Because of his experience in Israel’s War of Independence, he spent two years training soldiers at Camp Edwards on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, rising to the rank of Sergeant First Class. A long-time resident of Larchmont, N.Y., Sam Schulman is survived by his wife, two sons (including this writer) and five grandchildren.

August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779 | the Reflector | 25

‘Shaarei Torah prepared me to take my life head-on’ Editor’s Note: Hudi Bart is a 2019 graduate of Shaarei Torah of Richmond, which opened in 1994 and is celebrating 25 years of educating Jewish high school girls in Richmond. This article is from her remarks during the graduation dinner this year. By Hudi Bart henever I thought of my graduation, I always imagined feeling elated, with a sense of completeness and happiness and relief of fulfilling some grand event in my life. I did not expect to feel a sense of despondency, almost sadness. Bittersweet, I would call it. Yes, graduation means a new path for me is beginning in life. But it also means one is ending. High school is over for me, but the lessons it taught me are not. As I look back on my four years of Shaarei Torah, I am hit with so many emotions and thoughts that are impossible to describe. Shaarei Torah was not only my school but my home, a place where I could express myself freely, where I could question and learn and explore. The ideals and passions I learned there are not graduating like I am; they are staying with me for my entire life, to

Shaarei Torah of Richmond recent graduates from the high school with Noa Klestzick. Hudi Bart speaks at Shaarei Torah of Richmond graduation dinner. Contributed Photos

help me in the outside world. I know that wherever I go and whatever I do, I will have the right abilities and mindset to succeed. Not only do I have the practical skills and knowledge that come with any school, I am equipped with a deeper connection, a more

profound way of living, one that imbues every action in my life. I am leaving Richmond this coming year to continue my education in Israel for a year. Israel is 6,000 miles away; 10 months is over 300 days. Those numbers are terrifying. But I know that I am ready to go to Israel, to take this next huge step in my life. Shaarei Torah prepared me to take my life head-on, with an “I can do this” attitude. I can do whatever I set my

Jewish students receive interest-free loans J oshua worked hard to earn a 3.5 grade point average, had good SAT scores and participated in plenty of extracurriculars. Yet, when he started bringing home brochures for different universities and talking about studying journalism, his parents didn’t have the college savings he had hoped. Money wasn’t something that was ever talked about at the kitchen table. Joshua didn’t know how much his father’s Multiple Sclerosis had affected the family’s finances. Now, he had to scramble to find the financial aid he needed for college. Fortunately, Joshua found JELF (Jewish Educational Loan Fund), a nonprofit that provides interest-free loans for Jewish students from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. The funds help pay the educational and living expenses that other financial aid doesn’t cover. JELF’s “no-interest” student loans must be repaid just like traditional federal or private student loans. However, the APR on many private loans, as of May 2019, can go as high as 13.99 percent. So, according to Lending Tree, an interest-free student loan of $29,800 (the average student loan) could save a borrower up to $25,702. Luckily, JELF isn’t the only organization

26| the Reflector| August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779

like this. They are a part of a group of Jewish organizations located around the country offering “Hebrew free loans,” where the borrower pays back only the money that they received. The loans help with all types of needs, including emergencies, education, transportation, women and children in crisis, medical expenses, camp and fertility costs. Most are a part of the International Association of Jewish Free Loans. The mission is “to help people with temporary financial needs to become or remain self-supporting, selfrespecting members of their community by the aid of interest-free loans.” Though this form of help needs to be repayed, it’s the repayment that is also the strength of the longstanding “Free Loan” model. Funds are lent to those in need, yet once the borrower is on more stable financial footing, the money goes to the next student and so on. Thus, the same funds are recycled to the next person in need. In addition, donors are able to see their donation continue to do good far into the future. “This is the only type of organization I know of that when I write a check I know exactly where it’s going, and it keeps going. My dollars never die,” said Stan Lowenstein,

mind to, even if it means leaving for 10 months to go to a foreign country without my parents, all because I was fortunate enough to go to a high school that encouraged and taught me more than just precalculus or biology. It taught me how to live correctly. As I began a new chapter in my life, I hope I will remember what I have learned these past four years and store them in the forefront of my mind, so I am ready for whatever comes my way.

a long-time JELF activist and current president of the Board. The biggest issue these organizations find is often informing their communities that the resources are available. “I can’t tell you how many times someone learns about JELF right after they or their child graduates from college and says, ‘I could have used that,’” said Executive Director Jenna Shulman. “We depend on a strong word-of-mouth presence in our five states.” Joshua learned about JELF from his Synagogue. After getting government student loans for tuition and books, he was able to turn to JELF for the living expenses he needed to go to school full time. He dedicated himself to learning his craft at University of Florida’s renowned Journalism program. At night, he spent time at the community’s Chabad, learning, praying and volunteering. This involvement sent him on a life-changing trip to Israel followed by a Holocaust journey in Poland. “My journey of discovery was made possible by JELF, and I can’t express how appreciative I am for their existence.” The next period to apply for a JELF loan is Sept. 1-30. To learn more, visit jelf.org.

Reflector delivery problems?

e are checking in with community members to see if they are having Reflector delivery problems. Our newspapers are delivered via T-D carriers in the early morning from a list the Reflector provides. Sometimes, however, we know T-D carriers may miss a delivery and we would like to know. We want all our monthly readers to get their printed copies. We also know some community members may be receiving more than one copy. For problems or questions, feel free to reach out to the Reflector at (804) 545-8620 or skozakewicz@ jewishrichmond.org. www.JewishRichmond.org

Chabad Happenings

Aleph Bet Preschool to begin 27th year in September Seven women proudly hold their freshly baked challah from the previous event. Contributed Photos

Preschoolers wave Israeli flags at Alpeh Bet Preschool last year. Contributed Photo

egistration for Alpeh Bet Preschool, Richmond’s Montessori inspired Jewish preschool, is now open. Alpeh Bet preschool provides a nurturing environment with small teacher-to-student ratios that allow for individual development and growth tailored to each child. Director Nechomi Kranz began the

program 27 years ago and has provided an amazing foundation for education and inspired a true love of learning for hundreds of Richmond children. To schedule a tour, ask questions or register, call Nechomi Kranz at (804) 7402000 or visit AlpehBetPreschool.org. Ask her about her graduates!

Winchester becomes new home for Chabad W

inchester is excited to welcome Rabbi Yishai and Bluma Dinerman, along with their two little girls, who have moved from Brooklyn to open a new Chabad Jewish Center, as part of the greater Chabad of Virginia, under the leadership of Rabbi Yossel Kranz. Over the past two years, with the Dinermans assistance, Chabad’s numerous programs in Winchester were warmly Rabbi Yishai and Bluma Dinerman with their two girls. welcomed by the Jewish Contributed Photo people in the area. Over assistance with her father in a local hospital. 75 local residents enthusiastically joined Knee-high in boxes, Rabbi Dinerman a Public Menorah Lighting on Chanuka, reassured her saying, “this is exactly why we and many Jews were thrilled to have hand- moved to town, to help a fellow any way we made Matza delivered to their door before could.” Passover. Chabad of Winchester will offer Jewish Now, to better service the local education, outreach and social-service community, instead of traveling back and programming for families and individuals forth, the Dinermans moved permanently of all ages, backgrounds and affiliations. to make Winchester their new home. For more information, contact Rabbi While still unpacking, Rabbi Dinerman Dinerman at (858) 524-4094 or email received a call from a woman, asking for rabbiydinerman@gmail.com. www.JewishRichmond.org

Paula Carl Mega Challah Bake set for Sept. 15. C habad of Virginia and Hadassah Richmond are pleased to partner together for the Paula Carl Mega Challah Bake, Sunday, Sept. 15 at 3 p.m. at Chabad Community Synagogue. The event, which was hugely popular two years ago was renamed to honor Paula Carl (obm), a friend and supporter of both Chabad and Hadassah. Paula was bookkeeper and administrator at Chabad for 23 years. Everything she did there was always with a smile and true love. She is greatly missed. Not only did she devote an incredible amount of time and energy to her work at Chabad, she was also very passionate about Hadassah. She volunteered and held various offices, always taking the opportunity to reflect positively on the organization and inspire others. One of Paula’s favorite projects was the collaboration between Chabad and Hadassah Richmond’s Mega Challah Bake. This community-wide event brings together hundreds of women from across all walks of life, and this year we will honor and celebrate Paula. Women will gather at Chabad to make round challahs for Rosh Hashanah, socialize, eat and learn about the traditions and customs that come with baking challah. We hope to make this a multigenerational family event, and Paula’s family will be in attendance - so please bring your daughters, mothers, sisters and friends. The cost is $25 and participants will take home a challah for their table as well as one to share with a

Paula Carl (obm)

friend. They will also take home Mega Challah bake accessories to use when making challah at home. Sponsorships are available at $180 (including 1 ticket), $500 (including 2 tickets) and $1,800 (including a table for 8) and marketing opportunities. If you want to honor Paula or your family, promote your business, or just support the important work of both organizations, contact Melissa Brownstein at (804) 740-2000, ext 2 or Melissa@chabadofva.org for more information. The event committee includes Melissa Brownstein, Ruth Greene, Nechomi Kranz and motherand-daughter Robin Jackson and Shields Jackson and Ann Eisenberg and Abby Eisenberg Klein. The last event sold out and is expected to do so this year as well. Reserve your spot early! To do so, visit Chabadofva.org today.

August 2019 Tammuz/Av 5779 | the Reflector | 27

Ashley Rosenberg with a senior citizen in the Jewish Community Center in our sister city, Zaporozhye, where she was inspired by seeing and taking part in a wide variety of activities going on in many rooms by all ages.

(Contributed Photos)

Sisisky Fellows and others pose with a family during a visit to their home in D’nipro.

Sisisky Fellows inspired and welcomed; bond with Jews in Ukraine during JDC-Entwine visit in May

ive years ago Susan and Mark Sisisky created the Susan and Mark Sisisky JDC Global Enrichment Fund at Richmond Jewish Foundation. In a highly competitive process, carefully screened young adult Jewish leaders are chosen to travel internationally to learn the important work of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee around the world. These fellows return to Richmond to share their new knowledge and experiences

Allie Healy isiting the Jewish community in Ukraine was both completely foreign and completely familiar. In every place we visited, we met strangers who spoke a different language, but we were greeted like family with warmth, food, and an immediate sense of connection. The experience was filled with inexplicably meaningful moments. In D’nipro, I met a 77-year old man at a senior citizen center who took English speaking classes as a teenager in Russia, and hadn’t had the opportunity to practice since. Tears filled his eyes when he realized that I understood what he was saying, and he cried as he told me about his life as a student and how he wished he could have stayed. I met a young woman with cerebral palsy who has limited access to any social programs or support, but was given a platform at the Zaporozhye Home to teach dance, and now directs plays and performances for her entire community. I saw Jewish teenagers at the JCC being mentored by young Jewish adults

with our community by choosing service experiences, including educational events, programs, and leadership development opportunities. Thus far, 26 fellows have experienced JDC’s work in Ukraine, Argentina, Uruguay, Georgia, Estonia/Finland, Greece, and Sri Lanka. From May 18-26, the seven 2019 Sisisky Fellows – Amanda Braun, Zach Brenner, Allie Healy, Rebecca Kohn, Alison Litvin,

Allie Healy makes a friend with a 77-old man at the Sunshine Camp, a day camp for senior citizens in D’nipro.

who, through the same programs, became entrepreneurs and community leaders. Tikkun Olam was synonymously woven into the Jewish experience in Ukraine, and it was both incredible and inspiring to see my own experience of Judaism through a new lens. One of the most profound moments

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Rachel Peters and Ashley Rosenberg – traveled on a service and educational “Inside Jewish Ukraine” trip. This experience was organized with JDC Entwine – the young adult engagement platform of JDC, the global Jewish humanitarian group – to learn and see how JDC is helping Jews in Ukraine including in the Federation’s sister city, Zaporozhye. During their experience, the group bonded and was welcomed by

Jews of all ages. They were inspired and witnessed how some Jews there may be struggling but at the same time thriving due to the amazing help of JDC. On their Jewish Journey, they were joined by Cheri Yochelson, a 2014 Sisisky Fellow, and her husband, Dan, and JDC Entwine staff members. The following are first-hand accounts and experiences of five of the 2019 Sisisky Fellows received by the Reflector.

from the trip happened in Kharkiv during our visit to the Holocaust Memorial on the site of Drobytsky Yar, where over 15,000 Ukrainian Jews were killed under Nazi occupation in 1941. This was not my first Holocaust memorial; I’d visited Holocaust museums in America and Israel, went to discussions with Survivors hosted by the community, and read books and memoirs over the years, but never before had I stood on the same ground where the atrocities happened. It was overwhelming in every way. Overwhelmingly devastating. Overwhelmingly humbling. Overwhelmingly powerful; knowing that our existence in and of itself was living resistance. As I bent down to pick up a stone to pay my respects, I looked up to see other members of our group doing the same. Again, I was overwhelmed. The ancient Jewish practice of leaving stones on gravesites that would be unfamilar to my Richmond neighbors was the only thing that was familiar to me in this place over 5,000 miles away.

Alison Litvin rom a young age I have dreamed of traveling the world. I am always so amazed by the wide range and scope of human culture, but I am always pleasantly surprised that no matter where in the world I go people are people, and people are and have always been social creatures. We seek community wherever we are, and when one doesn’t exist, we build it ourselves. In the riverside city of Zaporozhye, that is precisely what Director Inessa Noseko did with the Mazal Tov Jewish Community Center. When we first arrived in Ukraine, we landed in our Federation sister city Zaporozhye to visit what would be the first Ukrainian JCC of our journey. Our bus pulled up to an unsuspecting creamcolored building and we were greeted by the energetic director, Inessa Noseko. For the past 20 years, she has put her heart and soul into connecting generations of Jews and building a home for the Jewish families in her community.

Sisisky Fellows More on next page www.JewishRichmond.org

Rachel Peters poses with a woman she was painting wth during a special workshop at the Jewish Golden Camp in D’nipro.

The Sisisky Fellows and others gather with teens at the Arayot Teen Club, a very active group in Kharkov, Ukraine, that meets at the JCC in Kharkov, and around the city for classes, celebrations and volunteer opportunities. (Contributed Photos)

More than just an organization, their JCC provides new programs and opportunities for all people, including children, low-income families, people with disabilities, and the elderly population. Together they remember their shared history and keep Jewish traditions alive. Tired from our long journey, Inessa’s infectious energy quickly spread among our group. As we walked down the halls, peeking into each room and surveying the activities within, we all found ourselves joining in with the songs, dancing, and trivia taking place. People of all ages were celebrating their Jewishness and enjoying each other’s company, and it was such an incredible sight to witness their passion, excitement, and love as they cheerfully invited us to stand alongside them, so clearly radiating happiness for what they were doing. When she told us her story and introduced us to the Mazal Tov JCC, Inessa told us her dream was to be a part of the worldwide Jewish family, working together to create new Jewish opportunities for all people. I am beyond amazed at the work Inessa has done, and seeing the results of her efforts have only inspired me to bring our own Richmond Jewish community together through new opportunities. My time in our sister city showed me that limited resources don’t have to limit community, and that people will naturally form their community, creating the space to freely be yourself. It was an enlightening afternoon touring the small but lively Zaporozhian JCC, and the memory is one I will never forget. Seeing everyone’s happiness, passion, and pride for their Jewishness only inspires me to bring that same sense of joy to my own community, and I am so excited to share this part of my Jewish Journey with my Richmond Jewish family. www.JewishRichmond.org

Rachel Peters On the plane returning home to my Jewish community, I was unable to sleep. Full of emotions and gratitude I began reflecting on my photographs. One photo in particular brought up many memories. This is a monument resurrected on a burial site, Drobytsky Yar, where 16,000 Jewish people were killed by the Nazis and buried in a mass grave. The stone grave marker read, “In this place, the dead teach the living.” This quote resonated deeply with me and as I processed this over and over in my mind, it began to help me see the relevance of my work not only as an educator, but as a Jewish educator. In Ukraine they have fostered a community of people who thrive on family engagement, volunteerism and global outreach. I saw a vibrant connectedness that met the needs of each member of their community through the strong support of JDC. They are actively and intentionally investing in all the people of their community, from child, to youth, to adults to the elderly. I saw the strong bonds of people coming together to make a change. They have created a defined place and purpose, with a proud ownership of their space and their Jewish identity. I am fortunate to have been given this opportunity to witness the rebuilding of these invigorating Jewish communities in the FSU. I am humbled and forever impacted by their purposeful investment to their community. Their resilience and dedication has inspired me to share my commitment to my Jewish legacy and my Jewish community’s legacy. As I cultivate a path for my young Jewish families at the Weinstein JCC where there is

already strong emphasis on the values of Tzedakah, Tikkun Olam, and Shomrei Adamah (keepers of the earth) there now will be a space for Am-Olam! (global people) What we do now will create bonds that cultivate a lifelong commitment to each other and the Jewish world. Our future depends on it. As Jewish people we should never forget that our dead teach the living and because of that, hand in hand, all of Israel will survive and prosper. As we are taught Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh. All of Israel are responsible for each other. For when we say Israel, we remember that we belong, we remember that belonging means helping, and we remember never to forget. Ashley Rosenberg Ukraine is an incredible country and the Jewish Community is passionate, innovative and involved. Stepping off the plane and into the Jewish Community Center in our sister city, Zaporozhye, I was not sure what to expect. Maybe a few people, stories of hunger, despair and religious injustices. Luckily, I was extremely off base. As we entered, we were warmly greeted by the JCC director whose presence alone created a sense of positivity and fostered community. Each room we entered on our tour was full of JCC participants doing a variety of activities. One room was standing-room only with elderly singing Yiddish songs of the past. Another had elderly creating an art project for upcoming Lag B’Omer activities. Another had play practice led by a disabled volunteer, and one more had an economics class on how to manage money and use funds through a JDC-sponsored debit card. One more

had young children learning about Lag B’Omer, another had a teen carnival and still another had a cooking class for at risk youth. Outside there were elderly doing an exercise class. Nordic walking is quite popular in Ukraine. I was amazed; it was hard to believe this small city could have such a vibrant Jewish Community. In our short week within the community, I was moved by the unique programming. Can you imagine how strong, large and vibrant the Richmond Jewish Community would be if all participated, went to the JCC and Synagogues, volunteered to help the needy, children and elderly? While some of these people are not well versed in Judaism, they exemplify the core values of it in a beautiful way. We heard stories about many of the Jewish Youth recently discovering their Jewish ancestry. They have limited resources and small budgets, but they are willing to give their time and manpower, which is more than their weight in gold. What can we bring back to the Richmond community? How can we express and share what we saw in Ukraine and make people understand? In our busy lives how can we create change and an attitude of service and community building? In the wake of new anti-Semitism, how can we get our surrounding communities to see us in a positive light and use our programs to set a new standard? I wonder how I can give back to the beautiful Ukrainian communities who welcomed us gracefully and refreshed us in what it means to be a good person and a good Jew. Sisisky Fellows More on page 30

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Foundation Happenings

Enhancing Richmond Jewish Life for 40 years

n 1979, the Endowment Fund was created with assets totalling $81,246 led by Marcia Penn, the Fund’s first professional director. A few months later By Robert Nomberg in early 1980, Neil (OBM) and Sara Belle November president & ceo open the first donor advised fund, and later that year richmond jewish foundation the Rachel B. Banks Fund was established creating the first endowment fund. The Endowment Fund continued to evolve and in 1992 became a separately incorporated nonprofit now known as Richmond Jewish Foundation with a mission to serve as a primary, trusted and expert resource for planned giving and endowments in our community. The newly formed organization had assets over $10 million and five years later doubled its assets to over $20 million. Today, RJF manages $40 million for our community and to celebrate its 40th Anniversary, the RJF Board of Directors will provide a special one-time Genesis Fund grant up to $40,000. The focus of this competition is to enhance Jewish life in Richmond. The Genesis Fund is a source for research and development and special projects funding. Since its establishment, the Genesis Fund has provided support to a wide variety of communal projects. Genesis Fund grants are awarded based on a competitive committee-reviewed grant process. It helped support our community’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel, was the title sponsor for the JCC Maccabi Games in 2000 and since its inception, has granted $650,000 to various community programs and projects. Gifts to the Genesis Fund provide a unique and valuable resource for our Jewish community. No other fund has the flexibility or freedom to provide such invaluable aid. The Genesis Fund is a source of pride for this historic Jewish community and has unlimited potential to sustain it for generations to come. In 1993, Neil November (OBM) wrote, “The

Make the choice today to impact the future. Call (804) 545-8656 to include a gift in your will or trust.

robert@rjfoundation.org www.createlegacy.org

Genesis Fund, that body of undesignated funds held by the Endowment Fund, available for general distribution, represents the most valuable endowment resource of Richmond’s family of endowments. I believe the Genesis Fund should be developed so the Jewish community of Richond will always have a reserve to meet the future…” This past spring RJF granted over $40,000 for the following projects: • Beth Sholom Senior Living - Push for Parkinson’s Program • Congregation Beth Ahabah Improvement to Fire Safety and Mobility Access in Religious School/Campus Area • Jewish Family Services Celebrating 170 Years of Jewish Family Services

• Keneseth Beth Israel - Safety and Security Upgrades • Rudlin Torah Academy - Alumni Association Development • Virginia Holocaust Museum Yahad in Unum - Holocaust by Bullets Professional Development • Weinstein JCC - Building an Inclusive Community Initiative To learn more about how to participate in these community programs, please contact the agency or synagogue delivering the services. To learn more about how to financially support the Richmond Jewish Foundation Genesis Fund, please contact me at Robert@rjfoundation.org.

Thank you Friends of Reflector The Reflector staff and Jewish Community Federation of Richmond thank the following for their donations to the Friends of Reflector during our June 2019 request. As always, we thank the community for supporting the Reflector.

Morty & Shirley Brown

Edith Himelbloom

Mark Singer

Chuck & Vickie Weitzenhofer

David Dorfman

Jane Joel Knox

Stevie & Aubrey Watson

Barbara West

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www.JewishRichmond.org

Virginia Holocaust Museum Happenings

‘Holocaust by Bullets’ Exhibit Will run thru Dec. 30 “Holocaust by Bullets” Virginia Holocaust Museum July 26 - Dec. 30

he Holocaust by Bullets was the systematic killing of Jews that started before the creation of concentration camps in the ex-Soviet Union and continued until WWII’s end. Yahad-In Unum (“together” in Hebrew and Latin) is a Paris-based nonprofit organization established in 2004 by Father Patrick Desbois and dedicated to systematically identifying and documenting sites of Jewish and Roma mass executions by Nazi mobile-killing units in Eastern Europe during World War II. “Holocaust by Bullets” presents the results of Yahad-In Unum’s research investigations in the exSoviet Union. It also underscores the “Holocaust by Bullets” as a precursor

and model for mass crimes today. The exhibit showcases the painstaking research–succinctly yet approachable–to enable the visitor to uncover, step-by-step, the crime committed against Jews and Roma by the Nazi killing units. It gives viewers a chance to learn about this lesserknown side of the Holocaust, through eyewitness testimonies, photographs, and quotes. This traveling exhibit was produced by the Yahad-In Unum. Background Between 1942 and 1944, more than two million Jews were massacred when Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union. In a period of two-and-half years, the Nazis killed nearly every Jew in the region. The mass murder was part of the Holocaust, Hitler’s genocide of the Jewish people. Until recently, this

chapter of Holocaust history, referred to as the “Holocaust by Bullets,” was relatively unknown. To date, Yahad-In Unum has identified more than 1,700 mass killing sites and interviewed over 4,000 local, non-Jewish eyewitnesses in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Lithuania, Romania, Republic of Macedonia

and Poland. The museum is located at 2000 East Cary St., Richmond. Admission is free. There also is free off-street parking. It is open Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 11a.m. - 5 p.m. For information visit www.vaholocaust.org or call (804) 257– 5400.

Sisisky Fellows Continued from page 29

Amanda Braun Being a Sisisky Fellow and traveling to Ukraine to see the immense and heartfelt work of JDC in action was a privilege, a gift, and truly lifechanging. From the moment we stepped off the plane, we were met with enthusiastic people focused on building up their community. Inessa, the director at the Mazel Tov JCC in Zaporozhye, a woman with enough energy to power an entire city, who led us bounding from room to room, where every inch of the building was being used for programs. Teachers at the Golden Age Camp in Dnipro encouraged us to paint, cook, dance, and more with the elderly. There were young professional Metsuda graduates in Kharkov leading their communities in technology, classes, and service projects, www.JewishRichmond.org

bringing a new generation up with Jewish values infused in all facets of leadership. It was striking to witness how Judaism had been hidden and stifled for so long in the FSU, only recently given the capacity to make this resurgence – a revival that is still very much in progress. With an immeasurable amount of work in front of them, JDC has enabled and continues to enable these communities to lift up what had been hidden for years. To make the unseen to become seen. To make sure those who are homebound are not forgotten behind doors. To make sure those who’s Judaism had been previously hidden can relearn their own traditions. To ensure those who need care are met with compassion. To be Jewish is to be resilient. To be Jewish is to build community. Both of these

values are held so strongly in each local community we visited and put into vivid action. During our last night in Ukraine, we laughed, ate, and were joyous together, moving through translated Russian and English. We shared in the same circle and song of the Havdalah ceremony. It seemed surreal that just the day before, we had stood at a site of utter destruction of the Kharkov Jewish community, Drobytsky Yar, where thousands of people, whose faces mirrored ours and with names all too familiar, had been slaughtered. In a place where it would have seemed impossible to simply exist, we gathered together with light and celebration. Each one of us connected through shared identity, and each of us the greatest dreams of those who came before us. We were loud

Amanda Braun with a student in the Mazal Tov Kindergarten in the Beit Wohl Community Centre in Kharkov, Ukraine. Contributed photo

and filled with life and each of us resolutely Jewish. I’m grateful to be a little closer to a piece of the global Jewish community, and a little closer to those who I have traveled with from Richmond. We have made the threads

between us more visible, and I can’t wait to see what we all build together. Editor’s note: For more information on Sisisky Fellows, contact Robert Nomberg, Richmond Jewish Foundation, at robert@ rjfoundation.org.

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www.JewishRichmond.org

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